After initially being unimpressed, I'm now quite positive about the 2012 Civic after seeing a few parked and sitting in one a few weeks back. I still stand by what I said before though - it isn't as good looking as the previous '06-11 model, especially the Type R and post '09 facelift with the new style grilles and painted exterior trim, but I like the shape and it's only the change-for-change-sake detailing like the wheel arches and rear lights that are the only negatives. Next to my current favourite for styling in this sector - the new Kia C'eed - the new Civic's styling is more original and the shape more attractive and dynamic. But the new C'eed has cleaner detailing, even if from some angles I can see a fair amount of Vauxhall Astra. On the whole I do like it now.
The interior is a mixed bag - I prefer the new design of the instrument binnacle and the Jazz-style hooded dials but the centre console area is more conventional than before, the funky A/C and audio controls have been replaced with a row of faceless buttons and the sat-nav where fitted looks aftermarket. Perceived quality is up though around the door cards and gearlevel/handbrake area, and the handbrake itself no longer looks like design and assembly were contracted out to Fisher-Price.
Rear visibility? From *just* sitting in the showroom car it is better than before and now at last there is now a rear wiper. TBH, I never had a big problem with the spolier - you get used to it very quickly, and it was only the thick C-pillars that took time to adjust to and to be fair, the old one was no worse than the Mk5 Golf, 1-series, etc.
Would I buy one? I would investigate one more closely if I was in the market for a five-door family hatch. I'd have one over a Golf as I'm not a fan of the cooking (i.e., non-GTi/R models) Golfs as they are, frankly, no more desirable than a dull Toyota Auris once you look past the soft plastics and that 'badge'. And as a someone who was 'really into cars' growing up in the 80s and early 90s, a time when people bought mediocre Fords and Vauxhalls by the bucketload (because they thought they were buying 'British'?
), I could never see myself in a Focus or Astra, even though I admit I really like the look of the latest Astra GTC. Equally though I would consider the latest Hyundai i30/Kia C'eed if the resale values hold up (outgoing 11-plate Kia C'eed diesels with a good spec can be picked up for less than a brand new Jazz ES
).