The current generation Honda Civic was offered initially only in sedan form, but a coupe version appeared later in the model year and more recently, a hatchback version has appeared. With plenty of trim levels and a variety of body styles, there's a Civic for nearly every need.
The base LX comes well equipped leaving almost nothing out, it includes anti-lock brakes, power-adjustable mirrors, 4-speaker 160-watt CD/MP3 stereo with Bluetooth, power windows and locks and remote keyless entry.
EX models add 17-inch alloy wheels, an automatic transmission, remote start, an upgraded 8-speaker stereo as well as LaneWatch blind spot monitoring as well as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration. Leather seats, steering wheel and shift-knob are optional as are an 8-way power-adjustable driver seat.
The Touring Civic has 18-inch machined alloy wheels, rain-sensing wipers, a 450-watt audio system that also includes a 7-inch touchscreen that also includes all of the modern smartphone connectivity. Leather seats are standard on the Touring and they are heated and power-adjustable. Dynamic cruise control, LED headlights and dual-zone climate control are also included.
LX, Sport Sedan, and Sport Coupes receive a 158-horsepower, 2.0L i-VTEC 4-cylinder engine.
The LX hatchback, EX, EX-L and Touring models are equipped with a 1.5L turbo i-VTEC engine that produces 174 horsepower and 162-lb feet of torque, while the Sport and Sport Touring Hatchback produce 180 horsepower and 177-lb feet of torque. Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) equipped vehicles extend gas mileage up to 42 mpg when paired with the 1.5L turbocharged engine.
Civic Hatchbacks are also available in a variety of trims, including Sport Touring. Sport Touring adds automatic LED headlights, heated rear outboard seats, navigation, an aero kit and sport pedals.
Si equipped vehicles are only available as a coupe with a manual transmission. The Si gets a power bump from the 1.5L turbo engine to 205-horsepower and 192-lb feet of torque, which is sent to the front wheels via a 6-speed manual transmission. The suspension on the Si has also been tightened up and the car makes an excellent competitor to the VW GTi as a bargain performance car.
Of course, should buyers want even more performance, the Type R is also available, with over 300 horsepower sent to the front wheels, a limited-slip differential and 19-inch wheels. The Type R is only available in the hatchback body style (as tradition would dictate) and brings all of Honda's best engineering talent to produce one of the fastest and best handling front-wheel drive vehicles ever built.
Safety takes a strong presence in the new Civic. Of course, it includes front and side airbags, but low tire pressure warning, backup camera and stability control are also standard on every Civic.
Honda Sensing system, is also standard for all but the high-performance trims. It's a suite of safety features that includes Lane Keep Assist, which will monitor and can even nudge the vehicle back into its lane, Blind Spot sensors and Collision Mitigation that will detect an impending accident and can even apply the brakes if needed.
Responsive And Efficient Drivetrains
Roomy Interior
Standard High-tech Features
Extensive Safety Options
The Honda Civic gets a mid-cycle refresh for the 2020 model year. The most obvious change is to the front end of the car, where the new model is generally much sleeker looking, toning down some of the aggressive styling seen in the previous year. The rear of the car also gets a little bit of an update, again an emphasis on sleekness keeps things looking tasteful but aerodynamic. In addition, Honda now offers a manual transmission option when ordering the Civic hatchback.
The Civic has topped the 'best compact car' lists for decades for its consistent balance of quality, performance and practicality. The 2016 model-year redesign made big improvements with extensive standard equipment, a high-quality stylish interior and a new powertrain lineup that comes at a range of price points intended to have something for everyone. This latest refresh, just adds more value with subtle improvements to what is already a class leader.
