The new Civic from industrial giants Honda is a fine motor, but it shuold have a better range of diesel options, says Michael McAleer, Motoring Editor
'THE POWER of dreams". That's the catchline for one of the best advertising campaigns for any brand in the last decade. For those who have been living in a hermetically sealed bubble for the past five years and haven't spotted the remarkable ads, the brand is Honda. In fact, if you have, then you'll probably find they built the bubble.
Honda is an industrial giant and giants can deliver. Even on dreams. If in doubt, take a look at its dancing humanoid robot, Asimo. It can avoid obstacles, recognise faces, and even do a little disco boogie to the music.
For many of us, the Honda brand may call to mind a few mid-range cars and perhaps, if you are of a certain age, a range of red or blue scooters that carried many Irishmen and women to work in the 1960s and 1970s. Yet the true extent of Honda's reach is breathtaking. The "power of dreams" campaign only scratches the surface of the engineering might of this Japanese giant. This company doesn't only build cars and motorcycles. It has trucks, boats, electric generators, lawnmowers, all-terrain vehicles, robots, jets and even mountain bikes.
If it involves an engine, then you can be sure that Honda has a slice of the action. Not only is it involved, it's probably at the forefront of developments. For this is the world's biggest engine manufacturer.
Let's put some of its achievements in context: this is the motorcycle company that entered Formula One Grand Prix car racing in 1963 and won its 11th race. It's the motoring brand that drives the largest powerboat championship in the world. It's the car company that recently launched a low-emissions jet aircraft.
That's only a selection of achievements to demonstrate its engineering pedigree. With that heritage behind it, you'd expect every car to be a marvel. In engineering terms, many are.
In overall terms, however, that has not always been the case. While the underpinnings may be excellent, too many generations of Honda cars have been completed with design as an afterthought. The latest Civic attempts to challenge that. The short, stubby, coupé-shape and futuristic features - like the glass front grille and split rear screen - are meant to give the car a real presence on the road.
In many respects, it does just that. Even today, a few years after launch, the Civic manages to turn heads and attract attention in ways that previous incarnations could never achieve. Indeed, its predecessor was the sort of car that could easily get lost in a busy car park.
Its digital dash features are hardly revolutionary, but the entire package works well together, and when you consider the fit and finish of several competitors - even some premium brands - in this hatchback segment, the interior is a very impressive all-round package.
In particular, the Civic can boast spacious rear seats that can comfortably carry two adults without complaint, and ample luggage space to boot.
However, the reason for this test is not a re-run of life with the Civic, but to put the long-awaited diesel option in the range through its paces. Lest there be any chance of further boring our readers with the intricacies of Irish motor tax policy, suffice to say that these diesel variants are now the best-buys in any car range.
Of course, diesel is not the ultimate answer. And it's also going to run out eventually. So Ireland's sudden conversion to diesel is similar to the chain-smoker swapping from Sweet Afton to Silk Cut.
What we need is not more diesel, but more alternatives. That's where Honda is working away. Alongside all the other major brands, it has been pursuing a potential hydrogen option to our motoring needs, with the development of its FCX concept car, currently undergoing tests in the US.
It has also been working on petrol-electric hybrid models since 2000. It's striking, therefore, that for all that technological advancement and cutting-edge research, Honda only recently added its own diesel engine to its motoring portfolio.
As expected, a 2.2-litre engine putting out 138bhp is never going to be a slouch in a family hatchback. Indeed, it remains one of our favourite diesel engines when cloaked in the Accord body. However, the same engine loses its lustre in the CR-V, largely down to the poor soundproofing in the engine bay that lets so many of its gruff sounds transmit into the cockpit.
Here again, in the Civic, Honda hasn't quite matched the serenity of the Accord, even if it's a big improvement on the CR-V.
Idling in traffic, the engine is quite noisy and any kick down on the throttle is accompanied by a turbo whistle. In its defence, if you settle it down to cruise at a steady 2,500rpm, engine noise falls off to a distant drone, and the car is well capable of comfortable cruising. There is also plenty of good points in terms of performance, where it's official 0-100km/h time of 8.4 seconds is realistically recorded whenever you kick down to overtake. The added weight up front actually seems to improve the car's handling as well.
Starting here at €27,995, this Civic diesel could no doubt have been sold for a more attractive price. Honda has matched this frugal diesel engine with a very high specification.
We suspect that's largely to protect sales of the petrol variants. Diesel production in Honda is limited due to its concentration on petrol engines. If Honda Europe were to offer an entry grade diesel specification, then with its low tax and lower price, no one would likely opt for the 1.8-litre petrol variants: hence the current strategy.
In reality, Honda was never going to cannibalise its petrol models to add diesel sales that it probably could not meet in terms of volume. Yet it's a pity that Honda, the great engine builder, doesn't focus as much on diesel technology as it should. It's a real pity it doesn't have a smaller diesel.
It shows a lack of foresight by the otherwise astute Japanese. Their home market doesn't take to diesel. Neither does the US - and that's clearly where the Honda executives focus their attention.
It's high time that Honda paid more attention to the potential of its European division. Fellow Japanese brands like Toyota and Nissan are doing well with their range of small diesels. Given Honda's remarkable reputation for customer loyalty and reliability, surely they could be making massive in-roads into mid-range sales.
Sure, the 2.2-litre delivers the requisite power to take on the range-topping rivals. At 138bhp, it's at the upper end of the diesel hatchback market in terms of power output, and as such it's competitively priced and packed with features.
Yet this high-end diesel segment of the hatchback market represents minimal sales numbers. Like it or not, the main interest for Irish hatchback buyers is adequate power and a good specification, all at a good price.
Live the impossible dream is a fantastic ad campaign. Honda, with its reputation for engineering innovation, is one of the few brands that can put its name to such a catchline. It's a pity that no one dreamt up the production of a few smaller diesel engines for the brand. That would have made more sense for the brand than a dancing robot.
FACTFILE
Engine:2,204cc four-cylinder 16v diesel engine putting out 138bhp @ 4,000rpm and 320Nm of torque. Six-speed manual transmission (no auto option)
Specification:driver and passenger airbags; side and curtain airbags; engine immobiliser; vehicle stability assist; ABS with EBD; emergency brake assist; multi-functioning steering wheel; electric windows; aluminium pedals, climate-controlled air-con; radio/CD; 16" alloys; 60/40 split rear seats
L/100km (mpg)
Urban:6.6 (42.8)
Extra-urban:4.3 (65.7)
Combined:5.1 (55.4)
CO2 emissions:135g/km
Tax:Band B - VRT: 16 per cent - annual motor tax: €150
Price:€27,995
THE COMPETITION: alternatives
Volkswagen Golf 2.0 TDI Comfortline
CC:1968
BHP:140
Speed:205km/h
0-100km/h:9.3secs
L/100km:5.5
CO2:145g/km
Motor tax:€290
Price:€28,795
Fiat Bravo 1.9 Multijet 5dr Emotion
CC:1910
BHP:120
Speed:194 km/h
0-100km/h:10.5secs
L/100km:5.3
CO2:139g/km
Motor tax:€150
Price:€23,695
Ford Focus 1.8 Ghia 5dr
CC:1753
BHP:113
Speed:190km/h
0-100km/h:10.8secs
L/100km:5.2
CO2:137g/km
Motor tax:€150
Price:€23,185
Toyota Auris 2.0 D-4D Luna
CC:1998
BHP:126
Speed:195km/h
0-100km/h:10.3secs
L/100km:5.4
CO2:144g/km
Motor tax:€290
Price:€26,510