In case you have been living under a rock, the compact car world has been undergoing a bit of a revolution lately in regards to the quality of new models like the 2011 Chevy Cruze, 2011 Hyundai Elantra, 2012 Ford Focus and a marked devolution when it comes to the 2011 VW Jetta. As for the Corolla, well, it’s still pretty much a rental car that is available for purchase.
So when the time came for Honda to unveil the new 2012 Honda Civic was it similarly a time for total revolution of this iconic compact car? Well, not really. The Honda Civic has been the best compact car in this country for a very, very long time and as the saying goes, “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it.” The 2012 Honda Civic might not look or drive radically different from its predecessor but that isn’t to say that it isn’t still the best in an admittedly more competitive class of cars.
Civics have always been marvelous works of packaging space efficiency and unparalleled build quality and while I have yet to drive a 2012 Ford Focus there are already gripes about a tight back seat and sharp exposed metal in the trunk. Honda cut no such corners in bringing the 2012 Honda Civic to market and signs are good that this new model should maintain this automaker’s sterling reputation for reliability and build quality.
There are a number of notable changes for 2012, however, that prove Honda has the know how to keep this compact car a step ahead of the competition through this next model cycle. An old piece of advice that I give to car shoppers is, “when in doubt buy a Honda Civic.” For 2012, I don’t foresee that advice changing much but if you disagree please see my driving comparison test of the Civic against the new Elantra, Jetta and Cruze and Corolla.
Following this report will also be detailed drive tests of the 2012 Civic Si, Civic EX-L automatic and a report on the new ecologically friendly models known as the Civic Hybrid, Civic HF and Civic Natural Gas Vehicle. Are there any automakers out there who offer such a breathtaking line-up of different models under one name? The Civic is a brand, an icon, a legend and darn near omnipresent in this country. And the 2012 Honda Civic will be too and for very good reason.
Not to give too much away but in my time driving the 2012 Honda Civic in many of its forms I was reminded of how much more fun to drive this car is than the competition. The Civic has always been the sportiest handler in its class and the same remains true of the new model. The ride absorbed even the worst potholes that the streets around Washington D.C. could throw at it and interior noise levels are impressively low.
So while the 2012 Honda Civic might not look like a Klingon spaceship as some deluded internet soothsayers may have hoped, that isn’t to say Honda hasn’t been hard at work creating new features that improve the appeal of this already appealing car. And with gas prices going up, couldn’t you use a new Civic? The only problem is deciding which one to buy. Good luck with that one.
The i-MID In-Car Electronics Revolution
The interior keeps the same two tiered dash design but the new integration of in-car electronics (Bluetooth, audio, USB, navigation) called i-MID (Intelligent Multi-Information Display) is quite simply a work of engineering excellence. You operate all of these systems via a circular knob on the steering wheel and within seconds of getting in the car I knew how everything worked.
I even set up a Bluetooth phone connection in just a little over a minute without ever having to look at the owner’s manual. This system is standard on all Civics barring the low cost DX and includes a standard dashboard mounted screen right at your eye level so you can alternate functions while driving. USB/iPod integration is standard on vehicles with i-MID with Bluetooth standard on EX, EX-L, SI, Natural Gas and Civic Hybrid models.
I have never driven a car whose electronic functions were so intelligently integrated and so easy to use. The i-Mid screen also proved very handy for giving me directions when I got horribly lost on the poorly marked streets surrounding the Civic launch proving grounds allowing me to pay attention to avoiding the road rage prone drivers of Washington D.C. Seriously, the people there are not very forgiving if you get lost.
What are Eco-Assist and ECON Mode?
Eco-Assist is a sort of visual coaching system featuring colored bars along the upper dashboard display that glow blue (inefficient) or green (fuel efficient) based on how you are driving. This system can be turned off via the i-MID display and is not featured on Si models. Separate from this is a button to the left of the steering wheel which activates “Econ Mode” and just so you are aware the EPA does not test fuel economy with this gas saving feature activated.
