Natalie Middleton puts the centre console on our long-term Honda Civic to the test.

The Civic’s ‘technology centre’ console features two tiers

After several months of testing the Honda, there’s still something I can’t decide if I love or hate: the two-tier ‘technology centre’ console.

It’s essentially a space-saving, rather intelligent way of providing storage, in particular for devices etc. So it’s got a bit in the front of the gear lever where you can store smartphones, with an integrated wireless smartphone charging pad from the Sport Plus trim up.

Then there’s another tray hidden behind the centre console with access to the HDMI and USB ports, as well as the 12v power socket as well as space to hold change etc – it’s even got a slot so you can pass cables through.

My husband loves it and it is a very clever methodical way of sorting things, but I am struggling a bit when it comes to accessing things on the second level and resorting to sticking my posterior out of the car door every time I want to put a USB stick in. I do pity the neighbours.

P11d/BiK: £24,750 (23%) MPG/CO2: 61.4mpg (WLTP) / 93g/km (NED Correlated) Test MPG: 52mpg