Honda Civic Tourer 1.6i-DTEC – review

Looking for a frugal family estate? Consider the Honda Civic Tourer 1.6i-DTEC – one of the most surprising cars of 2014.

I spent a week with the greenest model in the range – the Honda Civic Tourer 1.6i-DTEC manual – and I can honestly say it was a revelation.

Not everyone is 100% convinced about its looks, but as a compact estate package, it’s hard to fault.

I won’t bore you too much about the engine – let’s just say it’s one of the most economical, low emission 1.6 diesels available, with a claimed 74.3mpg.

I drove it in the city and on a couple of long trips on motorways and sweeping country roads and it never dipped below 50mpg and got as high as 70.

Don’t just take my word for it. Earlier this year, a Civic Tourer 1.6i-DTEC won the 2014 MPG Marathon eco-driving challenge, recording an outstanding 97.92 over a special 330-mile route.

The engine also has plenty of grunt too, so you’ll never struggle up hills and it cruises happily at motorway speeds. It also boasts a very slick six-speed gearbox.

After economy, load space is the second revelation. Even though the Tourer is only 23.5cm longer than the hatchback, the boot is a whopping 624 litres. Lift up the carpet and there’s even a hidden mini compartment. Fold the rear seats flat and the load area hits 1,668 litres – more than many cars in the class above.

The Tourer is no Tardis inside for passengers, but there’s certainly more room than you might expect. Up front the seats are comfortable and, after a few attempts, I finally got the right driving position. It’s a little snugger at the rear, but the comfy seats make up for it.

The car is well equipped and the controls and instruments seem to be in all the right places. I particularly liked the three main retro dials and the “second tier” digital info strip (including mph) at the base of the steeply raked windscreen. Overall, the quality of the materials used inside is impressive.

The sat nav and music system are excellent, however, the optional safety system fitted to my car wouldn’t suit everyone. Commendable though it is – with features such as Forward Collision Warning, Blind Spot Information and Lane Departure Warning – the pings, beeps and flashing lights can irritate.

It drives well and has three settings which affect the ride – Normal, Dynamic and Comfort. I tried them all and there is a difference, but I suspect the vast majority of buyers leave it on Normal, where the ride isn’t too hard or soft.

The Honda Civic Tourer has been winning races at the British Touring Car Championship, but don’t be mistaken into thinking that the road-going version is a racer. It can shift, but even on Dynamic setting, it struggles to be sporty.

Starting at £21,375 for the basic model, I drove the top of the range EX Plus, which included special paint and a Driver Assistance Safety Pack, all adding up to £27,460.

Yes, it’s on the pricey side, but you’re also buying into Honda’s reputation for build quality, reliability and higher-than-average resale value. And let’s not forget, it’s British built too.

Verdict: The Honda Civic Tourer 1.6i-DTEC is a class act – a remarkable package offering amazing economy, low emissions, a huge boot, room for a family and hi-tech safety features.

Twitter: @GarethHerincx