Ever since the Japanese...

Ever since the Japanese maker took the wraps off the striking Civic Concept at the Geneva Motor Show in March, excitement about the car"s impending launch has been building. Many thought Honda would never put such a daring-looking model into production, but when the official pictures were released in August, barely a detail had changed.

Now we"ve driven it, the big questions are as follows: Is the Civic a new class leader? Or is it all show and no go? There"s only one way to find out!

While its predecessor was a worthy family car, it looked mundane. But the new Civic couldn"t be more different. Away from the glitz of a motor show, the dramatic wedge-like profile really stands out. The first thing that hits you is the sporty, low front end and bold one-piece plastic grille, behind which the headlamps and Honda badge are encased.

A deep air intake, flanked by triangular spotlights, completes the Civic"s chiselled nose. Rear door handles hidden in the C-pillar and a rising waistline draw you to the tail, which is dominated by a spoiler that splits the screen, and angular light clusters. In terms of design, this is the only area of weakness - it appears fussy - although overall the car looks fantastic. The Civic stands out in any company; and against rivals such as the Ford Focus, Vauxhall Astra and VW Golf, it"s truly futuristic. Not even SEAT"s Leon can compete for visual drama.

Designers often tend to run out of steam when they get to the interior, but this hasn"t been the case at Honda. The sweeping dashboard features twin digi-tal displays and includes lots of neat details, such as the red starter button, a gearlever that sprouts from a silver metal ball and alloy pedals.

Build quality is superb, with classy plastics and solid-feeling buttons - particularly the rotary knob mounted on the centre console. This is similar to BMW"s iDrive controller, and operates the optional satellite navigation. The cabin is neatly arranged, with ventilation switches located close to the driver.

Unlike most replacement models, the Civic hasn"t grown in size. In fact, it"s slightly shorter than its predecessor, and is lower by 35mm. However, interior space doesn"t suffer, since the width has risen by 65mm.

There"s bags of room for passengers, while mounting the fuel tank centrally under the front seats makes space for a lower rear bench. Squeezing three adults into the back could be a struggle, though, particularly if they are tall.

A compact rear suspension layout has helped increase boot capacity. The load area is vast, and features a twin height floor, giving a maximum g figure of 485 litres - that"s 100 litres more than in the Focus. Versatility is further boosted by rear seats which fold flat simply and quickly, with a clever mechanism inspired by that found on the firm"s Jazz supermini.

So the Civic is certainly practical, yet it also promises to be very safe. Honda is expecting a five-star Euro NCAP crash test rating, thanks to its stiff new body structure, while front, side and curtain airbags are fitted as standard, along with traction and stability control. But what"s the new Honda like to drive?

From the moment you turn the ignition and the classy digital read-outs magically illuminate, the car impresses. Finding a comfortable driving position is easy, as the reach and rake of the steering offers a wide range of adjustment, while forward visibility is great, with thin A-pillars and a large glass area. On the move, the first thing you notice is the smooth ride. The new electric power-steering has more weight and feel than the outgoing car"s set-up. In bends, the Civic is agile, its body resisting roll well and the wide, low stance providing confidence-inspiring stability.

We will have to try the Honda on a bumpy UK B-road to see how it copes with the harshest surfaces, but for now we reckon it"s nearly as good to drive as a Focus. The chassis is backed up by an excellent engine and gearbox combination. Our car had the 138bhp 2.2-litre i-CTDi diesel, and with 340Nm of torque, it delivers brisk acceleration, feeling every bit as quick as the class-leading 8.4-second 0-60mph time suggests.

Equally impressive is the lack of turbo lag, with a strong response even at low revs, while the six-speed gearbox has a short and positive change. Refinement is good, too, although at higher engine revs you"ll never confuse the diesel variant for a petrol car. Mind you, with a combined economy figure of 55.4mpg and CO2 emissions of only 135g/km, private and company car buyers alike won"t be too concerned.

Negatives are few and far between, although we couldn"t help feeling that rear visibility is poor. The thick C-pillars make for tricky manoeuvring, and the spoiler bisecting the window obscures your vision, particularly on the motorway. But that"s about it for criticism.

Equipment is generous, with most trim levels getting climate control, while ES versions add cruise control and a panoramic glass roof. Prices are competitive, too, with the ES model costing about the same as the equivalent Focus and н‚бЈ900 less than the Golf.

It all adds up to a very impressive package. Not only is the Civic practical, well built and good value, it"s also great to drive and uniquely styled. There"s no doubt it"s a winner, and Honda"s rivals should be very worried indeed.