HONDA CIVICS ARE hard to ignore. The previous generation's 1.5-litre version was a joy to weave along the Tolo Highway, and I jumped at the chance to drive this 1.8-litre VTi Civic.
The car is more squat than its predecessors, but its headlights and distinctive grille are high on the front, with two fog lights peering from a second grille below the number plate. The side panels have a carved swoop and the boot tilts upwards for a sporty look.
Honda also seems to have discovered leather. The interior is thick with cowhide. The dashboard is still plastic, but now makes a more substantial thud when you flick it. There are hints at sportiness. The leather of the steering wheel, for instance, is perforated in the Momo-style.
Best of all is the space-age instrument panel that's divided into two separate areas and beautifully lit in a subtle blue. The top panel is housed in a curved unit that echoes the shape of the steering wheel and shows speed in big digital numbers. The bottom panel contains other indicators, including the rev counter and gear indicator.
Honda has designed the new layout to help drivers focus on the road while they control the car, particularly at speed. This is a huge improvement on dashboards that force you to crane your head around the wheel for a clock reading.
The new Civic is vastly more comfortable than previous incarnations. There's a squashy leather armrest between the height-adjustable seats, and the central storage unit has a roller cover, which means your phone doesn't slide up and down. The six-CD player is apparently MP3 compatible and has an exciting button marked 'Tune Folder'. After pressing this a few times, I'm still not sure what it's supposed to do, but it looks good.
Honda has kept the flat floor plan and an under-floor fuel tank that gives rear-seat passengers stretching room. The back seat also folds flat to allow extra luggage into the spacious boot.