Skip advert
Advertisement

Design Award 2016: Honda Civic Concept

We asked you what your favourite car design is for 2016, and the Honda Civic Concept has taken the crown

New Car Awards 2016: Design Award - Honda Civic Concept

Honda is on a roll at the moment. Over the past year it has launched the scorching hot Civic Type R, plus it has finally pulled the wraps off its eagerly awaited NSX supercar. Yet the good news doesn’t end there, as the brand’s exciting Civic Concept has scooped our coveted Design Award.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Voted for by you on autoexpress.co.uk, the sleek Civic beat 14 contenders, including glamorous models such as the Alfa Romeo Giulia and Mazda MX-5 RF. That’s a big result for a car that’s essentially a humble family hatchback.

You see, look past the Concept tag and wildly oversized wheels, and this star of March’s Geneva Motor Show is essentially a thinly disguised version of next year’s all-new production Civic. That’s great news for buyers, as the blend of bulging curves and sharply defined creases gives the Concept a muscular stance that few other family five-doors can match.

More importantly, the newcomer ditches the rather awkward design cues of the current Civic in favour of a more handsome and cohesive design. For instance, the fussy split tailgate is replaced by a more conventional item, improving both the looks and visibility for the driver.

That’s not to say there aren’t some bold design flourishes. At the front is a pair of LED headlamps integrated into the grille in the same way as the NSX’s, while the bold shoulder line and wide wheelarches give the car plenty of aggressive kerb appeal. It certainly bodes well for a possible Type R hot hatch version.

Advertisement - Article continues below
Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Honda has spent just as much time on the interior, with snatched glimpses of prototype models revealing a mix of premium design cues and top-notch materials.

We’ll have to wait until late next year to see if the Civic drives as well as it looks, but on the evidence of the Concept this Honda hatch promises to be one of 2017’s most exciting cars.

Auto Express New Car Awards 2016 

For complete, in-depth coverage of the New Car Awards 2016, buy your collector's edition copy of the Auto Express magazine now or click here to subscribe...  

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

Best hybrid cars on sale 2025
Best hybrid cars header

Best hybrid cars on sale 2025

With more hybrid cars on the market than ever before, these are the best ones to buy
Best cars & vans
17 Dec 2024
Best family cars to buy 2025
Best family cars header

Best family cars to buy 2025

Family cars come in a variety of shapes, from hatchback to SUV. But which is best for you? Find out with our top 10 family cars on sale now.
Best cars & vans
16 Dec 2024
Best used automatic cars
Best used automatic cars - header image

Best used automatic cars

Give your left leg a rest with one of these nine great used cars with easy-going automatic gearboxes
Best cars & vans
3 Oct 2024
Top 10 best hatchbacks to buy 2024
Best hatchbacks - header image

Top 10 best hatchbacks to buy 2024

We’ve selected our top ten best family hatchbacks so you don’t have to
Best cars & vans
14 Jun 2024

Most Popular

Car brands with the most recalls: BMW tops the UK recall chart in 2024
BMW 530e - front cornering

Car brands with the most recalls: BMW tops the UK recall chart in 2024

Did you receive a letter alerting you to a potentially dangerous car fault? Here are the car brands that sent the most out
News
17 Jan 2025
Lexus planning a thrilling new range of ultra high-performance models
Lexus LBX Morizo RR - dynamic front 3/4

Lexus planning a thrilling new range of ultra high-performance models

The long-lived RC F will be axed this year, but Lexus is set to unleash a new wave of exciting new performance-focused cars
News
17 Jan 2025
EV discounts: are they a short-term solution with long-term problems?
Vauxhall Corsa Electric front corner driving

EV discounts: are they a short-term solution with long-term problems?

Optimistic residual value projections for EVs have left vehicle leasing firms “millions and millions” out of pocket
News
18 Jan 2025