Honda Civic (USA) review

Gosh, it’s pleasant. The Civic’s mission is to not offend, meaning it’s a cinch to get in and get going. There’s no finicky electronic gear selector and the gauge display is elementary in its design. This is the sort of car you don’t have to think about in order to drive – which, for a staggeringly large percentage of the population, seems to be the norm.

Focus on the details, however, and the Civic is full of delights. The steering is lovely, not too light nor unnecessarily weighty. The suspension is appropriately balanced, striking a great middle ground of comfort and compliance. Rough city streets won’t jostle you about, yet the Civic also doesn’t feel like it’ll fall apart should you enter a corner with gusto.

How are the powertrains?

The turbo is the champ, simply for how smoothly it delivers its plentiful low-end torque. You can overtake big rigs on the freeway by gently rolling into the throttle; all 177lb ft arrives at just 1,700 rpm. Plus, since the engine doesn’t have to rev high to access the brunt of its power, the continuously variable transmission won’t exhibit any of the horrific whiny drone that often accompanies this type of gearbox.

Pairing the CVT with the base 2.0-liter engine, on the other hand, is a slightly different story. The transmission has to work harder to eke out this motor’s 158hp and 138lb ft of torque, so you’ll find yourself digging deep into the throttle to get up to highway speeds. If you only ever drive in town or in heavy traffic, the 2.0-liter engine is probably all you’ll need, but considering the turbo option is more powerful and more efficient, it’s really the way to go.

What about the Civic Si?

Ah, yes, what a sweetheart. The Si isn’t quite as hot as something like a Subaru WRX or Volkswagen GTI, but it’s also significantly less expensive. The boosted 1.5-liter engine is great, and 200hp is all you need, especially combined with a taut chassis and sharp steering. You can even get the Civic Si with a set of summer tires from the factory, which is a boon for cornering grip.

Is the Civic efficient?

Quite. With the turbo engine, the Civic sedan is estimated to return 33mpg city, 42mpg highway, and 36mpg combined. The hatchback doesn't do much worse, offering 31mpg city, 39mpg highway, and 35mpg combined. Even that sporty Civic Si is a relatively light sipper, rated at 27mpg city, 37mpg highway, and 31mpg combined.

Interestingly, the base 2.0-liter engine is actually less efficient than the more powerful 1.5-liter motor. You're looking at a maximum of 31mpg city, 40mpg highway, and 35mpg combined for a 2.0-liter sedan or 30mpg city, 38mpg highway, and 33mpg combined for a 2.0-liter hatch. All things considered, you’re much better off with the turbo – even if it is slightly more expensive.