IF notorious Dickensian tightwad Ebenezer Scrooge were suddenly parachuted into the 21st century then he would need a set of wheels - and there's a good chance that the Honda Civic 1.6 i-DTEC would catch his eye.

This new lightweight diesel engine is the big addition to the range for the ninth edition of Honda's stylish family hatchback - and so stingy is it with fuel that it would have the miserly businessman wringing his hands in delight.

The first product of the Japanese car maker's Earth Dreams Technology, this power pack has been designed specifically for the European market with the aim of maximising fuel efficiency and reducing environmental impact.

Although official consumption figures are set in rarefied conditions, the claimed 78.5 miles per gallon on average of this Civic means that, even in the real world, you will be paying far fewer visits to the pumps than in most of its rivals.

And just so that you know you are squeezing the most out of the 50-litre tank Honda has included an econ-mode button and an illuminated instrument panel. As you pootle along a row of lights glows blue if you're being too heavy footed, gradually changing to green when you're at optimum efficiency.

It's all very neat but can become obsessive viewing if you're not careful. By the end of a week behind the wheel I was enthusiastically aiming for that satisfying green glow which meant I was driving as cheaply as possible.

With an automatic engine start/stop system helping peg carbon emissions back to just 94g/km you'll also be exempt from road tax and in the lowest company car tax band. All things which would catch the eye of the modern-day Scrooge.

This impressive efficiency has not come at the cost of performance, however.

The engine generates a decent 120 horse power coupled with some impressive pull across a wide rev range, offering a respectable 0-62mph sprint time of 10.5 seconds and a top speed of 129mph. It comes paired with a new snappy and lightweight six-speed manual transmission which adds plenty of versatility.

Motorway cruising is untroubled and fairly refined while around town the light steering makes manoeuvring easy and prompt throttle response, even in econ mode, offers plenty of zip when you need it.

In fact, the drive is refreshingly sporty with winding country roads showcasing the Civic's nimble handling, good grip and impressive body control. The ride can be a little firm at times but, thanks to an improved suspension, is better at ironing out some of the bumps than its predecessor.

On the outside the latest Civic's styling has not changed drastically. A few tweaks here and there have improved the aerodynamics and some will find the sharp lines and detailing sporty while others may think it a little fussy, but it is certainly distinctive.

The interior has improved though, with more soft-touch materials and a less complex, though no less futuristic, dash.

Space and visibility are decent in the front but the raking roofline means that headroom is tight for tall adults in the rear. Wide pillars and Honda's persistence with the split rear screen, with the spoiler running across the middle, mean that the rear view continues to be inhibited, though.

On the upside, the boot is one of the biggest in class at 401 litres and there is a large concealed storage space beneath the floor - although this means no room for a spare wheel.

The rear seats fold flat to increase the load space and the seat bottoms can also be flipped up like cinema seats, allowing the stowing of taller bulky items in an enlarged rear footwell.

There are plenty more practical storage spaces throughout the cabin so that you're never stuck for somewhere to put mobile phones, maps, drinks bottles, etc.

The addition of leather upholstery, heated front seats and a premium audio system also added a luxury feel to my range-topping EX-trimmed car.

This spec doesn't come cheap but also offers such bells and whistles as hard disk drive satnav, video input jacks, front and rear parking sensors, dual zone climate control, automatic lights and wipers, Bluetooth and a rear view camera while stability control, anti-lock brakes and six airbags take care of safety.