Honda have given their family hatchback a mid-life refresh – revised bumpers and grille and LED headlights – and, at the same time, taken the opportunity to introduce a new version to the line-up. The Sport Line brings a taste of the Type R to other models in the range with a small rear wing, a faux rear diffuser, unique 17in alloy wheels and other subtle aero upgrades.

Inside enhancements are restricted to some red stitching and new textured panels on the dashboard.

It’s a direct rival to cars like the Ford Focus ST-Line and Seat Leon FR but rather than being a model in its own right it is, for now, applied to the flagship EX. It will, later, be available as a £1,000 option on the cheaper SR trim levels too.

Under the bonnet is a 1.0-litre VTEC turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine connected to the front wheels via a CVT transmission. It produces 124bhp that translates into a 0-62mph time of 10.9 seconds (11.2 in the six-speed manual). There’s a significant amount of engine noise permeating the cabin when the revs rise, something that they are prone to doing when you’re sending drive through a CVT box, but once you’re up to speed refinement is very good, with little wind or road noise to speak of.

It remains a lovely car to drive and, if you want to be a little more involved, you can take over the gear changes using the paddles on the steering column. The ride is nicely judged, with a decent balance between handling and comfort. EX-spec cars are fitted with adaptive dampers but the Civic is so well composed in standard mode that there’s little benefit in compromising your comfort by making the ride too stiff.

The steering offers up consistent weighting off-centre that makes it as easy to drive around urban areas as it fun to tackle a series of tight bends on a winding country road.

The Civic is still an incredibly practical car. Passengers in the front and back are blessed with ample head and leg room while the boot, with a capacity of 478 litres with the rear seats in place and 828 without – is one of the biggest in this class.

Visibility is excellent out of the front and sides but there’s a step in the tailgate that cuts right through your view out of the back. On top-spec Sport Line cars it’s much less of an issue when you’re reversing thanks to the addition of a rear-view camera as standard.

There’s lots of flexibility in the powered seats and in the reach and rake of the steering wheel, so even the tallest – and shortest – drivers should be able to find a comfortable driving position. The heated seats are very supportive too, both laterally and under your legs, so long-distance journeys shouldn’t prove too much of a strain.

The quality of the materials in the passenger space is decent, even if it doesn’t quite rival the very best in class, but everything is securely bolted together. The ergonomics are much improved with all the major controls within easy reach and there are now physical controls for the infotainment system – so you’re not obliged to spend too much time interacting with the slightly fiddly seven-inch touchscreen – with a column of shortcut buttons down the side. Those all-important climate controls are much easier to operate too.

The infotainment system also supports Android Auto and Apple CarPlay so you can further distance yourself from the built-in software. You also get a wireless charging pad at the base of the centre console and Honda have carved out additional storage space with a hollow area just below where you’ll find USB and 12v sockets.

The Civic is incredibly practical, fun to drive and very well built but the infotainment system remains a weakness despite the changes Honda have wrought. The other issue is price. The Sport Line tweaks add a welcome dose of Type R DNA but the fact that they’re only available on top-spec EX trim pushes the cost past the ‘good value’ threshold. So, unless you absolutely it’s an absolutely must have on your shopping list, it would make more sense to wait until the Sport Line option is available on the cheaper SR.

Honda Civic EX Sport Line 1.0 VTEC Turbo CVT

Price: £26,910

As tested: £27,435

Engine: 1.0-litre 3-cylinder turbocharged petrol

Transmission: CVT

Max power: 124bhp

Max torque: 180Nm @ 1,700 – 4,500rpm

Max speed: 124mph

0-62mph: 10.9sec

Fuel consumption (WLTP)

Low: 35.8 mpg

Medium: 43.5 mpg

High: 47.9 mpg

Extra high: 39.8 mpg

Combined: 42.2mpg

Emissions (CO2): 107g/km

For more information visit www.honda.co.uk