Just over a decade ago, owning a Honda Civic meant having style; it was trendy and a good car. Today, or at least until a few months ago, what the Civic represented was very different. It went from being a trendsetter to just one among many, seeing many of its competitors surpass it, prompting the need for a reaction.
This is how designers and engineers at the Japanese company have worked hand in hand to make the 2016 Honda Civic a car that people can love again. Passionate design, turbo engines, and extensive equipment are the three keys to the Japanese compact car hoping for a revival in the hearts of its new buyers.
The first thing to highlight is its design. It’s not the typical Civic: the sharply designed front headlights with LED “whips,” taillights, and badges forming a pair of letter Cs are different from anything currently in the market. Furthermore, they gave a nod to sporty design, a four-door coupe, although it remains a sedan.
Okay, the interior of the Civic is not as elegant as the exterior, but it’s still well done. In terms of design, the Japanese, as always, have done a fantastic job in terms of functionality and ergonomics. Surprisingly, this time it wasn’t a simple design. The mix of textures and the play of “dimensions” create an interior that is both sober and technical, an experience that is certainly challenging to achieve.
On one side, we have the configurable dashboard, where we can see information from the music player, trip computer, and vehicle status, as well as operate some car function menus; all from a fairly intuitive interface with advanced graphics.
On the other hand, we find all the versatility of Honda in elements such as the central armrest, which offers storage capacity comparable to a larger SUV and different configurations for storing keys, cards, bottles, controllers, coins, or glasses. Everything fits.
At a more technical level, Honda provides us with an Android-based infotainment system, compatible with CarPlay and Android Auto.
Overall, the equipment of the new Honda Civic 2016 is very complete. In addition to what has already been mentioned, it adds leather seats, a multifunctional steering wheel with cruise control, speed control, electric handbrake, navigation system, smart key, and a camera in the right side mirror.
What engine does the 2016 Honda Civic have?
Without a doubt, the crown jewel in the new Honda Civic is neither its design nor its equipment: it’s its engine.
The 2016 Honda Civic comes with a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine with 174 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque, making it one of the fastest compact vehicles on the market today, allowing you to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in about 8.5 seconds, although it doesn’t provide that sporty feeling it’s supposed to convey.
In the end, without being a sports car, the Civic’s steering scheme and suspensions allow us to have fun on mountain roads. At high speeds and when entering curves, the car feels well-supported on the asphalt. The steering wheel points with confidence and conveys enough information to the driver’s hands. There is a good balance between agility and comfort.
The tenth generation of the Civic in its sedan variant is already on sale in the American market. Its starting price is $19,475 and corresponds to the LX trim with a manual transmission. The test model, the 1.5 Turing, amounts to $27,335.
There is no doubt that the Honda Civic is a very well-crafted product, although the price is somewhat high for a vehicle in its category.
