Civic sized cars that are good for bikes but a better drive?

I like Hondas- apart from the brakes, my Accord (2004) has been a good car and the Civic before it (2002) likewise. Its getting old and I’m shortlisting cars to testdrive- thoughts so far;

Probably petrol- less than 10k miles a year, not likely to change
Reliable
Towbar to be fitted- will do bikes in the car most of the time but this opens up a hatch rather than tourer..
Boot- bikes upright would be great (minus wheels) as would one bike in the boot with seats up.
Something enjoyable to drive- enough power to overtake, not struggle when loaded up with kit but not hot hatch territory- don’t have the skills to drive stupidly fast
2014 or newer but will think about this depending on finances..

Cars I plan to look at/test drive;

Mazda 3
Civic (tourer and hatch)
Seat Leon
Skoda Fabia (although probably too small)

Open to guidance/experience/suggestions!

Fabia is way too small (I had one, couldn’t get bikes in even with one wheel on) but Octavia may suit. The turbo petrol engines are great in them too.

Civic is good, great boot space for the size but the only petrol is their 1.8. It would tick the reliable box but it’s a pretty old unit.

Auris tourer is worth a look, the hybrids are good, big boot, very reliable (it’s the same running gear as the current Prius, used as minicabs everywhere).

Ta. Spotted the Auris hatch but the facelift isn’t meant to be so practical- didn’t spot the tourer although engines seem week and hybrid is an auto..

Civic would probably be the diesel based on reviews, if the petrol is as week as reported!

Just been looking at the civic tourer but decided to stick with my focus. Not quite as practical but more comfortable and nicer to drive.

You do know that the Civic hatch rear seats (lower part of) fold up against the back, giving you all the footwell room for a couple of bikes with wheels off. Its a great feature, and one that I use if my bike is cleanish and its only me. Otherwise I use my towbar mounted rack. We have a 2.2 diesel – too much power TBH, but the newer Civics do a 1.6 Diesel and the parents have one of these. Amazing MPG (65-75+).

How about the 1.0l focus? Cheap on fuel and good to drive, the 125bhp version should be fast enough for most things. The boot on the hatch isn’t that big but it’s plenty big enough for 3 bikes and a weekends gear with the seats down.

We got a FK2 Civic this year and it’s magic. I’ve come from a reasonably long line of proper “drivers cars” (I know that sounds a bit ****, but they really are) plus some of the more common ones (Golf GTi, BMW 330d Touring, Lexus Is200, etc) but needed to get sensible. It’s a very engaging car to drive, more than nippy enough for 95% of situations, and we’re averaging a touch over 40mpg since we’ve had it. Boot is very useable and the split rear seats are very handy. Under £5k for a decent one now.

EDIT: just seen the 2014 or newer. Bro-in-law has a Hyundai i40 Tourer and thinks it’s brilliant. His job involves alit of travel and it swallows all the work equipment plus his bike & kit for when he ventures near Bike Park Wales and the likes. Very nice place to sit too.

What engine for the FK2? Thats the previous gen (up to 2011?)

Yup, previous gen, but when you’re inside it’s almost like sitting in a concept car. It’s the 1.8 VTEC petrol. We would have had the diesel, but it wouldn’t suit our driving requirements.

When my 2003 Civic Type-S died I went on a hunt for something newer with similar strengths. After various disappointing test drives of much newer cars I concluded that the fruit doesn’t fall for a tree and tried to find another one (which hadn’t been quite so abused). It has cruise control, bigger wheels and tyres (post facelift and optional 17″s) and the aircon works again – a year younger but feels remarkably new. (Note to self – ragging cars, taking speedhumps at the legal limit and filling a hatchback with rubble and concrete for tip trips is not good for their longterm health…)

I wish Honda still made an equivalent model! I thought the 1.0 125bhp Focus did a good job of being about as spacious and not too slow and more economical but they hadn’t depreciated enough when I was shopping.

They only did a 2.2 diesel or a 1.8 petrol

Seat Leon or Skoda Octavia.

Also 1.4 petrol and 2.0 type R

New Peugeot 308sw looks like a good bikey car.

+1 New Peugeot 308 SW. 🙂

Umm, ‘old unit’??

The R series isn’t exactly old in Honda terms, they’ve barely been around for any length of time when compared to the D Series they replaced (’84-’05). Not heard any complaints about them anyway, seem to be fairly solid runarounds with a reasonable amount of grunt behind them.

Not sure what the diesel options are for a ’14 plate, I know the N22 was to be phased out due to emissions and the 1.6 is a fairly standard 100hp unit. Nothing exciting but will hopefully be reliable. Not sure how the 2.2 could be considered powerful never mind “too powerful” at 140hp. But whatever, horses for courses…

Oh and the FK2 is the 5 door 1.8.

I think of it as an old-style petrol engine – yes, it’s was a new unit in 2006 and has some clever little bits of Honda innovation but the market is full of newer smaller turbocharged petrols that use less fuel and cost you less to tax while making the same power but with more torque.

Some people want a “traditional” petrol engine (my dad among them, he picked up his 1.8 Civic tourer a few weeks ago) but depending on your priorities there are probably better options if you want a petrol these days.

if your looking at a VAG Group car make sure your try one with independent rear suspension, whilst the lower spec golf mk7’s are excellent only the larger Engines have the independent rear suspension (Think the same goes for the Seat range)

My regular drive is an EP3 Civic, 2002. Which I love, I was given a new Civic (brand new not sure of the model number) as a courtesy car earlier in the year and I found it horrible to drive, steering felt too light, engine was gutless, visibility was limited, overall not something I’d jump to own.

