The Honda Civic has always been a car that caters to varying personalities. It can be a boy racer’s project or a prim and proper family sedan. Now, we can add frugal to the list, thanks to the Civic 1.6-liter i-DTEC diesel variant.
Offered in the European market, this new version gets, as the name suggests, a 1.6-liter four-cylinder diesel engine that puts out 120hp and 300Nm of torque. This mill is paired with a 9-speed automatic gearbox. If this combo sounds just a tad familiar, it’s because it comes from the Civic’s cousin, the CR-V diesel.
What this promises is improved linear acceleration and more importantly, stellar fuel economy. With this already seen in the compact SUV, the lighter Civic should have no problems achieving these claims. Acceleration from rest to the century mark takes about 11 seconds while top speed is pegged at 200kph. And thanks to Variable Nozzle Turbocharging and forged aluminum pistons, the engine works quieter and smoother at all engine speeds.
Apart from the first-for-a-Civic diesel and automatic combo, the 9-speed tranny is notable in that it can skip gears to help improve gearshifts and fuel economy. It can go from fifth to ninth and vice-versa while in full auto mode.
The Honda Civic i-DTEC will be available in the European market in both four- and five-door versions. Whether it will be offered in the local market, however, remains to be seen.
