WE LOVE how the British-built Honda Civic hatch drives, and the manual VTi-S base variant is a sweet little number with quick-witted steering, slick six-speed ’box and revvy engine.

, But until recently its bizarre specification mix prioritised luxuries like climate control over basics like cruise control and Bluetooth.

, Honda has now rectified these omissions and reshuffled the range, leaving the VTi-L tested here $1100 less expensive, and repositioned from flagship to second-from-top variant, below the leather-trimmed and satellite navigation equipped VTi-LN.

We spent a week in the VTi-L trying to work out whether it is worth the extra over the improved entry level car and if it adds any sizzle to the steak or detracts from the Civic’s core charm.

Click the Our Opinion link to read on…