Media post: Could the new British-build Civic Tourer be a best-seller for Honda?

Honda Civic Tourer

Since the Honda Civic was launched back in 1972, worldwide sales have reached more than 16,500,000, and with the new Tourer set to arrive in UK dealerships soon, that figure is expected to rise considerably. The latest edition to the beloved Civic range, the Tourer proved extremely popular when it was débuted at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show. Combining sleek, sporty looks with practicalities like plenty of space, it builds on the existing features of the award-winning Civic hatchback with a new, more sophisticated appearance.

So what is it about the Honda Civic Tourer that could make it a best-seller? With the compact estate market growing steadily, it made sense for Honda to add a wagon body style to the Civic range; but it’s got a lot more going for it than that.

Space One of the biggest selling points of the Civic Tourer is that there is a massive 624 litres of space with the rear seats folded up, and when the back seats are folded back flat, the huge boot expands to allow for 1,668 litres of storage.

Design To balance out all of that practicality, the Honda Civic Tourer has an aerodynamic body and a low, wide stance to give it a sporty look, and in comparison to the Skoda Octavia estate and Volkswagen Golf estate, it’s far more interesting to look at than its rivals.

Comfort As well as being extremely comfortable, there are three driving modes to choose from, so if you find the steering too light and responsive in the Comfort and Normal modes, you can switch to Dynamic to add some artificial weighting. A world first, the Active Damper System adjusts the rear suspension damping based on the car’s load, meaning that overall, it’s a calm, smooth drive, especially with the diesel, which is expected to make up 80% of Tourer sales.

Specs Whether you go for the 118bhp 1.6 i-DTEC turbodiesel engine or the 140bhp i-VTEC petrol engine, you’ll be getting a slick, six-speed manual gearbox, though there’s also the option of a five-speed torque converter with the petrol car. Although the diesel is around £1,000 more expensive, it’s 60% more fuel-efficient and emits less CO2, so it can save you money in the long-run. With the entry-level S, you’ll get digital radio, Bluetooth and 16-inch alloys, and for another £1,600 the SE Plus brings 17 inch alloys and parking sensors. With orders for the new Honda Civic Tourer currently being taken, only time will be able to tell how the figures are shaping up, but considering Civic compact sales grew by almost 6% to 336,180 in the United States last year, Honda’s growth is expected to be significant, as it was a combination of the Civic, the Accord and the CVR which made up nearly half of all Honda sales in America in 2013 (not including the Acura luxury brand).