HONDA'S latest diesel engine has not moved the goal-posts in the market, it has introduced a completely new game and left existing players in the dressing room.

We were accustomed to gradual economy and performance improvements with diesel engines but the new Honda i-DTEC 1.6 has taken big strides in economy, performance and low emissions.

While pumping out just 94g/km of CO2, the British-built Civic 1.6 will return over 60mpg and has acceleration and maximum speed which equate to a good petrol engine.

This power-plus-economy character makes the new Civic 1.6 i-DTEC a delight to drive and you quickly forget it's a diesel until you look at the fuel gauge and realise it does close to 600 miles between top-ups.

The smoothness, urgency and lack of mechanical noise show this is a very well developed diesel which is perfectly matched with a light and smooth changing six-speed manual gearbox possessing a good set of ratios for overtaking or quietly cruising at the motorway limit.

Delightfully balanced steering blends sharpness with smoothness and gives a tight turning circle without being twitchy or trembling in nature while underfoot the brakes need only modest pressure to bring about quick and controlled deceleration.

I thought the handbrake set up for left hand drive was not as well placed as it might have been, but it held the Civic well in check on a steep slope.

That left hand drive character also showed up with the rear wiper which meant a large sweep of the glass was left uncleaned in the driver's line of sight and this combined with the rear aerofoil's mid-line position created blindspot so the on-board reversing camera was welcome on this ES-T version.

Visibility to the front and sides was good with big wipers and powerful long-range lights for wet or dark conditions.

The five-door Civic was easy to get into and out of and the seats were particularly well shaped for me, supportive and had plenty of adjustment in front. The rear was flatter but still comfortable and room was good throughout.

The normal boot of 477 litres could be gradually increased to maximum of 1,210 litres and there was a deep rear panel over which to lift items and it was covered by a quickly removed panel.

Heating and ventilation climate control was very good throughout with a simple and effective system, the secondary controls were straightforward and conveniently placed and the instruments clear.

Oddments trays, cubbies and pockets were plentiful as you would wish in a family car and it was fully wired for personal players while the ES-T spec included a very good navigation system.

The Civic 1.6 handled very well. It was responsive, agile, surefooted and had no real vices to cause concern.

Pushed hard into a bend and simply lifting off the throttle brought the nose gently back on line without drama. Accelerate hard from standstill and there was little wheelspin or twitching from the chassis thanks to the stability system built into the electronics.

We did two long journeys in the Civic 1.6 and it proved comfortable, quiet, economical and always safe. It had the easy-going character of a much bigger car.

It is almost 20 years since Honda started building the Civic series in Swindon and this is a success story which deserves not only retelling but experiencing.