HONDA has not exactly played it safe with its latest entry to Australia’s competitive small hatchback market, the Civic. The past couple of Civic generations have had a split personality between the sedan designed and engineered to appeal to an American or Asian audience and the British-built hatch that was more in line with European tastes.

With this 10th-generation Civic, the two body styles have converged and are both supplied out of Thailand for the Australian market. Each has something of a concept car feel, with daring exterior designs that are difficult to distinguish from some angles and a good dose of quirky on-board tech.

And although the Civic continues Honda’s recent return to form, it isn’t cohesive enough to topple the class leader.