Honda: the quintessential smart, reliable as ever, performer. New to the mix is the 2012 Honda Civic Hatch. Something a little special comes along every now and then, and the Honda Civic Hatch is one of these.

The sporty looking hatch is a great car to drive. It’s functional in every way. The moment you hit the seat, the car feels like it moulds around you. The steering wheel seems to change to fit your arm length, as you alter the driver’s seat to suit your body frame and dimensions. Perfect… now, where are the lights? There they go; now how easy are those digital numbers to read for the speedometer…excellent! Contemporary lighting is a nice magenta/blue colouring, and the dash hood on the speedometer and rev counter is a swooping, fresh shape, balanced to drop down and over the centre console. Easy on the eyes, the centre dash incorporates straightforward switchgear, and they are very clear control buttons to use. Honda’s multi function display (iMID) draws all the car’s interesting and necessary information to your attention, while the air-conditioning, fresh air controls, audio and onboard computer functions are also displayed on the centre console. A centre armrest is available for the front passengers, while there are also cup holders and plenty of storage pockets for maps, sunglasses and the like. Honda’s new Civic Hatch has passed the first test: it is a pleasant car to travel in.

Interior room is incredibly good, given the fact that the overall dimensions of the car are not huge. Now, the Honda Civic Hatch seats at the back are called magic seats. And once you’ve seen them in action you’ll see why. They can change shape no less than 18 different ways. Now that’s versatility! As with many Honda cars, the Honda Civic Hatch sits its occupants down quite low in the body shell, not only does this aid dynamic control in cornering, but the head and shoulder room is first rate.

The entire Honda Civic Hatch range is powered by a very efficient and powerful 1.8-litre, 4 cylinder i-VTEC engine that produces 104 kW at 6500 rpm. A combined fuel economy rating of just 6.1 litres per 100km is very good, indeed – as this Civic Hatch knows how to get along.

The Honda Civic Hatch VTi-L comes with a five-speed automatic transmission and boasts steering wheel mounted paddle shifters. The VTi-S offers a choice between the automatic or a six-speed manual option. The best way of translating these features into writing would be that they work magically together to perform a powerful, quiet and swift drive. Road holding and handling is at the top of its class.

You’ll definitely look the part in a new Honda Civic Hatch. Seven stylish colours are provided for the buyer to choose from: Alabaster Silver, Crystal Black, Deep Sapphire, Milano Red, Polished Metal, Yellow Topaz and White Orchid.

The striking exterior design draws attention, and the Honda Civic Hatch is remarkably aerodynamic. Safety is taken very seriously at Honda, and the five-star ANCAP safety result can’t be bettered. Daytime running LED lights and large distinctive taillights complete the bold, sporty appeal that you just can’t ignore.

The current Honda Civic models include the:

• VTi-S 6-speed manual
• VTi-S 5-speed automatic
• VTi-L 5-speed automatic with paddle shifters

For any more information on the Honda Civic Hatch or, for that matter, any other new car, contact one of our friendly consultants on 1300 303 181. If you’d like some fleet discount pricing (yes even for private buyers!), we can submit vehicle quote requests out to our national network of Honda dealers and come back with pricing within 24 hours. Private Fleet – car buying made easy!

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