Honda Civic diesel arrives

It's been a long time coming, but Australia's first ever diesel-powered Honda can finally take a bow.

The Honda Civic DTi-S hatch is priced at $26,990 and offered only with a six-speed manual gearbox, undercutting most of its manual-equipped rivals, including the Mazda3 MZR-CD ($27,360), Volkswagen Golf Bluemotion ($28,990) and Opel Astra ($27,990). Only the Hyundai i30 Active diesel costs less, at $23,590. But the Honda Civic oiler is also significantly more efficient than most of its diesel-driven small hatchbacks rivals, including the i30, Holden Cruze and Mazda3. The UK-built Civic uses just 4.0-litres of diesel for every 100km travelled, claims Honda. This makes it almost as frugal as the 3.9L/100km Toyota Prius hybrid, and more efficient than Honda's own Civic Hybrid, rated at 4.4L/100km.

The Honda Civic DTi-S is bundled with plenty of standard features, has been awarded a five-star ANCAP safety rating and is priced competitively in the turbo-diesel small car segment, making Honda confident it can win over new buyers with its fuel-sipping hatch -- despite the lack of an automatic transmission.

Just one trim level is offered with the new five-door, five seat Civic diesel, which includes automatic headlights and wipers, dual zone climate control, daytime running lights, low tyre pressure warming system, Bluetooth connectivity, six-speaker stereo, speed sensitive electric power steering, hill holder clutch, cruise control, a reversing camera, drilled alloy pedals, leather steering wheel and gear knob. USB and Aux ports are included for connecting mobile phones and music devices, and exterior features comprise 17-inch alloy wheels, fog lights, LED day time running lights and a roof spoiler. The only option is a set of rear parking sensors.

Honda has integrated a range of 'greening' systems that help the car achieve low fuel usage, including an automatic engine stop/start system, ECO Assist which informs the driver if he/she is driving efficiently and ECON mode, which toggles a softer throttle map and reduces power to the cars air-conditioning and fan. These systems combine with Honda's new 1.6-litre turbo-diesel engine - dubbed i-DTEC - to ensure ultra-low carbon-dioxide emissions of 105g/km - almost down to double digits. It is the first engine in Australia to adhere to Honda's 'Earth Dreams Technology' ethos, which will be "applied to all of Honda's future powertrains" says the company, to help reduce fleet-wide CO2 emissions.

"There were no benchmarks for us because those targets would have been too low," said the chief engineer for the new 1.6-litre i-DTEC engine, Tetsuya Miyake.

"This is a new approach from the ground up," he said. "We were determined to establish a benchmark of our own that our competitors would have to follow."

Like the rest of the Civic hatch range, the car features Honda's acclaimed Magic Seats, which can be easily folded in up to 18 different configurations. The car's 400 litres of boot space expands to 1130 litres when the 60:40 split-fold Magic Seats are folded flat.

The new Civic oiler features the same safety suite as its petrol siblings - six airbags, stability control, anti-lock brakes, progressive crumple zones - giving the car a five-star ANCAP safety rating.

Honda says the car's powertrain will be a key selling point for the new model and despite the impressive fuel economy figures of 4.0L/100km, the Japanese company says the new Civic DTi-S will be an exuberant car to drive. Power and torque outputs of 88kW/300Nm should give the car plenty of hustle, and with tweaks to the car's front suspension it could be a lively customer.

The importer is hoping to sell about 50 units a month in Australia and, now that Honda has finally joined the diesel set, expects the launch of its second diesel model, the 2.2-litre CR-V, later in 2013.

And we're testing the diesel Civic this week, so stay tuned for our full review to see if Honda's new diesel-powered hatch is as fun as is it frugal.

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