If you think you know all about the Honda Civic, then think again. This roomy little compact car has been redesigned for 2016, and while it is inexpensive, it also offers loads of extras. For fuel-conscious drivers, it’s a good option with a turbocharged engine that won’t slow you down. The sporty factor is definitely a plus when driving the 2016 Honda Civic.
New for 2016, there is both a sedan and coupe being offered. The Honda folks are also introducing a four-door hatchback later this year. For now, the competition includes the Ford Focus, Mazda 3, Chevrolet Cruz and the Kia Forte, but the redesigned Honda Civic will certainly give pause when considering a vehicle in this category.
The trims vary depending if you choose the sedan or the coupe. The sedan comes in the LX, EX, EX-T, EX-L and Touring trims and the coupe in the LX, LX-P, EX-T and EX-L and Touring trims. That’s a lot of choices and beginning with the base LX it gets better from there. With the LX, you get 16-inch steel wheels or alloy wheels on the coupe trim. There are automatic headlights, daytime running lights front and back, all the necessary power accessories, cruise control, tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel and manual front seats. For technology, it’s a five-inch display, rearview camera, Bluetooth and a USB with Pandora connectivity.
On the coupe, LX-P there is a sunroof and keyless ignition and entry.
For the EX trim, the sedan has the same additions as the LX-P coupe as well as 16-inch alloy wheels, heated side mirrors, rear center armrest that comes with cupholders and the 60/40-split folding rear seatbacks. There are two USB ports and the Honda LaneWatch lane-change assist. There is a seven-inch touchscreen interface and a HondaLinksystem included as well as a SMS voice-to-text function.
Add to that a turbocharged engine with 17-wheels and fog lights on the EX-T. There is also a rear deck lid spoiler and heated front seats on the EX-T too.
The EX-L trim cleans up the interior with leather seats and a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob. You also get an auto-dimming rearview mirror.
At the top of the line, the Touring trim comes with heated rear seats on the sedan in addition to the heated front seats on the coupe and sedan. There are 17-inch wheels, automatic wipers and a four-way power passenger seat. There is also a navigation system with voice controls and 10 speakers as well as the Honda Sensing safety package.
Under the hood, the 2016 Honda Civic has a variety of options depending on the trim. On all the front-wheel-drive options, there is a four-cylinder engine and the LX and EX has a 2.0-liter engine with 158 horsepower and 138 pound-feet of torque. Also standard is a six-speed manual transmission on the LX, but there is the choice of a continuously variable transmission as well.
You get a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine on the EX-T, EX-L and Touring and with that you will find 174 horsepower with 162 pound-feet of torque. For this, it is a CVT transmission comes standard.
For safety, the Honda Sensing safety package with adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning and intervention and forward-collision alert with automatic emergency braking is an option on any of the Honda Civic sedan trims. Otherwise, the 2016 Honda Civic has standard stability control, antilock disc brakes, front side and side curtain airbags and a rearview camera. With the EX sedan trim, there is a right-side blind spot camera, which is offered on all the trims higher than the EX as well as the HondaLink system with emergency crash notification.
As for the roominess factor in the Honda Civic, it’s longer than in years past and also wider translating into more room all around for passenger comfort. In the trunk, you get 15.1 cubic feet of space in all but the Touring, which has 14.7 cubic feet due to the extra space needed for the sound system on that trim. Take note too of the excellent space usage in the armrest center console. In there you get enough room to store your iPad if needed.
The knobs and buttons inside the 2016 Honda Civic are excellently placed and the steering wheel is also home to a few often-used buttons that are completely user-friendly.
When driving the 2016 Honda Civic, you will get a dynamic feeling both in the steering and the responsiveness of the vehicle overall. The coupe comes across as feeling a bit sportier, but both are effortless to maneuver and you will find yourself easily engaging on the road with little outside noise.
The various Honda Civic all trims all accelerate well, but depending on the engine and transmission configuration there are subtle differences. For the most power the sport mode with the turbo engine does not disappoint, but overall the driving experience in the 2016 Honda Civic is a fun way to enjoy the road for business or pleasure.
Should You Need to Know: The top of the line 2016 Honda Civic Touring sedan version can get zero to 60 miles per hour in about 6.6 seconds.
Miles Per Gallon: The 2016 Honda Civic 1.5T 2D Touring I drove came in at 31 miles per gallon in the city and 41 miles per gallon on the highway.
Cost: The 2016 Honda Civic 1.5T 2D Touring I drove had a price tag of $26,960.
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