It is available with the choice of two engines; the 1.8 i-VTEC petrol and the Earth Dreams Technology 1.6 i-DTEC diesel, and four trim levels.The entry level S grade includes features such as Bluetooth Hands Free Telephone, DAB Radio, USB connectivity and 16-inch alloy wheels. In addition to these goodies, the SE Plus, the next level up, has rear parking sensors and 17einch alloys, while SR customers will benefit from the new world first rear Adaptive Damper System, front heated seats, HDD Navi and privacy glass.I drove the top-of-the-range 1.6 i-DTEC EX Plus Manual, which also came with headlight washer, smart entry and start capability, sunglasses holder, interior blue ambient lighting and Bi-HID headlights with auto levelling.The 1.6 i-DTEC engine delivers exceptional fuel economy to help keep running costs low without compromising power and performance.The light weight engine provides a punchy 120 PS and 300 Nm of torque with an acceleration time of 0–60mph in 10.1 seconds, while achieving 74.3mpg on the combined cycle. A range of 817 miles on one tank of fuel means less trips to the fuel pumps and CO2 emissions from just 99g/km keeps the car exempt from annual vehicle excise duty.I love the look of the Civic Tourer as lines and curves combine to produce a versatile car that is great to drive.What you are left with no doubt about once you first get in the Civic Tourer is that this is a car of real quality right down to the most minute detail.The view from the driver's seat is comfortable thanks to the bucket-like leather seats, and without fuss. Yes, there are plenty of buttons foryour phone and to control the central screen, but they are laid out in such a way that they aren't in your face and sit nicely on the sturdy dashboard.The speedometer is clear and crisp to read, and I like the subtle screen that is sunk into the centre of thedashboard and can be controlled at the touch of a button on the steering wheel.One of the first things that you notice about the Civic Tourer is the airiness in it – even when you havetwo children's seats at the back there is still plenty of room in the cabin.I was impressed by how well it drove, both on country lanes as well as back on the M1. For a diesel engine it's relatively quiet, and it drove very smoothly.It handled well around corners too, and the necessary acceleration on the motorway was definitely there when needed. I've driven several Civic's before, but this one felt more agile and responsive, which could be down to the Adaptive Damper System, which has settings for Dynamic, Normal and Comfort.The system automatically adjusts the rear suspension damping force and is designed to enhance stability and comfort under the varying load and driving conditions.But the whole point of getting a car of this size is for its versatility, and the Tourer certainly scores top marks. The space inside defies its dimensions. Despite being the lowest and most compact estate in the segment and being just 235mm longer than the Civic hatchback, the new Tourer offers a class-leading 624 litres of boot space (up to the tonneau cover with rear seats up).Utilising Honda's unique Magic Seat system, the rear seats can be pulled down to create a completely flat load area with a massive 1,668 litres of capacity up to the roof lining,The Civic also offers as an option a new suite of safety technologies to a C-segment car. Based on the philosophy of 'Safety for Everyone', this sensor based active safety system uses a combination of cameras, short range lidar (laser radar) and radar, to deliver a high standard of safety in all conditions, giving drivers and passengers complete peace of mind.The Driver Assistance Safety Pack is available as a factory fit option from SE models upwards for £780 and consists of:- City-Brake Active System, specifically designed to help avoid or mitigate low speed accidents.- Forward Collision Warning, which detects the risk of collision by recognising the vehicle directly in front.- High Beam Support System.- Lane Departure Warning.- Traffic Sign Recognition System.- Blind Spot Information.- Cross Traffic Monitor.Safety Pack Two, which is only available on EX models like the one I drove for an additional £2,500, adds Automatic Cruise Control and Collision Mitigation Braking System in place of the City Brake Active System on Safety Pack One.The Honda Civic Tourer starts at just over £20,000 on the road, with the EX Plus model £27,460. The one Idrove cost £27,960 thanks to the addition of pearlescent white paint.