Honda Civic

Sadly this newer model is not as good as the previous one. It is not as stylish and the rear viability is poor. With its 1.4 to 1.8 litre engine it also appears to be underpowered. However - in its favour - the car is considerably more comfortable than before and has a large boot, making it a very useful hatchback. It is cheap to run, giving approximately 50mpg and CO2 emissions of between 129 to 150g/km from the petrol engines and in excess of 70mpg from the diesels. The emissions from the diesel engines are 94g/km of CO2 putting them into the tax-free range.

With prices from £16,995 - £26,650 it is not particularly competitive compared to its rivals, but it does have many good safety features as standard such as a full range of airbags. The EX versions have a low-speed collision mitigation system which emits a warning when an accident is imminent. The Honda Civic has also been awarded five-stars in the Euro NCAP crash safety tests.

The exterior looks of the car have been altered to make the shape more aerodynamic. This has affected its sleekness but the overall noise suppression of the car has been dramatically improved. The new fluid-filled suspension has benefited the ride, which is now smooth and comfortable. Insurance-wise it comes in at a much better group than most of its competitors.

To sum up - a nice economical car that would benefit from further improvement.