Back in the day, you got the Civic Type R, then for the not so hot, but sporty looking version, there was a Type S. Sadly there hasn’t been a Type S since 2010, and it now looks like the monicker has gone fir good, R.I.P.
Recent years have seen us left with the Civic ‘Sport Line’. Not quite as catchy, but it’ll do.
Prices start at £25,510 for this latest, updated iteration and include a ton of extra exterior touches over the EX; lower front and side skirts, rear diffuser, gloss black window surrounds and door mirrors finish the look.
Inside you get a unique look compared to the rest of the Civic lineup; bespoke leather seats, detailed with red stitching.
Looks
While it may not have the full-on fuss that the Type R wears, the Civic Sport Line sits somewhere in between R madness and the subdued looks of the SE.
Gloss black 17-inch wheels sit well against the Orchid White paintwork, they even go well with the Rallye Red but look somewhat aftermarket and ricey on the Brilliant Sporty Blue.
Getting rid of chrome is always a good thing, with the Civic Sport Line looking far classier than even the silver-clad entry-level SE model – it’s odd how you used to pay extra to get chrome, these days you pay more to get rid of it.
A glass opening roof adds a lot of light to the dark cocooning interior while making the roof appear all black from the front.
Drive
You can pick from either the 1.0-litre VTEC Turbo with a 6-speed manual gearbox or a CVT. Sport Line misses out on the 1.5 VTEC and 1.6 i-DTEC diesel.
Nothing has changed here since our 2017 Honda Civic review, the manual is still slick and charming to use with a short, sporty throw. Power is adequate with 124 BHP and 200 Nm of torque in the manual, that last figure dips to 180 in the CVT equipped model.
0-62 MPH takes 11.2 seconds in the manual, admirable from the 3 cylinder turbo lump. While the engine lacks a little punch now and then in the lower revs, once up to speed, you’d never know it was such a diddy powerplant.
The new addition of Active Dampers is welcome, while the difference is subtle, you do feel the Civic tense up when the magic button is pressed. It makes carving through your favourite B roads even better, but for the majority of people, it’ll probably never get pressed.
Interior
Inside is where the namesake comes into play, red stitching, leather throughout and a few subtle details on the door cards and gear shifter. Oh, and the wheel is also adorned with red stitching.
Seat middles have some sort of faux carbon effect to them, smart, but Type R Alcantara wouldn’t have gone amiss.
Boot space still measures in at 478 litres as the Civic Sport Line goes without the central Sports exhaust option. Leg and headroom are also some of the best in class thanks to a low hip point in the rear.
2020 Honda Civic Sport Line Conclusion
Prices may have increased over the old Civic Sport Line trim, but the kit has also expanded to range-topping levels.
While the overall looks will still be a bit marmite to some, this new Sport Line model adds go-faster exterior additions with healthy spec and a smart interior.