“Econ Mode” alters the Drive-by-Wire throttle response to a more gradual setting, alters shift timing on automatic transmission equipped models and alters to response of the climate control system all in the name of increasing fuel economy. If you don’t like what the “Econ Mode” setting does to your Civic it is always waiting to be turned off. But hey, who wouldn’t like to get better fuel economy?
Interior and Exterior Styling Changes
Given the fact that the last generation Civic was so good looking, it’s no wonder that the Civic coupe and sedan look vaguely similar to their predecessors. The lines are more crisp and wedge-like even if the new sedan’s tail lights could be accused of looking a tad ordinary. From every angle, however, the new Civic looks very handsome in person with none of the odd styling cues that might make something like the Elantra look dated in a few years.
Overall, however, I found a lot to like in the way Honda handled this 9thgeneration of Civic’s design evolution. It’s odd to me, however, that people expect radical visual changes this time around from Honda when similarly iconic models like the Golf/Rabbit and BMW 3-Series have kept similar exterior shapes for decades. Come on guys, it’s not like the last Civic looked like the Chevy Cobalt.
My favorite body style is the more angular coupe variant but the chunkier, more robust lines of the sedan give it a more refined and expensive street presence than before. The 2012 Civic’s interior has a very logical control layout with new chrome ringed dials for the climate control system and plenty of handy storage units for your junk. The interior isn’t awash in soft touch plastics but everything feels solidly assembled so there is no evidence of 2011 Jetta style cost cutting.
Surprisingly given the auto industry’s history of making new cars larger and heavier, the latest Civic keeps the same exterioir dimensions as last year but somehow improves interior space in the sedan by 3.7%. That might not sound like much but the Civic’s interior has a very open and airy feel that you don’t find in competing models. Also, the sunroof that features in Si, EX and EX-L models eats up less headroom than before.
Both the coupe and sedan variants are still quite unmistakably Civics and will no doubt sell well based solely on looks and value alone. The interior is an inventive mix of shapes and design elements that make it a very easy place to get on with the business of driving. But what makes Civics so special has always been how they drive. And on that count, the 2011 Civic is still a runaway smash.
2012 Honda Civic Vehicle Model Specs
Si Model
Engine: 2.4 liter 4-cylinder
Power: liter 201 horsepower/170 lb. feet of torque
Transmission: 6-speed manual transmission
EPA Fuel Economy: 22 city/31 highway
DX/LX/EX/EX-L Models
Engine: 1.8 liter 4-cylinder
Power: 140 horsepower/128 lb. feet of torque
Transmission: 5-speed manual transmission, 5-speed automatic (optional)
EPA Fuel Economy: 28 city/39 highway (automatic), 28 city/36 highway (manual)
Civic Hybrid
Engine: 1.5 liter 4-cylinder/lithium-ion battery hybrid
Power: 110 horsepower/127 lb. feet of torque (combined)
Transmission: CVT automatic
EPA Fuel Economy: 44 city/44 highway
Civic Natural Gas
Engine: 1.8 liter 4-cylinder
Power: 110 horsepower/106 lb. feet of torque
Transmission: 5-speed automatic
EPA Fuel Economy: 27 city/38 highway
Civic HF
Engine: 1.8 liter 4-cylinder
Power: 140 horsepower/128 lb. feet of torque
Transmission: 5-speed automatic
EPA Fuel Economy: 29 city/41 highway
Trunk Space (Sedan): 12.5 cubic feet (12.1 cubic feet in EX-L model)
(Coupe): 11.5 cubic feet
Overall Length: 177.3 inches
Overall Width: 69 inches
Curb Weight Range: 2,608 to 2,777 pounds (trim level dependent)
Manufacturing Locations: Civic sedan, Civic Natural Gas (Indiana)
Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Si (Ontario, Canada)
Civic Hybrid (Suzuka, Japan)
Warranty: 3 years/36,000 mile bumper to bumper
5 years/60,000 powertrain
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