The article was originally produced on February 26, 2014, some facts and prices may have changed since then.

Honda Civic Tourer

A very important hole has now been plugged in Honda's model range but does the Civic Tourer have what it takes to threaten its main competitor, the Volkswagen Golf Kombi?

Few car models in the world have set such a standard as the Volkswagen Golf, so also with its combi version. Now Honda has finally filled in the space they lacked to compete with the German family hatchback. With generous load capacity at the top, the Civic Tourer is now entering the market for estate cars in the Golf class. If there is any car that could actually compete with the Golf, it is the Civic. It is a fun-to-drive and affordable car that many liked, something that has made Honda one of the largest engine manufacturers in the world. Honda's history began with a truck in the 60s and a number of car models that caught no one's interest either in Europe or the US. The cars were so uninteresting that they actually considered shutting down the business. But one last bet was made on a model that would bring success to the company in the 70s. The Honda Civic was born! The success was partly a consequence of having succeeded in designing the CVCC engine (Compound Vortex Controlled Combustion), which significantly reduced consumption and emissions. After Civic, Honda followed up with several successful models such as Prelude, Accorde, Legend, CR-X and the sports car NSX.

The new Civic Tourer is a really tasteful creation, low window lines and exciting lines throughout the car. This is something the new station wagons in this segment have in common. Just take the Renault Megane as an example. In contrast, the Golf Kombi and Skoda Octavia are not so challenging in their design. If this means that they can last longer without getting tired of the cheeky design that the Civic Tourer has to remain unsaid for now and certainly a highly personal question to answer.

Something that has been a hallmark of the latest Civic models is its spaciousness and smart solutions. With the help of placing the fuel tank under the passenger seat instead of at the back and a space-saving torsion axle, it has been possible to increase the load space. On the new Civic Tourer, this has meant that the load capacity even exceeds the load king himself, the Volvo V70. Looking at the exterior of the Civic Tourer, this is something you wouldn't guess with its compact and sleek appearance. The cargo volume with the seats folded up is a whopping 624 litres, best in class without competition. If you fold the seats and fill all the way up, 1668 liters can be accommodated. Loading is also done better than with competitors thanks to a wide opening at the back and a low loading threshold. Another practical detail that has been around for a while on the Civic model is its clever fold-down rear seats that allow taller objects to be placed on the floor. At this point, Honda has really succeeded in putting the Civic at the top of the podium for optimal cargo capacity.

It's not just the load capacity that makes the Civic a really nice acquaintance. The Japanese engineers have spent many hours developing a top-class chassis and steering. Even on really curvy roads the car thrives and you can enjoy really nice driving characteristics behind the wheel. The steering is direct and tells you what is happening under the front wheels. Both dampers and steering have been slightly adjusted on the Tourer. The length has also changed on the Tourer, 23 centimeters to be exact. However, the wheelbase has not changed from the regular Civic, which is 260 cm. What also makes the Civic behave so nicely on the road and also in different situations are the adjustable rear dampers. This is something that can be seen as very unique among these car models. The dampers can be set in three positions, which changes the character of the car from hard and sporty to soft and comfortable. Above all, this is supposed to be intended depending on how you have loaded the car.

As an engine option, it is offered in two versions, a petrol and a diesel. The test car has the 1.6 liter diesel engine with 120 horsepower. This is a really good machine that is strong but at the same time very fuel efficient. According to Honda's data, the Civic Tourer gets by on just 0.38 liters per mile in mixed driving. The character of the engine is not at all reminiscent of a diesel, but rather of a gasoline engine with smooth running but at the same time good traction in the entire register. The disadvantage for the diesel version is the price, which increases by SEK 18,000 compared to the petrol version. The price tag on the Civic Tourer starts at SEK 195,900. With the addition of the diesel engine this is a bit more than the competition but on the other hand you get a car that is worth more than the competition, the Honda Civic Tourer has definitely taken its place.