Pros: Roomy interior; crisp handling; economical powertrains; “Honda Sensing” safety features are standard on all models
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: The 2021 Honda Civic drops its coupe bodystyle and Si model. The high-performance Civic R gains standard “Honda Sensing” suite of safety equipment (lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, forward collision warning and mitigation, and adaptive cruise control). There is also a new Civic R Limited Edition that has special suspension tuning and deletes some equipment for lighter weight. Production of the Limited Edition is restricted to 600 cars for the US market. Civic is a compact car available as a 4-door sedan and a 4-door hatchback. Civic offers the choice of a 158-horsepower 2.0-liter 4-cylinder or a turbocharged 1.5-liter four in most models. The 1.5-liter engine develops 174 hp or 180 hp. (See engine chart below.) The low-production Type R is powered by a 305-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder. Among Civic’s 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. Civic’s 2016 redesign put 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 Civic’s spaciousness, available tech features, engaging driving personality, efficiency, and all-around refinement—not to mention its model lineup—make it a compact-car must-see.
Class | Compact Car |
Body Style(s) | 4-door sedan, 4-door hatchback |
Passenger Count | 5 |
Drive Wheels | front-wheel drive |
Manufacturer | Honda |
Nation of Manufacture | USA, Canada, England |
Base Prices | LX sedan: $22,005 Sport sedan: $23,805 EX sedan: $25,155 EX-L sedan: $25,355 Touring sedan: $29,055 LX hatchback: $22,955 Sport hatchback: $24,055 EX hatchback: $25,455 Sport Touring hatchback: $29,355 Type R hatchback: $$38,910 Type R Limited Edition hatchback: $45,010 |
Base Engine 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (LX/Sport sedan) |
Horsepower 158 |
Std. Transmission CVT |
Avail. Transmission NA |
EPA City Range (mpg) 29-30 |
EPA Hwy Range (mpg) 37-38 |
Optional Engine turbocharged 1.5-liter 4-cylinder |
Horsepower (174 in LX/EX hatchback, EX/EX-L/Touring sedan) (180 in Sport/Sport Touring hatchback) |
Std. Transmission 6-speed manual |
Avail. Transmission CVT |
EPA City Range (mpg) 29-32 |
EPA Hwy Range (mpg) 35-42 |
Optional Engine turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Type R) |
Horsepower 305 |
Std. Transmission 6-speed manual |
Avail. Transmission NA |
EPA City Range (mpg) 22 |
EPA Hwy Range (mpg) 28 |
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