The Civic is to Honda what Camry is to Toyota – iconic, bread-and-butter volume seller that is at once timeless and modern. With slow sales this year, Honda launched their newest Civic this summer with “The Super Civic Quest,” which proved to be a successful boost to a brand as familiar to us as Coke and Pepsi.
The Civic has been significantly redesigned for the 2012 model year with the same reliable formula as the previous generation Civic. This lineup includes a variety of power choices and two body styles. First are the tried and true Civic Sedan and Civic Coupe with Honda’s I-4
aluminum-alloy 1.8 liter 140 horsepower engine. There is also a higher-performance Civic Si
coupe with a 2.4-liter 201 horsepower powerplant. Honda returns with a gasoline-electric Civic
Hybrid and one of my favorite choices, a CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) Civic – both in sedan
models. And if that was not enough variety, Honda also has revamped the Civic HF high fuel
efficiency gas model with 41 mpg on the highway.
The Civic Hybrid achieves an EPA-estimated 44 mpg city, 44 mpg highway and 44 mpg
combined mileage rating. This number tops the compact sedan mileage chart but I think will
be challenged by other manufacturers very soon. With mileage figures like these and a starting
MSPR of $15,605, the Civic will continue to be a player in the compact market. However, the
Civic is now the size of the ‘80s Honda Accord. The interior is large enough for 5 people and the
trunk will hold luggage for all five on a family adventure.
Safety starts with Honda’s touted Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ body structure for frontal collision energy management and vehicle-to-vehicle crash compatibility. This means
the car takes the energy in a collision instead of the passenger. Like other compacts, now the
Civic includes a side curtain airbag, a driver and front passenger side airbag, and vehicle stability
controls. After some time behind the wheel, we will see if Honda has worked their small car
magic once again. So far, the Civic looks promising.
And the driving experience is just as promising. It has bit more feisty driving dynamics than previous models, but I wouldn’t go so far as to call is a sports sedan. It serves up just enough road feel and feedback to keep you in command of the car. It does feel as though it needs a bit more power, and there is some odd road noise at higher speeds. Overall, the cabin is larger than it looks and much more comfortable than the name “Civic” conjures up.
The new Civic is familiar and feels right – it’s a “safe bet” in a curious automotive landscape filled with new designs and models. That’s been Honda’s formula for nearly two-decades now – relying heavily on the brand loyalty and security that consumers just inherently feel with the Honda brand. But the Civic dispels the idea that Honda is resting on its laurels, as this is a new execution of the Civic, and it’s well-done.
For more information about the new Honda Civic, visit your local Honda dealer or automobiles.honda.com.
By Vince Bodiford,
theweekenddrive.com, facebook.com/theweekenddrive, twitter.com/theweekenddrive