HOW late is Civic to the diesel party!

Not only has it missed the canapés, booze, speeches, and toasts: some guests have even left.

For example, the base Golf 77TDI is AWOL, leaving only the $35K 110TDI Highline DSG flagship.

With fuel prices generally stable (but for how much longer?) and petrol powerplant efficiency fast improving, the small-car diesel boom of half a decade ago is now more background white noise.

But this might be a golden opportunity for Honda, since its first-ever diesel in Australia – the British-built and very Euro-focussed Civic Hatch DTi-S – makes an entrance at an all-in-one $26,990 plus on-roads.

The lack of an automatic transmission will hurt sales, though.



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