Historically, Honda have never been too keen on diesel. Forget the fact that their 2.2-litre i-CTDi engine is now available in models from across their range and has been widely hailed as a triumph by commentators. Until relatively recently, the top brass from the big 'H' were resolute in their opinion that diesel had nothing to offer over good-old unleaded. Such a conviction might seem misguided with hindsight and in context of a modern European car market increasingly besotted with diesel cars but then, Honda were in possession of some of the world's finest petrol engine technology at the time these views were prevalent. They still are and in the 1.8-litre Honda Civic, i-VTEC petrol power continues to make a strong case for itself.

How could Honda have known of the huge leaps forward that diesel engine technology would make over such a short period? It took almost everyone by surprise when diesel cars transmogrified, over the space of just a few years, from fume-belching clatter wagons into highly efficient technological showcases oozing with mid-range torque. In the end, any lack of foresight that there was didn't matter much. Honda eventually turned their renowned engineering expertise to the problem of diesel and came up with the 2.2-litre i-CTDi engine which went straight to the head of its class. Today's Civic benefits from that unit as well as the 1.8-litre i-VTEC petrol we feature here. Despite the diesel's capacity to grab the headlines, the petrol option has undeniable charm that dates back to old-school Honda.

Honda VTEC petrol engines are characterised by their high-revving performance and the i-VTEC 1.8 in the Civic is the latest incarnation of that line. It produces its maximum output of 138bhp at a lofty 6,300rpm, inviting the driver to hold each gear and explore the upper reaches of the rev range to achieve the quickest progress. The reward for flirting with the red line is a charismatic high-pitched growl and an 8.9s 0-60mph time but the beauty of the i-VTEC technology is that for the 90% of the time when most drivers don't feel like putting the hammer down, it remains relatively subdued and economical.

"It's a highly advanced free-revving petrol engine in the best Honda traditions"

The 1.8-litre engine pours its power on smoothly and you can still make good progress without letting the revs rise up towards 6,000rpm. There's 174Nm of torque being generated at 4,300rpm and average fuel economy of 44.1mpg is very good for a 1.8-litre family hatchback (Vauxhall's Astra 1.8 manages a 10.1s 0-60mph time and returns 36mpg). The i-VTEC system achieves its impressive results through the art of variable valve timing and lift. The engine incorporates twin sets of cams to intelligently adjust the valves which control the volume of air entering the engine. During acceleration or other high engine loads, the high-output cams work to boost performance but when you're just pottering around, the fuel economy cams take over to maximise efficiency. This also has benefits in terms of emissions, with the 1.8-litre engine's 152g/km CO2 output being lower than many smaller cars with smaller engines like SEAT's 1.4-litre Ibiza or Ford's 1.6-litre Fiesta.

The Civic 1.8 i-VTEC is available across most of the entire trim level range, which means S, SE, Sport, ES and EX versions of the car in five-door form, where prices start from £15,520. You can also go for the sportier three-door Type-S with this engine at prices starting from £15,870. All variants come with power steering, a height adjustable driver's seat, remote keyless entry, central locking, a rear spoiler and twin chrome exhausts. Once you've settled on a trim level, there's a choice of 6-speed manual or i-Shift semi-automatic gearboxes.

The Civic offers a really good driving position with firm side bolsters in the seat for support and the headrest hovering just behind your cranium. The pedals feel well weighted underfoot and there's a large foot rest area to give the left peg a break from clutching duties. The power assisted steering is very light and direct, greatly simplifying low speed work. That said, there's little feedback through the wheel and things can get slightly twitchy on the motorway because of this steering sharpness. The gear lever flows around the standard six-speed gearbox with finger-light ease but the action isn't as reassuring or solid as in top rivals. The Civic has plenty of grip and does much to inspire confidence through the corners. Overall, there's no doubt it's up amongst the class best handlers.

This is a great-looking car, a real head-turner, but the designers have taken this futuristic high-tech line rather than going for the classically beautiful. The decision does leave question marks about how the ground-breaking look will age but whether or not the years are kind to the Civic, dull rivals like Ford's Focus and Toyota's Auris will never look as good as this Honda does now. Once you get past that swoosh of light and plastic across the car's nose, the plunging bonnet line and the multi-angled rear end, it's the detailing that stays with you. The triangular exhausts, the split rear windscreen, the concealed rear door handles and the recessed front ones: Honda have pulled out the stops to make this car different.

Inside, you're confronted with a daunting array of buttons and digital displays that make you instinctively feel like reaching to the owner's manual, but it's not as complex as it looks. The information you need is laid out in two tiers with the digital speedo and optional satellite navigation system located near the base of the windscreen so your eyes needn't divert too far from the road ahead. The rev counter, fuel gauge and trip computer are lower in a more conventional instrument binnacle. Again, it's the detailing that's most eye-catching; the red starter button on the driver's right, the tactile control dials for the air-con and the sat nav. None of it would feel out of place in an executive saloon and the steering wheel is one of the most comfortable designs around. There's a large blind spot created by the thick C pillar and the split rear window also restricts rearward visibility. Overall though, the Civic is riddled with great design.

It's practical too: the car is actually shorter and lower than its predecessor but it's wider by 45mm and, crucially, the wheelbase is increased to 2,640mm. General interior space is good and there's a massive 485 litres of capacity in the boot. The 60:40 split rear seat backs can be folded down to increase this space or the seat bases can be simply pulled up, producing a separate load compartment between the front seats and the boot.

In a money-no-object buying decision, the i-CTDi diesel will still get the nod from most but at £1,500 less, the 1.8-litre i-VTEC petrol will appeal to cost-conscious customers. It's a highly advanced free-revving petrol engine in the best Honda traditions and it suits the high-tech Civic down to the ground.

TOP 5 CIVIC DEALS

The results below show the top CIVIC deals on buyacar

	Honda Civic 1.8 i-VTEC EX 5dr i-SHIFT Auto Hatchback
	ETR	Mthly £321	Saving £1,096	Price £17,279
	Honda Civic 1.8 i-VTEC ES 5dr Hatchback
	ETR	Mthly £281	Saving £975	Price £15,400
	Honda Civic 1.8 i-VTEC ES 5dr i-SHIFT Auto [Leather] Hatchback
	ETR	Mthly	Saving £1,074	Price £16,901
	Honda Civic 1.8 i-VTEC EX 5dr [Leather + SR] Hatchback
	ETR	Mthly	Saving £1,133	Price £17,842
	Honda Civic 1.8 i-VTEC Type S GT 3dr Hatchback
	ETR	Mthly £291	Saving £753	Price £15,772

typical 11.93% APR

PCP finance quote over 48 months,  10,000 miles pa,  deposit of £1000