Honda will speed an updated version of its Civic compact to market by year’s end. Honda was planning to launch a freshened version of the Civic sometime during 2013, but decided to accelerate that schedule on the heels of poor reviews.
After falling from Consumer Reports‘ coveted “recommended” list, Honda announced that it would rush an updated version of its new Civic to market by 2013. However, that timeline has been shortened even further — according to Automotive News — with Honda revealing to dealers that the new model will be on the market by the end of 2012.
That means the Civic’s mid-cycle update will come just 18 months after the car’s initial launch. A typical mid-cycle update occurs about 36 months into a vehicle’s production life.
Moreover, the Civic’s update is expected to be more than a minor refresh. Consumer Reports‘ criticized the Civic’s cheap-feeling interior and bumpy ride, so it’s possible we could see a total overhaul of the 2013 Civic’s interior and suspension.
Although the new Civic hasn’t been a favorite among the automotive media, the car has still performed well in the U.S. Market. Honda sold 221,235 Civics last year and 21,883 units during the month of January – good enough for tops in the compact segment.
