I DO love cars which genuinely make driving easy and the Honda Civic does this wonderfully well.
It's largely on account of the terrific space it offers and the hugely impressive quiet, smooth ride it delivers.
The Honda Civic has what I call the Tardis effect - and it has it in abundance.
For those who are not Dr Who fans, it means you get far more space than you expect inside the vehicle - just like the good doctor's time travelling time box.
And the Honda looks a damn site more attractive that that old phone box, by the way!
It's not only me who was impressed by the amount of space. My 12-year-old daughter takes great interest in the cars I am fortunate enough to test drive and makes her own comparisons.
"Wow, daddy," she exclaimed as she sank into the passenger seat. "Look I can really stretch out in this one."
The current Civic is the vehicle's seventh generation and latest upgrades make it look better than ever. And potential buyers are almost spoilt for choice, so extensive is the range.
It features three different body styles - three, four and five doors - and six different petrol and diesel engines.
All Civic hatchbacks now have sharper frontal styling for a more distinctive, sporty look. The three door features a mesh grille while the five door has a striking new three bar grille. Both gain a prominent 'H' mark.
But the improvements are not all cosmetic. Improving ride quality and reducing noise levels have also been top priorities for Honda engineers.
They have used upgraded and more extensive noise insulation materials, as well as a front sub-frame dynamic dampener in a bid to quell noise and vibrations from all sources.
Particular attention has been paid to reducing wind and road noise, engine noise at full throttle and even the stone chipping sound experienced when driving over loose surfaces.
The net result, says Honda, is a Civic which exhibits "class above" refinement, being superior to direct competitors and as smooth and quiet as many bigger vehicles.
Having driven the 1.6 EX for a week, I do not think this is an idle boast. You really do seem to glide along and the drive you get is silky smooth and astonishingly quiet.
My test car simply purred effortlessly along during round-town and motorway driving.
The 1.6 litre engine has been developed to improve mid-range torque, fuel consumption, driveability and emission performance rather than boost output.
What you get is a satisfyingly "comfortable" feel to the performance.
There's power for speed if you want it, while in the economy stakes it will return almost 43mpg on the combined cycle according to official figures.
My vehicle was an an Executive grade car, benefiting from leather seats - they can be heated and are very swish.
Again, that's a reflection of Honda's determination to make every drive an impressive one.
The shape of the seats has been improved for greater comfort. There is now more chrome detailing and all five door models have self-illuminated meters similar to those of the Honda Accord and Civic IMA.
The new Civic makes it easy to see why it has proved so popular in the past and why it will be an equally big hit, particularly for families with growing children, in the future.
FAST FACTS
Honda Civic 1.6 EX 5 dr
Price: £14,100
Mechanical: 110bhp, 1,590cc 4-cyl petrol engine driving front wheels via 5-spd manual gearbox
Max speed: 116mph
0-62mph: 10.6 secs
Combined mpg: 42.8
Insurance Group: 7
CO2 Emissions: 157 g/km
BiK Rating:: 17%
Warranty: 3yrs/ 90,000 miles; 3yrs paint; 6yrs anti-rust