This new 1.6-litre diesel engine will be a major weapon in the Civic’s armoury. Our test drive confirmed it’s a strong performer, and fuel economy is likely to be respectable. It won’t go on sale for a year, but if you are in the market for a Civic diesel, it promises to be worth the wait.

The new Honda Civic has had a mixed reception so far. We were impressed by the 2.2-litre diesel but less so by the 1.8-litre petrol.

The 148bhp diesel has had its power increased and torque upped, while it delivers great economy at 67.3 mpg. But it’s expensive. The 1.8-litre i-VTEC petrol isn’t cheap either, and has to be revved hard – it feels pretty unresponsive at low revs.

Video: watch our video review of the Honda Civic

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So the need for a new engine is clear – and Honda is pinning its hopes on a new turbodiesel. The four-cylinder 1.6-litre i-DTEC certainly promises to be an interesting addition to the range, and has some clever technology on its side. Honda claims it will offer an unbeatable blend of fuel economy and power output, delivering best in class figures for both.

Key to achieving this is its low weight. An aluminium open deck block is used to shed the pounds – indeed, Honda claims it is the lightest engine of its type in the world, and at 170kg, it weighs significantly less than the 2.2. A more compact auxiliary system helps to reduce friction, too. Improvements in the cooling system reduce CO2 consumption by 15 per cent. When combined with the compact high-efficiency turbocharger, the results are impressive.

There’s plenty of pull from low-down and acceleration is strong from 2,000rpm-4,000rpm, although you have to work the admittedly solid six-speed manual gearbox hard to keep in the power band. Refinement is adequate at high speeds, although not on a par with the best in the class.

It promises to be a winner in terms of efficiency, too. Estimated fuel economy will be around the 75mpg mark, and sub 100-g/km emissions are promised, meaning free road tax.

Elsewhere, the rest of the package reflects the upgrades made to the rest of the range. The cabin uses better quality materials and the dash is more logically laid out. There’s plenty of space, too.

Re-tuned suspension has improved the Civic’s ride, and it makes for agile handling and an enjoyable drive. Key to this engine’s success, though, will be price, and with it not due to be launched for another 12 months, Honda is playing its cards close to its chest in terms of what you might expect to pay.

Get it right, and it will be an interesting alternative to the class leaders.