Motors: Honda's 'humdinger' put through its paces in Wester Ross
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The problem with testing new cars every week is finding somewhere to put them legally through their paces to see how they perform in a range of conditions.
So when I got hold of the latest hybrid Honda Civic, I referred to my road atlas to check out some interesting routes.
I’d heard many positive comments about the car and some came from people who are normally restrained in their praise and more commonly dismissive about anything which claims to be the next best thing.
Could it really be as good as they suggested? As I scanned the map, I came up with what has been a favourite since I spent childhood family holidays there while still in short breeks.
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Wester Ross and Torridon in particular is a joyful place to drive even if parts of it are often choked by motorhomes, caravans and wealthy boy racers on the North Coast 500 – and not just over the summer months.
There’s a great network of driving routes, from demanding single-track byways to sweeping, smooth surfaces with the added attraction of stunning scenery, such as alongside Loch Maree with the commanding tower of Slioch as a backdrop.
But the highlight has to be the notorious Bealach na Ba to Applecross, the twisting, single-track mountain road which is one of the highest and most challenging in the country and not for the faint-hearted.
Clearing my diary for a couple of days and with a full tank of fuel, I headed for the north-west and after a varying speed-limit-compliant burst up the A9, I was already settling nicely into the Civic.
The car was an eHEV in mid-range sport grade which meant that on top of synthetic leather heated seats, rear view camera and wireless phone charging, the substantial 18-inch gloss black alloys contrasted well with the platinum white paint job.
This latest version is only available as a hatchback and continues the reputation for economy but the eHEV takes it to a new level, thanks to an electric motor working in tandem with the two-litre petrol engine.
It comes into operation when extra power is needed and at other times it generates electricity to power the electric motor or in slow-moving traffic, switches off altogether leaving the electric unit to do the work.
The result is superb economy – I managed almost 60 miles out of every gallon – and there was always plenty of power available.
That included on the single-track road to Torridon after Kinlochewe where the electric motor dealt with the stop-start progress in and out of passing places.
After an overnight rest halt in my former holiday home, one of the handful that make up the village of Annat, I headed for the southern end of the Bealach south of Shieldaig.
The weather was miserable with driving rain – perfect atmosphere as I viewed the road sign which warns of the one in five gradients and hairpin bends on the climb to 2053 feet, a drive “not advised for learner drivers, very large vehicles or caravans and motorhomes”. I wondered why anyone with L plates would even consider it but it seems some motorhomers have ignored the warning and come to grief on the tight bends.
I’ve been up the Bealach many times, sometimes heading into the clouds, but this time the sky cleared enough to take in the views and the car seemed to enjoy the experience as much as me, happily handling the tight bends and breathtaking climb.
After clearing the summit, we cruised into Applecross for a breather and I reflected on just how well the car performed whatever the challenge.
Quite simply, it just feels right. Visibility all round is good and everything works well. The interior finish is comfortable and there’s plenty of space and storage. And that hybrid set-up is a dream. Honda have handed us a humdinger.
