2023 Honda Civic

The previous Honda Civic was spacious, but its cabin has dated rapidly since its launch in 2017. Thankfully, the brand new Honda Civic is a significant improvement.

Although the dashboard is arguably sitll simple, that's not a bad thing as it looks modern and elegant thanks in large to the silver hexagonal latticework running its width, and covering the air vents.

There’s climate controls instead of the hybrid dial and touchscreen system that featured before. That makes it much easier to use, they are also excellent to use with the knurled dials making a lovely little click as you adjust the temperature, playing into the feeling this is a more premium car than before.

The gearshift selector is also the perfect height to use as a wrist-rest when you’re operating them, which is no accident.

The driver’s display is great, however it would be great if Honda fitted the fully digital setup offered in Japan, instead Australians get a setup that sees the pairing of an analogue speedo with a 7.0-inch screen that essentially mimics an analogue rev counter with trip computer functions inside it.

The seats are comfortable and ideal for long distance trips and the driving position is excellent – you can get down nice and low, and the leather-trimmed steering wheel comes straight out from the dashboard rather than on an awkward angle.

Rear legroom has never been a Civic problem, and the longer wheelbase on the 2023 model means that’s still the case. You’ll fit adults behind adults witout issue and headroom is decent given the sloping roofline. The inclusion of rear air vents is fantastic, as is the fold-down central armrest, although you don’t get USB ports back there. Instead, there’s a blanking panel.

It has an elegant new exterior design for starters, and an interior that banishes the overwrought look of the current car in favour of clean, simple lines.

The new Honda Civic has a new 9.0-inch display (the biggest fitted to a Honda in Australia) running new in-house software, and it’s a massive leap forward.

The reversing camera is sharp and bright, unlike the foggy unit from the last car. Over-the-air updates mean the system can be updated throughout its life, too.

It’s a shame Honda has gone with USB-A ports rather than the faster, more modern USB-C ports rolling out elsewhere on its new Civic – or one of each, as is becoming common.

The 2023 Honda Civic VTi-LX has 449L of boot space (45L of this under the boot floor), which grows to 814L when the rear seats are folded away (measured to the window) or 1212L (measured to the roof).

The e:HEV LX has 409L of boot space (5L of this under the boot floor) and 814L of space with the rear seats dropped (measured to the window) or 1187L (measured to the roof).

The Type R has 410L of luggage space, expanding with the rear seats down to904L(measured to the window) or1212L(measured to the roof).

Under the boot floor on each model is a tyre repair kit.