Honda Civic estate nearly here

Honda has announced that the stylish Tourer version of its popular Civic hatchback will be available in Ireland from February, and it boasts class-leading space in the back.

What's the news?
Honda has announced that the stylish Tourer version of its popular Civic hatchback will be available in Ireland from February, and it boasts class-leading space in the back if you want to lug a socking great load of kit around.

Exterior
The outside of the new estate is very similar to the five-door model, until you get to the B-pillar where things obviously deviate somewhat. The Civic Tourer is just 235mm longer than the hatch and is a good-looking thing, its higher rear roofline not only allowing for more load space but increased rear headroom too. At the front, the Tourer wears the mildly updated face of the hatchback, featuring a revised bumper with black trim. The Civic Tourer was designed and engineered in Europe, to boot (if you'll forgive the pun).

Interior
Despite being the lowest and 'most compact' estate in the segment, the Civic Tourer offers class-leading space behind that rear tailgate according to its maker. There's 624 litres of the stuff even with the back seats up and only loading to the luggage cover, that figure rising to a gargantuan 1,668 litres with the rear 'Magic Seats' folded down. There's even 117 litres of underfloor storage in the boot.

The Tourer can also be specified with a raft of safety technologies using cameras, radar and lidar (short-range laser radar, in case you're wondering), such as a city-brake system to avoid or mitigate low speed accidents, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, traffic sign recognition, blind spot information, automatic high-beam headlights and a cross-traffic monitor to help you edge out of tight driveways.

Mechanicals
There are three trim levels for Ireland - Comfort, Sport and Executive - two transmissions and two engines. There's the 1.6 i-DTEC diesel in manual format only, which produces 120hp at 4,000rpm and 300Nm at 2,000rpm, all the while emitting only 99g/km of CO2, meaning annual road tax of just €180. It also only uses 3.8 litres/100km (74.3mpg) of fuel, while it is capable of 0-100km/h in 10.1 seconds and 195km/h flat out.

The 142hp/174Nm 1.8 i-VTEC petrol model can be equipped with both manual or automatic transmissions, returning best figures of 6.2 litres/100km (45.6mpg), 146g/km CO2 and a 0-100km/h time of 9.2 seconds. Top speed is 209km/h.

The Tourer can be optioned up with a rear Adaptive Damper System (ADS), which alters damping force at the back according to varying loads and driving conditions.

Anything else?
As well as the safety kit, Honda says the standard equipment levels are best in class. The Comfort models feature such luxuries as climate control, Bluetooth, cruise control, all-round parking sensors and a reversing camera, alloys and a DAB audio system among many other toys, while if you go for a bells 'n' whistles Executive car you'll enjoy satnav, a 6.5-inch touchscreen, leather trim, heated seats and the ADS as standard. Prices for the range will be announced at the car's February launch.

In the mean time, click here for our first drive of the new Honda Civic Tourer.

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