The Honda Civic. It’s the car for people who don’t want to follow the herd. Instead of being yet another grey German box, this looks like it’s been styled by someone with a ruler, a set square, and a vivid imagination. And I quite like that. This is the 1.6 i-DTEC diesel, which is basically Honda showing off. It’ll do up to 78 mpg if you drive it sensibly – which is ridiculous – but it’ll still cruise happily at motorway speeds all day long. There’s enough torque to keep it lively, and the engine is as tough as old boots. Being the S spec, it’s the straightforward version. No silly gimmicks, just a comfortable cabin, good driving position, and the legendary Honda reliability. And let’s face it, that’s all you really need. This one has been properly looked after, with services recorded at 12,087, 24,013, 35,800, 46,054, 53,402, 59,764, 64,657, 75,844, 78,563, and 81,073 miles. That’s the sort of maintenance record you want when buying a diesel that’s built to last. Now, being Euro 5, it doesn’t sneak into ULEZ zones for free like the newer Euro 6 diesels. But if you’re not in London or Birmingham every day, who cares? Out in the real world, it’s cheap to run, incredibly reliable, and feels a bit different to everything else in the supermarket car park. So, if you want a car that will sip fuel like a nun sips sherry, carry the family, and keep going long after others have given up, this Honda Civic is ready and waiting.