Pros: Roomy interior; crisp handling; economical powertrains; new “Honda Sensing” safety features are available on all trim levels
Cons: Touchscreen controls aren’t easy to use while driving; so-so acceleration; noisier than many compact-car rivals; ride can get a bit stiff over rough pavement
CG Says: Honda’s long-running compact car is redesigned from the ground up for 2016. The new Honda Civic is significantly larger and “swoopier” than its predecessor and offers the choice of a 158-horsepower 2.0-liter 4-cylinder or a 175-hp turbocharged 1.5-liter four. The Civic sedan hits the market first, followed by the Civic coupe. A revived 4-door hatchback body style, along with high-performance Civic Si and new-to-the-U.S. Civic Type R models, are slated to follow as 2017 models. (The Civic Hybrid and Natural Gas models have been discontinued, at least temporarily.) Among the 2016 Civic’s newly available features are remote engine start, rain-sensing wipers, heated rear seats, dual-zone climate control, and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto functionality for the infotainment system. A new “Honda Sensing” suite of safety equipment includes lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, forward collision warning and mitigation, and adaptive cruise control. The all-new Civic puts Honda back at the top of the incredibly competitive compact-car class. Some of its rivals are quieter, and some offer more features for the money, but the 2016 Civic’s spaciousness, available tech features, engaging driving personality, efficiency, and all-around refinement—not to mention its soon-to-be-broad model lineup—make it a compact-car must-see.
| Class | Compact Car |
| Body Style(s) | 4-door sedan, 2-door coupe |
| Passenger Count | 5 |
| Drive Wheels | front-wheel drive |
| Manufacturer | Honda |
| Nation of Manufacture | USA, Canada |
| Base Prices | LX, manual: $18,640 LX: $19,440 EX: $21,040 EX-T: $22,200 EX-L: $23,700 EX-L Navi: $24,700 Touring: $26,500 LX Coupe, manual: $19,050 LX Coupe: $19,850 LX-P Coupe: $20,850 EX-T Coupe: $22,300 EX-L Coupe: $23,425 Touring Coupe: $26,125 |
| Base Engine 2.0-liter 4-cylinder |
| Horsepower 158 |
| Std. Transmission 6-speed manual |
| Avail. Transmission CVT |
| EPA City Range (mpg) 26-31 |
| EPA Hwy Range (mpg) 38-41 |
| Optional Engine turbocharged 1.5-liter 4-cylinder |
| Horsepower 174 |
| Std. Transmission CVT |
| Avail. Transmission NA |
| EPA City Range (mpg) 31 |
| EPA Hwy Range (mpg) 41-42 |
