Honda Civic Sport 2012 Review

Unlike some its rivals (hello Corolla!) this sports-badged small car is not just about fitting larger wheels and adding a body kit. The $27,990 Honda Civic Sport has a larger engine than the regular models, and more power to match.

Gone is the 1.8-litre four-cylinder unit, which drummed out 104kW/174Nm, replaced by a 2.0-litre four-banger that pumps out 114kW/188Nm.

That sort of power won't break any 0-100km/h records but it does provide the much-improved Civic sedan with a more energetic character compared to the regular models. The fact that it'll happily run on gritty-grade 91 RON petrol is another plus.

A lack the torque is felt when overtaking -- it would be ideal with about 200Nm -- and the engine needs to be pushed to its rev limit to extract maximum performance, but it's fair to say the Civic Sport delivers an involving drive thanks to the engine’s free-revving nature.

Nail the throttle and the four-cylinder spins up eagerly, never running out of breath or becoming raspy at higher revs. Indeed, the engine doesn't mind being punished -- in fact it seems to really sing after a 30 minute bout of high-revving action.

The five-speed automatic is neither great nor terrible, but is more suited to commuting than white-knuckled apex chasing. It feels a bit slow to change gear (especially compared to newer double-clutch transmissions) when you really going for it on winding roads, but in daily driving it works well.

On the freeway the car sits on 2100rpm at 100km/h in fifth gear and the claimed combined cycle fuel consumption is 7.5L/100km. Though it can't quite match the 4.4L/100km of the Civic Hybrid, it's not what you'd call thirsty and we recorded 8.6L/100km at the end of this test.

Civic Sport's ride quality is best described as above average. The car is stable through corners yet supple enough to absorb the majority of minor ripples in the road.

We've driven a few versions of Honda's new small car, including the Civic Hybrid and Civic VTi-L, and the small sedan has proved itself as a real contender in the small car marketplace in terms of fit and finish, cabin ambiance, spaciousness and standard features.

The exterior design has been given a contemporary once-over for this ninth generation Civic (though it could be argued that it still looks a little too similar to its predecessor) and the Sport models gets 17-inch alloy wheels, auto headlights and rain-sensing wipers.

Step inside the sporty Civic and you'll find leather seats and door inserts -- it's the only model in the range to offer this as standard. Other features like climate control, cruise control, electric windows/mirrors, leather steering wheel, Bluetooth and USB connectivity are all standard.

The little touches impressed too, such as the handle that allows users to fold down the rear seats from the boot -- a thoughtful and practical inclusion.

Overall interior dimensions were surprising -- the Civic Sport certainly doesn't feel 'small' despite the class it's in. Front seat occupants have plenty of room in all directions and where some small cars skimp on head and leg room, the Civic Sport exhibits no such shortcomings. Even with a baby and a bulky child seat in the back (anchors were easy to locate and use) there was plenty of room for three adults.

Generally speaking the car presents very well. Plastics are of a high quality and most fittings and switchgear have a robust feel. The only problem with the interior is the profusion of digital information screens -- three in all. This may not be a problem for some drivers, but it can be overwhelming.

The car does redeem itself somewhat with its 'economy' meter, which simplifies one aspect of drive data, comprised of a simple light array that fades from blue to green when you're driving efficiently. It's a clever (and preferable) alternative to the traditional instant fuel economy readout, as you don’t even need to take your eyes off the road - you can detect it in your peripheral vision.

A small-sized steering wheel makes short work of tight spaces and reverse parking, and it has clearly labelled cruise and audio controls, not to mention Bluetooth and phone buttons.

If the new ninth generation Civic sedan is anything to go by, Honda could be on the cusp of a turnaround in Australia. The new stuff coming through is looking good -- the Civic a prime example -- and the new 2012 CR-V and hybrid Jazz coming later in 2012 will add more spice to the soup.

The Civic has matured in a lot of ways, particularly in the way it feels, both on the road and in tactile sense throughout the cabin. It has a five-star safety rating, is a pleasure to drive on a daily basis and the bigger engine provides it with more mumbo than its stable mates. Though it could do with a little more aggression (more torque, thanks) Honda has delivered one of its best small cars to date.

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