IF you love to drive something different, make it a New Year resolution to try the new Honda Civic.
One of the most radical family cars for years hits the road in January and it's coming out of dealers flying the Honda badge.
The new Civic is totally different to the model it replaces, which is a functional, though, featureless hatchback with a strong appeal to older drivers.
The traditional Civic buyer could be elbowed out by a younger generation who will want to be seen behind the wheel of the "super-wedge" Civic with its concept-look lights front and back and Starship Trooper interior.
Put as simply as can be, there is nothing on the market today which can hold a candle to the Civic's style and individuality.
Shining as a beacon in a sea of conformity, the new Civic will be launched with a five-door body, choice of two petrol and one diesel engines and with manual or sequential six-speed transmission.
A three-door derivative will follow in 12 months time and Honda is considering a sporty Type-R as well as an automatic transmission for the diesel versions.
Built in Swindon for European sales, which account for 40 per cent of all Civics sold, Honda is planning to make 90,000 Civics next year, including 35,000 for the UK.
This eighth generation Civic has been designed in-house to be revolutionary, not only for Honda, but the hatchback segment as a whole.
Visually it has a short, very wide front rolling into a flowing coupe profile with rising waistline front to back and finishing off with a pronounced rounded tail and split level rear window.
Triangular front fog lights and triangular twin tailpipes are as eye-catching as the plastic covered lighting units both ends which wrap around the sides of the car.
It is as dramatically different inside as out with clearly defined levels of instruments radiating from the driver's eyes and in the back the seats lift up and fold down while the fifth door opens to below knee height.
There is no spare wheel - you get an instant "fix foam" repair kit - and the extra space is used to maximise luggage capacity from a minimum 485 litres to maximum 1,352 litres.
The thought of not having a spare wheel may be the final straw to put off older buyers who want to trade in their current Civic for the new model. Honda believes the average age profile will drop from 58 to 30-somethings with the new car.
Aimed at the driver who may be considering, or using, an Alfa Romeo 147, VW Golf, Audi A3 or BMW 1-Series, the Honda Civic has been created in Japan but with strong input from the UK and Germany to optimise dynamics and appeal.
There is a range of 24 versions in five trim levels with optional leather and satellite navigation and prices run from under £12,700 to £18,100.
The 1.4 version does 0-60mph in 14.5 seconds and has a 106mph maximum with combined consumption measured at 47.9mpg while its 1.8 stablemate accelerates in just under nine seconds, hits 127mph and attains 44mpg.
The 2.2 diesel is 8.5 seconds to 60mph, reaches 127mph and is said to give 55.4mpg.
On the road with the new Civic, the diesel was the better bet over a 1.8 petrol. Although developing identical maximum power, the 1.8's 119Nm at 2,800rpm compares poorly to the diesel delivery of 340Nm at 2,000rpm.
The diesel has a better clutch, gearchange and driveability than the petrol, which is also coarser under acceleration and noisy at cruising speed.
The ride is very good over a mixture of roads but the steering not as communicative as I would like, although its handling is safe and surefooted.
Room is reasonably good inside and I like the versatility of the lift up or drop down offset split back seats and very deep boot.
There was no opportunity to test a 1.4 version and I think whichever you choose, the rearward visibility is not as good as some rivals with the thick rear window pillar.
Also, we will have to wait and see if Honda's claim about "self-cleaning" rear windows stands up to actual use. It may work on the move but after the journey what is an older driver going to do on Sundays?