HONDA caused of a stir when it launched its previous generation Civic. To say it was a radical departure from the norm is something of an understatement.

What we have now is Honda’s ninth generation Civic, a car packing greater levels of refinement and comfort while also delivering a driving experience that should please those seeking a bit of fun from their daily commute.

This Civic’s overall stance might be similar to the previous car, but it’s been softened slightly. A black centre section replaces the glossy nose of old, while at the back the design of the car’s light bar has been toned down and it has been repositioned as part of tailgate redesign to improve rearward visibility. And, yippee, there’s now a rear wiper.

But what makes the Civic stand out from its competitors is the athletic profile, from the rakish windscreen to the reduced glass area and busy rear end.

Inside, the driver sits behind the familiar wrap-around section and two-tier instrument panel which tends to suggest a racing car cockpit.

Unusually for a car in this class, cabin space is also good. It’s often a compromise - good up front but only fine for children in the back - but Honda touts the Civic as having cabin space at the top of the class and the provision of a healthy amount of rear legroom.

In addition to the dynamic looks and modern cabin, the Civic offers an equally impressive load-carrying capability. With 477 litres and 1,378 litres available with the rear seats up and folded flat respectively, it can handle most tasks.

Honda has also utilised the "magic seat" formula that earned so much praise when it was first used in the Jazz supermini. These rear seats not only fold flat but, as part of the 60/40 split arrangement, they can be folded upright to reveal a further load option for tall items. In a few quick moves both the seat back and cushion can be locked out of the way.

The Civic’s three engines - two petrol, one diesel - have been revamped to deliver more savings. In manual transmission guise they all get the now expected engine stop-start feature for good measure. A five-speed auto option is available for the 1.8-litre petrol Civic.

Petrol power remains the dominant option in the Civic line-up, and the car’s 1.8-litre (142bhp) unit - tested here- delivers smooth and powerful performance.

If diesel is your preferred choice, then you might want to consider the 2.2-litre diesel engine, which has gained 10bhp to150bhp yet dropped 24g to register 110g/km CO2.

On the road, the car’s new electric power steering has been cleverly calibrated to deliver a good balance of weight and feel. The redesigned manual gearshift is more accurate and requires less effort. Forward visibility is good, while the view rear is better but not brilliant.

The ride quality is perhaps best described as on the firm side of supple, biased towards reducing pitch and roll in the corners, but the strut front and rear beam axle set-up has been honed to deliver a sophisticated ride on even the worst urban roads.

The 1.8-litre petrol variant provides a fun steer on twisty country roads, yet is quite a smoothie in urban surroundings.

With four trim levels boasting generous levels of kit, a cabin delivering a high quality ambience and above average levels of space and a flexible load carrying capacity, the latest version of the Civic answers a lot of questions. It's still going to put a smile on your face, but the performance is just that bit more rounded and mature.