Though it looks remarkably similar to its predecessor inside and out, the latest Honda Civic sedan continues to be a mainstay of the compact segment thanks to improvements in fuel economy, interior space and overall refinement. The Civic sedan (which is mechanically identical to the Civic coupe) is just one of many members of the Civic family, which include the super-thrifty Civic HF and Civic Hybrid, the sporty Civic Si Sedan and Coupe as well as the Civic Natural Gas model.
From the outside the new Civic sedan models may not appear all that different from the outgoing model, but Honda says the car delievers all-new sheetmetal, packaging, features and content.
In the all-important powertrain department, Honda has updated its ubiquitous 1.8-liter i-VTEC engine to achieve better fuel economy, while retaining its 140 horsepower and 128 lb-ft of torque ratings. The Civic Sedan comes standard with a user-friendly five-speed manual for the DX and LX trim levels, with an optional five-speed automatic, while the EX and EX-L models come standard with an automatic transmission.
The result is an EPA rating of 28 mpg in city and 39 mpg on the highway when equipped with the automatic transmission. Sticking with the stick will drop highway mileage to 36 mpg, while city fuel economy remains unchanged.
All Civic sedans qualify for ULEV-2 CARB emissions standards.
Inside, the Civic Sedan has room for five and a spaceship-inspired two-tier instrument panel, dashboard and center console. The long dashboard and steep windshield only add to the unique driving position.
Trim-Level Breakdown
The base Civic Sedan is the somewhat bare-bones DX model, which comes with 15-inch steel wheels, daytime running lights, auto-off headlamps and power windows, but lacks air conditioning and a radio.
Stepping up to the LX Sedan adds features such as remote entry with security, body-colored side mirrors, body-colored door handles, air conditioning, a 160-watt radio with USB and MP3 connectivity, power windows and locks, illuminated driver's door controls, cruise control, map lights and floor mats.
Going to the top of the standard range of Civic Sedan models will land you at the EX and EX-L models. The EX models enjoy 16-inch alloy wheels, standard automatic transmission, power moonroof, variable intermittent windshield wipers and Bluetooth. The top-dog EX-L brings leather upholstery, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, heated front seats and power heated exterior mirrors. Both EX and EX-L models can be had with a satellite-linked navigation system with voice recognition.
Occupant Safety
The Honda Civic Sedan's safety features include two-row side curtain airbags, dual-stage, multiple-threshold driver's and front passenger's airbags, driver's and front passenger's side airbags, Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA), anti-lock braking (ABS) with Brake Assist and a new Motion Adaptive Electric Power Steering system that helps the driver steer in the ideal direction to mitigate oversteer or understeer situations.
Key Competitors
The Civic sedan plays in the heart of a crowded segment against the stalwart Toyota Corolla, the efficient and well-appointed Hyundai Elantra and the sporty, Euro-chic Ford Focus sedan.