Honda Civic Hatchback (2012 - 2017) 1.8 i-VTEC SE 5d Owner Review

I set myself a budget of £7,000 on autotrader to find a replacement car. I wanted a car that was no older than 2012, had less than 40k miles and had a petrol engine. After dismissing results from French manufactures and models with small turbo charged engines (Focus 1.0) and others with higher tax brackets, I narrowed my choice down to an Astra GTC (1.4 turbo) and the Honda Civic (1.8 n/a). Although the Astra was arguably a better looking car and for this price I could get one 2014-2015 reg, the smaller engine, lesser reliability standards when compared with a Civic, and being less practical were its downfalls. I managed to source a 2012 civic, 37k miles, one old lady owner for £6,600 from a VW main dealer. The car is a joy to own. The only downsides are the paintwork, which is a little thin, and the rear spoiler which obstructs rearward view slightly. I haven’t had any problems with the car yet, I’m hoping that it will live up to Hondas reliability reputation. The engine has a lot to offer, the perfect blend of power and smoothness make it effortless to drive. Once the revs are above 3,500 rpm the car pulls nicely, yet below 3,500 it’s less urgent but adequate for making smooth quiet progress with minimal fuss. The eco mode is a waste of time, this effectively uses a computer to limit throttle response and adjust the a/c settings. This would possibly make more sense on the auto model if the gearbox configuration was altered for efficiency, but on the manual it’s a little pointless and if anything makes the car more likely to stall in start stop traffic until you get used to pressing the peddle that much more to build the revs. Steering is nice and light, if lacking a little feel. This is a good thing in daily driving as it adds to the effortless nature of the driving experience.