YEARS AGO, WHEN Hadrian's Wall was still under warranty, I passed my driving test in a 1994 Honda Civic. I remember it fondly, aside from one thing: it didn't have a rev counter, so when practising three-point turns as a learner driver - I had to train my ears to detect when a stall was imminent. Today's Civic, though, is a hell of a lot more sophisticated.
Not for nothing did we declare it our Family Car of the Year at the 2023 What Car? Awards. We called it well equipped, economical and great to drive, and that's pretty much a full house on my 'what I want from a car' bingo card. And better still, now that it's been around for a year, there are savings to be made if you buy a nearly new example via the What Car? Used Car Buying service.
In fact, buying this way makes particular sense with a Civic; with only one engine offered and no long options list to pick from, your choice is limited to colour and trim level (entry-level Sport or high-spec Advance), so you're almost as likely to get the exact spec you're after in ex-demo form as if it were built to order. And I'd probably order one just like the one-year-old example that graces my drive right now. It's in Advance trim with Sonic Grey Pearl paint - an understated colour that adds nothing to the £34,650 purchase price. It hides road dirt quite well, too.
この記事は What Car? UK の August 2023 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です ? サインイン
この記事は What Car? UK の August 2023 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
Genesis GV60
Does this plush newcomer deserve a slice of the premium electric SUV pie? The verdict is in
BYD Dolphin
Smallest BYD gets a smaller battery and a slimmer price tag to make it more competitive On sale Now Price from £26,195
BMW i5
Our electric executive saloon disproves the notion that battery-powered cars aren't as efficient out of town
Kia EV6
Electric SUV gets a larger battery, revised suspension and a new infotainment system On sale October Price from £45,575
Maserati GranTurismo Folgore
Range-topping electric version of Maserati's four-seat coupé packs a 751bhp punch, along with an official range of 280 miles On sale Now Price from £179,950
Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Looking for all the world like a shrunken S-Class limo, the latest C-Class executive saloon is a tempting used buy with a major trick up its sleeve
Cupra Terramar
Bigger sister to the Formentor completes Cupra's combustionengined SUV line-up On sale Early 2025 Price from £35,000 (est)
Skoda Kamiq
We're finding out whether this updated small SUV makes a good workhorse for a high-mileage driver
Honda e:Ny1
Should you consider this small electric SUV over a Smart or Volvo EX30? We're living with one to find out
PLUGS RETHINK
It may look radically different from before, but is the latest Toyota Prius a cut above its refreshed plug-in hybrid rival from Volkswagen?