Had a 2 hour, 85 mile test drive in this case today. Mix of rural A roads, hill B roads and a few miles or Dual Carriageway.

OBC records 68 mpg over the journey. We all no these tend to be optimistic but even if 10% less then pretty impressive as I was giving the car some wellie were the opportunity arose.

With 120 horses below the bonnet the can had plenty poke. The only time it felt a bit sluggish was going for a motorway overtake in 6th with the car in economy mode.

Deliberately driving over the worst pot holes I could find proved that Honda have got the ride sorted since the last model. Country road handling maybe not quite as tight as a Golf but it is still good.

Lots of room inside and the boot is noticeably bigger than the golf , A3 or focus, but of course can't touch the Octavia.

This model is well equipped with plenty toys such as cruise control, Bluetooth and a decent ice system.

Would I have one - yes. Would I buy one - not sure as it is expensive against similar models.

Will I have one - yes. My next car will be a company lease car an I can get as EX model, with full leather heated seats and HDD sat nav/ICE system for £20 month less than an Octavia elegance or A3 SE.

Edited 21 April, 201313 yr by slider

Hmmm surprised it was sluggish even in sixth as it has a beefy 250 ft lb of torque (my vrs pulls pretty strongly in 6th and can overtake ok on Telegraph Hill in Exeter no probs). However it is good to see Honda making good Diesel engines even if they don't make an exciting petrol anymore. Honda seems to have lost its mojo in that department: miss the old screaming V tecs.

But they'll sell ten 1.6 diesels for every vtec, so it's no surprise that's where they make the effort.

Hmmm surprised it was sluggish even in sixth

Just to clarify that - it felt slightly sluggish in 6th while in ECO mode. No hint of this when in "normal".

Car now on order.