Honda Civic Tourer (2014 – 2017) Review

Honda Civic Tourer (2014 – 2017) At A Glance

4/5
Honest John Overall Rating
The Honda Civic Tourer adopts the sort of unique approach we've become used to from the Japanese company, and it works extremely well.

+Practical and spacious estate. Brilliant 1.6 i-DTEC diesel engine. Quirky styling. Clever load area. Decent ride quality.

-Oddball interior will not be to everyone’s taste.

Insurance Groups are between 13–17
On average it achieves 85% of the official MPG figure

Honda is not one to follow trends or fads, so it’s not a surprise to find that the Honda Civic Tourer estate which arrived in 2014 was a very different car to its main rivals such as the Toyota Auris Touring Sports, popular Ford Focus Estate or redoubtable Volkswagen Golf Estate. In many ways, the Honda Civic Tourer is all the better for it, although it did mean opinion was split on the interior when it arrived, and there were only two engine choices. As a used buy, the Honda Civic Tourer is big on space and quality. Read on for our full Honda Civic Tourer review.

The British-built Honda Civic Tourer was the next step in the development of the Japanese company’s longest-lived model line. The arrival of the five-door estate bolstered a range that had got off to something of a slow start following its launch in 2012.

The 2014 Honda Civic Tourer was designed and developed in Europe by the company’s UK-based engineering team. Although it’s closely based on the hatchback, there was a considerable amount of fine-tuning, over and above the addition of that new bodywork at the rear.

In effect, the Honda Civic Tourer is new from the rear pillar back, with an overall increase in length of 235mm on an identical wheelbase.

So, as far as the driver is concerned, the Honda Civic Tourer is identical to the hatchback, but rear-seat passengers are treated to additional headroom combined with a 624-litre boot, once the false floor is removed.

Kick them out, fold down the rear seats and stack to the roof and the potential load capacity is increased to 1668 litres, which is not too shabby for a car in this class.

The Honda Civic Tourer was offered with just two engine options in the UK – the excellent 1.6-litre i-DTEC diesel as a manual only and the 1.8-litre i-VTEC petrol version, which can also be specified with an automatic transmission.

With a CO2 figure of 99g/km and an average claimed economy figure of 74.3mpg, the diesel Honda Civic Tourer is the one that makes most sense for used buyers, especially as the equivalent figures of 146g/km and 45.6mpg for the petrol version aren’t quite so impressive.

Ask Honest John

Which five year old estate should I buy?

"What is the best five year old estate?"
At this age, I'd be looking for a car with a strong reputation for reliability. The Honda Civic Estate or Toyota Avensis Touring Sports.
Answered by Dan Powell

What is the best used estate car to buy?

"What is the best used estate to buy?"
Difficult to give you a recommendation without knowing your budget. But generally, I'd say the best estate cars are: Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Skoda Octavia, Skoda Superb, Honda Civic Tourer and the Toyota Corolla Touring Sports.
Answered by Dan Powell

Should I buy a petrol or diesel car for my 35-mile commute?

"I'm looking at getting a used estate for around £15-18k budget. I'll need it three days a week to go between Bristol and Cardiff and would drive through/around Cardiff City Centre. I'll also do some long business trips as well, and holiday trips so likely around 8-10,000 miles per year. I've never owned a diesel and, of course, wary of any charges they may introduce for these cities, as well as running/maintenance costs. Which cars would you suggest?"
That reads like a round trip of 70-miles, which is more than enough for a diesel. I'd recommend something comfortable and spacious like the Skoda Octavia Estate 2.0 TDI or old shape Honda Civic Tourer 1.6 i-DTEC. The Civic will return 60+mpg: https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/realmpg/honda/civic-tourer-2014
Answered by Dan Powell

I do 60 miles per day. Should I go for petrol or diesel?

"I currently do 60 miles a day to work and back, mainly dual carriageway and B roads. I was looking at buying a used Skoda Octavia Estate with the automatic gearbox. Would petrol or diesel be best? "
A Skoda Octavia sounds like a good choice and a diesel could be a good option for your mileage. Take a look at a Honda Civic Tourer, too – it's very spacious and will be a reliable choice. Alternatively, how about a Kia Ceed Sportswagon? It'll be very cheap to run and will come with a transferable seven-year warranty.
Answered by Andrew Brady
More Questions

What does a Honda Civic Tourer (2014 – 2017) cost?