FirstDrive: For anyone else it would be a vast leap forward, but for Honda and, in particular, the eighth generation Civic, this is a galactic leap.
At the launch, they lined out the previous generations. Though it was unnecessary to demonstrate the leap forward with the current model, it certainly brought home to those attending how futuristic the design of the new model has become.
In such a class that offers stiff competition but hardly challenging design, the Civic is only really challenged by the C4, and even then it's a big step forward.
This is the car that stole the show in concept form at the Geneva motor show earlier in the year and while concept to reality usually involved a great deal of watering down in design terms, Honda stuck true to the original principles with the Civic.
First impressions are very impressive. The attention to detail is worthy of a premium model, from the individual door handles to the driver-centred cockpit.
Admittedly it may just be too futuristic for some buyers and, as with all such avant-garde designs, it may just fall foul of fashion before it gets too old. Yet for all the glass stripped lighting at the front and digital read-outs inside, the Honda is a sharp looker on the road.
The futuristic look is all the more surprising when one considers that while there are clearly Japanese influences at play, this car is designed and built exclusively in and for Europe.
Another first for Honda, bucking the trend again, is that this model is actually smaller than its predecessor. That's not to say the cabin space has decreased, simply that some engineering tricks have been used to maximise interior space while reducing the car's footprint on the road.
This is partly linked to the big news in engineering terms - and after all that's where Honda prides itself. This is the move away from double wishbone suspension to a torsion beam at the rear. While this may all seem double-dutch to the average buyer (and that's what Honda reckons), basically the double wishbone format of the rear suspension has long been credited with giving a much sharper and precise ride and handling than anything offered by torsion beams.
However, the engineers at Honda reckon that after years of developments, the world of torsion beams is up there with the best of them, while at the same time it also allows for much more room in the rear.
On the test routes, there was certainly no clear difference in the handling, even on the tight and twisting hill route chosen for our test-drives. Far more significant, in fact, was the awkward and utterly annoying shifts in the automatic gearbox. Coming from a company with such engineering pride, the new I-shift transmission is really below par.
Thankfully we soon swapped the turgid autobox for a five-speed manual and got a proper spin in the car.
The new Civic has plenty of room in the rear, along with fancy folding rear seats that only flip forward, pushing the seat cushion into the footwell - thereby offering up a flat floor for the boot. That's not all: the seat cushions fold up into the back of the seat, offering a long storage area in place of the back seats that allows taller items to be stored.
At the front, the roof does slope down quite quickly, and for those of us that aren't perfectly proportioned the fact the steering column doesn't adjust for reach, only rake, is a pity. Yet the well-designed controls and smart layout is an improvement on the previous model.
The engine range is not ideally suited to Irish tastes, missing out on a 1.6-litre this time. The engine range does start with a 1.4-litre petrol engine, moving up to the 1.8-litre. Then there's a 2.2-litre diesel that clearly won't sell out in a hurry amongst Irish hatchback buyers, despite its impressive power. If there was good news for Irish buyers, it's that Honda spokesmen didn't rule out a future addition of a 1.6-litre to the range "if the public demanded it".
For now, most Irish buyers will look to the 1.4-litre 83bhp engine. This has adequate power, though it's not going to take the racing circuit by storm, with a 0-100km/h time of 14.3 seconds. More potent is the 1.8-litre 140bhp petrol model with a time of 8.6 seconds.
Prices have been set with the 1.4-litre arriving at €22,825 in early January, and the 1.8-litre version at €24,625 for the SE-S version and €26,115 for the ES version - both arriving in late January. The diesel model will be introduced later in the year and prices have yet to be fixed.
Even more sporting looks will come with the arrival of the three-door next year. The saloon - only available in 1.8-litre - will also arrive in January.
Finally, for the more environmentally friendly motorists, Honda will introduce its hybrid version of the Civic in spring.
It's a big leap forward from the current version and Honda deserves credit for such a brave move. Now all the Japanese engineers have to do is sort out the engine range.
