There has never been a better time to look for a family car – say a compact Honda Civic, its global best seller, or numerous competitive choices. The art and engineering relentlessly keep advancing because of the high global volumes and therefore the allocation of considerable resources of Honda, Hyundai, GM, Ford Kia, Nissan and Toyota – among others – devoted to increasing or defending their share.
Enter the 10th generation Civic – as formidable a compact car as exists for the moment. With an all-new platform, two new engines, including Honda’s first turbocharged engine in the US, and a new exterior and interior, Honda has finally stopped chasing Toyota, arguably, and is going its own way with a more expressive car line.
The Civic Sedan coming this fall is the first of new Civic models that will ultimately add a coupe this winter, high-performance Si models, a 5-door hatchback late next year (2017 model?) and the first Civic Type-R model for the U.S. market. This is the broadest lineup in Civic’s 43-year history.
How Does it Change Versus Gen Nine?
Compared to the current model, the 2016 Civic Sedan is almost 2 inches wider, 1 inch lower with a 1.2-inch longer wheelbase. It has a smaller front overhang, a longer, ‘sculpted’ hood and a fastback-style rear. When final specs are released if might actually be closer to a mid-size car. However, they are growing too.
Civic Sedan has two all new, more powerful and fuel-efficient engines. Civic Sedan LX and EX trims will have a 2.0-liter, 16-valve, DOHC 4-cylinder – the most powerful base engine ever offered on Civic – with either a 6-speed manual (LX trim) or a continuously variable automatic transmission.
Civic Sedans in EX-T, EX-L trims and Touring trims will be powered by a 1.5-liter, direct-injected and turbocharged 16-valve DOHC inline-4, with a CVT. This new powerplant is the first turbocharged engine on a U.S. Honda model and the most powerful engine ever offered on a non-Si Civic in America. Both engines – it is claimed – will have best-in-class performance and fuel efficiency, and are targeted to receive EPA highway fuel economy ratings in excess of 40 mpg. Additional powertrain details and specifications will be announced closer to launch.
New standard equipment includes automatic climate control – dual-zone on EX-L and higher trims; auto-up/down front power windows; an electronic parking brake with Brake Hold; Walk-Away auto door locks and an adjustable driver’s seat thigh support with 14 degrees of tilt (EX-L and above). All Civic Sedan models also have a larger, reconfigurable new center console with up to 7.2 liters of secure storage space.
The sedan will have an optional ‘Honda Sensing’ array of computerized safety and driver-assistance technologies, including Collision Mitigation Braking, Road Departure Mitigation and, for the first time in a Honda, Adaptive Cruise Control with Low-Speed Follow. With cell phone and web use rampant on US roads, these might decrease the growing number of serious injuries and fatalities.
Enabling distracted driving, Civic joins the freshened 2016 Accord in offering advanced smartphone integration with a new, 7-inch high-definition Display Audio touchscreen. Apple CarPlaytakes the things careless drivers do with an iPhone and puts them right on your car’s built-in display. The driver can get directions, make calls, send and receive messages, and listen to music right from the touchscreen or by voice via Siri. Supported apps include Phone, Messages, Maps, Music and compatible third party apps. Apple CarPlay is compatible with iOS 8.4 or later and iPhone 5 or later.
The Civic is also compatible with Android 5.0 and higher, with Google Maps, Google Now, messaging, music and numerous popular apps.
Civic Sedans for the North America will be produced at the company’s Greensburg, Indiana and Alliston, Ontario, Canada auto plants. The new Civic’s 2.0-liter and 1.5-liter turbo engines will be manufactured in Anna, Ohio, and the two automatic transmissions (CVTs) will be sourced from Honda plants in Russells Point, Ohio, and Celaya, Mexico.
