Our Fleet Test Drive: Honda Civic 2.2 i-DTEC ES – Final Report

Honda had lacked a lower medium sector diesel for the best part of a year when we took custody of our new Civic in March. However, while the 2.2-litre hatchback offered some respite, it looked like it would only partially fill the brand’s corporate car vacuum. Next January the long awaited 1.6-litre, 120hp counterpart, with a rumoured 94g/km CO2 figure, is due. In the meantime the 150hp mainstay has increased Civic fleet sales figures by approaching 100% during some months. But then, 100% of not a lot is relative. Finished in understated gunmetal grey, the ninth-generation Civic is altogether a more integrated design than its predecessor, although the tail beam or wing still cuts rear vision in half [1].

This time round, however, there is a rear windscreen wiper. Even if it is a moot point whether being built in Britain influences fleet operators, Honda points out that the Civic’s Swindon origins provide an initially smaller carbon footprint by virtue of UK-sourced cars not being shipped from Japan or the Continent. As for its own carbon output, our ES grade model, complete with stop/start and the Insight hybrid-derived green, blue and turquoise colour-coded eco driving fascia light show, has a competitive 110g/km CO2 rating and nominal combined 67.3mpg tally.

Over nearly 3250 miles, mainly with the magic eco button activated, average fuel economy was 58.2mpg, which was impressive considering the performance on tap. For fleet drivers spending large chunks of their working lives on motorways the Civic wafts along at the legal limit registering just 1800rpm in sixth. Swindon’s finest may lack the cabin class and ergonomic coherence of some premium rivals, but the chunky leather-bound steering wheel [2] and nicely weighted switchgear provided a quality-driving feel. There were no reliability issues and just a few minor niggles, including an untraceable driver’s door panel rattle and latterly some wind noise whistle from that side.

Also, if you want to switch between elapsed fuel consumption and range you have to reset the trip computer. Where the Civic is compromised on minimal room and comfort for a centrally seated rear passenger, it provides imaginative use of other space. Lack of a spare wheel liberates extra under-floor boot stowage and the pivoting ‘theatre’ back seats [3] create floor-to-ceiling space for bikes or high and wide items. Ideally, the smaller-engined diesel variant should have arrived first but the more muscular and efficient advanced guard impresses and augers well for the upcoming diesel light brigade.