IT IS fair to say that Honda has struggled in recent years with a line-up that has failed to attract as much attention as some other strong Japanese contenders such as Toyota and Mazda, but the introduction of the HR-V compact SUV last year appeared to be a turning point.

But one swallow does not a summer make and Honda needs to bolster the strong-selling crossover with additional attractive models if it is going to return to its halcyon days of favourable customer perception reflected in the order books.

That, says Honda, is exactly what the new Civic range is going to do for the brand, arriving this month in sedan form with a new turbocharged engine, more youth-focused equipment, styling and driving enjoyment.

The new version has also undergone four years of local development, with feedback from dealers and customers alike to tailor a more appealing Civic for an Australian buyer.

A healthy pre-order list suggests the new Civic sedan will perform similarly to the HR-V with as many as 350 people signing up for one already, but is the little four-door the complete package to continue luring customers back to Honda?

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