The first time I saw the current Honda Civic hatchback at the Geneva Motor Show a few years back, I was smitten. Its advanced good looks border on those of a 'Star Wars' pod and the car really looks the part among a field of rivals that in general is at best well, ordinary. And not only does Civic appear as though it comes from five or ten years time (at least) but it exemplifies Honda?s future bent, too?

Honda?s fuel cell tech will be the first of its type onto the world market this year, its hybrids have long been in use overseas and its diesels have always been among the best out there and while we may not have seen too much of all that locally as the company has worked so well at redefining itself as an independent carmaker in South Africa, Honda?s diesel tech is finally rolling out and Civic five-door follows the CR-V as the second in the range to offer the firm?s fine 2.2-litre i-CTDi oil burner

Honda has only offered Civic five-door in 2.0 i-VTEC petrol form until now but that car has already established itself as a major contender in that segment. Beyond its great looks, Civic five-door scooped class honours in the most recent JD Power Customer Satisfaction Survey, its four-door sibling won the SA Car of the Year, while over a million Civics have already been sold.

Serious competitor

Now Honda SA has added its refined and sophisticated 2.2-litre i-CTDi mill to the mix and we had the chance to take it for a spin late last week. Producing a handy 103kW at 4000rpm and 340Nm torque at as most usable 2000rpm, Honda?s diesel hatchback is a serious competitor in its segment — it manages a most impressive 8.6-second 0-100. That?s quicker than its petrol sibling at the coast, so one can just imagine how much quicker it?ll be up at the Reef where rarefied air means the petrol version loses up to 18 percent power and the turbo loses just a few percent thanks to its forced turbo induction?

Top speed matches the petrol car?s 205km/h but fuel use will be far more efficient ? a 4.5l/100km-touring figure and just 5.3litres/100 km in the urban cycle also translate to a very clean burning car emitting just 140 grams of CO2 per kilometre. Indeed its sub-seven litre per-hundred urban consumption suggests a most frugal vehicle.

Key technologies in achieveing these figures include optimised combustion chambers linked to a continuously variable swirl control valve, common rail, direct-injection, a variable nozzle turbocharger, and a water-cooled exhaust gas regulation valve. Common rail injection ensures close injection pressure control for optimal performance in any driving conditions as it works together with the variable nozzle turbocharger for best response, output and efficiency.

On the road

On the road, the new engine gives Civic a far more driveable demeanour — it's torquey and responsive nature make it easier to drive — to be perfectly honest, unless you?re thrashing it away from a stop or continually spying at the tacho your are never really gonna tell that it?s a diesel in the first place. The only problem this model has to face is the general apathy the average South African continues to show to smaller diesels — that despite the fact that there is very little reason to consider anything else?

Pricing is typically Honda keen — the Civic five-Door 2.2 i-CTDi comes in at R249 000 versus the Civic five-Door 1.8 i-VTEC Vxi at R217 000. The Vxi includes a five year/100 000km service plan on15 000km intervals, while the CTDi comes with a five-year/90 000km service plan with 10 000km service intervals — both models come with a three-year/100 000km warranty, and a one-year roadside assistance program.

At that price, the turbodiesel may be a little dearer, but not only is it far more frugal, environmentally friendly and easier to drive, but it?s quicker and performs better in just about every respect than its petrol sibling, too...