Over the course of hundreds of kilometres driven on northern roads, I found the Honda Civic's little four-banger to be ideally suited for daily commuting duty.

Sometimes, dependability alone doesn’t quite cut it, as proven by the mediocre employee with a perfect attendance record, the clock that marks every hour precisely seven minutes late, or the steadfastly reliable car with subpar handling and materials. Falling under that description last year, the updated 2013 Honda Civic corrects course with fresher styling, improved quality and handling, and a clear determination to maintain its best-selling status.