We were going to get a Civic 2.2 CDTi but got an Audi A3 SE for the same money on a two year contract. It works out at under £3000 a year and includes tyres, servicing etc but with 10 000 limited mileage.
We like it…

I am currently seriously considering the Kia Cee’d

7yr warranty is very tempting…

T1000 – Member
if your looking at a VAG Group car make sure your try one with independent rear suspension, whilst the lower spec golf mk7’s are excellent only the larger Engines have the independent rear suspension (Think the same goes for the Seat range)

Yeah. For the Leon at least, the 150bhp diesel doesn’t have the fancy rear suspension, but the 180bhp version does.

fitnessischeating – Member

I am currently seriously considering the Kia Cee’d

7yr warranty is very tempting…

My in-laws have got a 5dr Cee’d hatchback and love it.

Has no one mentioned the Golf R estate yet? 😆

yeah, we bough the GF a kia Rio a couple of years back, and have no complaints, but its just “some car” and I will be coming from something quite a bit nicer, so its a bit depressing really….

Not sure how the 2.2 could be considered powerful never mind “too powerful” at 140hp

Well, wasted power for us, and TBH I would think most people buying this type of car. 5dr Diesel hatchback. The 2.2 was shared amongst Accord, FRV, CRV, Civic, so you can see the civic would be by far the lightest. I would have preferred the lesser powered 1.6 engine if they had made it – less wear on the clutch, less wear on the gearbox, more life from the tyres, more MPG, and with enough grunt for what most would need.

My regular drive is an EP3 Civic, 2002. Which I love, I was given a new Civic (brand new not sure of the model number) as a courtesy car earlier in the year and I found it horrible to drive, steering felt too light, engine was gutless, visibility was limited, overall not something I’d jump to own.

140hp shopping cart compares unfavourably to 200hp Type-R shocker.

Superfli – see your point now. That said I’d still appreciate the extra ponies, my 1.7 is comparable to the 1.6 in performance it’s fairly gutless with more than a single occupant, not ideal if you want to overtake one of the many 40mph morons we get round here.

Has no one mentioned the Golf R estate yet?

No, it’s bloody ugly.

How about the 1.0l focus? Cheap on fuel and good to drive, the 125bhp version should be fast enough for most things. The boot on the hatch isn’t that big but it’s plenty big enough for 3 bikes and a weekends gear with the seats down.

x1.

I had one and it was a great car, nice to drive and a very smooth + quiet engine. Some good deals about at the moment too as the facelifted model has just hit the showrooms.

140hp shopping cart compares unfavourably to 200hp Type-R shocker.

Well yeah it is a, bit it wasn’t just the power, the steering feel cabin everything felt a bit off. That being said I do feel the tourer is an interesting option, the folding seats in that make sooo much space.

I’m not very well versed on modern cars, despite wanting better economy I’d probably still opt for an S3 or something as my next car (not that the Civic will ever need replacing mechanically 120k and still running just fine unlike any Peugeots I’ve owned before which have tanked long before 100k).

Your R will keep going on and on and on as long as you maintain it. Would consider one as a toy if I had the money to swap out the rack for a hydraulic one from an Integra. Or just get the DC5 and be done with it.

Honda are coming out with small capacity turbo engines next year. If you like Hondas, then maybe wait. I wouldn’t rule out the Jazz either, it’s not really any smaller than a Civic, new one coming out next year. I also must admit I love Hondas.
I would also consider a 1.0 Focus.

Why Leon’s and A3’s with no mention of normal Golfs? Or go for a Golf SV?

The Civic Tourer is a nice car but you need the top model for the adaptive suspension which makes it over priced in my opinion.

How about a Seat Exeo estate? About the same size as the Civic and a good car from all accounts. Otherwise, depending on budget, the 1 series and A-Class are both very nice cars to drive.

Got a modern Civic hatch myself. It’ll take two or three bikes in the back with seats flat.

The 1.8 has bucket loads of power. Frequently I have a grin as the vtec kicks in and it just takes off, and mine isn’t even a Type R. Fully loaded it will still cruise up hills. Done trip to the Alps comfortably with bikes, passenger and loaded up with tools, spares and luggage. Plenty of leg room for somewhat tall passenger too even with the bikes in.

If your experience is old Civics, the new will be utterly different to you, except for the reliability which is still excellent.

Bikes inside, get yourself a boot liner. I’ve got a Hatchbag which works well http://www.hatchbag.co.uk/

I like my Fabia, but it’s not going to be a better drive than a Civic unless you get a Monte Carlo and the steering will be a bit light for most.

I can get three bikes and folk in mine, upright without wheels, but use a towbar.

Mazda 3 MPS
BMW 130i

I have no idea if you can get bikes in these, but I expect so.

I have the adaptive suspension on my Civic tourer, it does make a difference to the handling and cruising on Motorways.

Yes, tourer would need to have the adaptive suspension I think.

Monte Carlo Fabia isn’t any different drive wise AFAIK.. purely styling changes.

The new Renault Clio!!!!! or the slightly bigger Renault Captur!!!! Seemed to have similar boot space, if not more, than my ageing and uninspiring (but frugal and reasonably reliable) Ford fusion, and probably drive better.

I was looking at the Dacia range because I dislike all the bollocks you get with most modern cars now…. Sandero Stepway and Logan, but I doubt they’d drive better. The Logan has a vast amount of space and they are quoting very good mpg for the diesels.

Civic sized cars that are good for bikes but a better drive?

From your title – I love honda’s but I don’t like their lifeless steering. For me the safest car is one that you feel the most comfortable and able to steer the best. This also means you enjoy it to drive the most. (All IMO, some IAM driver will be along soon and tell me otherwise).

So I’d start with the usual suspects for good steering: Ford.

Out of VAG- I found Seat to have the better (not-overdamped) cars.

Test drive lots IMO and get the salesman to shut up. I hate it when they talk. It distracts from you driving the darn thing.