2012 Honda Civic Review

2012 Honda Civic Review

Bruce Sheridan

Overview

The compact car class was once dominated by the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla. Those two cars on their own have each sold more models in some years than the entire lineup of some manufacturers. It's an entirely different game these days, and the competition has closed this once colossal gap.

With the redesigned 2012 Honda Civic, it appears Honda is banking on what it does best. They played it safe with this new Civic, and subtly improved on some key areas in this class; gas mileage, interior room and technological features. The real question is would it be enough to keep the masses in the Honda camp instead of with one of the increasingly competitive rivals?

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The Civic is still a very high quality car. It should certainly be considered by anyone looking for a practical vehicle for their deals on new cars. If you want a responsive, reliable, efficient and valuable compact car, the Civic is right up your alley. It may not be a clear cut winner in its segment anymore, but it is still certainly near the top, it all depends on what you want and need out of your next new vehicle.

2012 Honda Civic

Starting MSRP	Max City / Hwy MPG
$15,755	29 / 41

Pros	Cons
Improved gas mileage	Competition has caught up
Responsive ride	Mediocre styling
Roomy interior

Trims

There is no shortage of different Civic trims to choose from. The real standout here is the Civic Hybrid, whose only real competitor in terms of the gas mileage and affordability is the 2012 Toyota Prius. The base DX does not come with much amenities; it doesn't even come with air conditioning or power locks and windows. Step up a trim to the LX and you'll get all that plus other expected features, such as cruise control, keyless entry, steering wheel audio controls, a sound system, CD player and auxiliary/USB inputs.

Civic Coupe Trims
Name	MSRP	Engine	Best MPG City / Hwy
DX	$15,755	1.8L 4-cyl	28 / 39
LX	$17,805	1.8L 4-cyl	28 / 39
EX	$19,855	1.8L 4-cyl	28 / 39
EX-L	$22,105	1.8L 4-cyl	28 / 39

Civic Sedan Trims
Name	MSRP	Engine	Best MPG City / Hwy
DX	$15,955	1.8L 4-cyl	28 / 39
LX	$18,005	1.8L 4-cyl	28 / 39
HF	$19,605	1.8L 4-cyl	29 / 41
EX	$20,655	1.8L 4-cyl	28 / 39
EX-L	$22,105	1.8L 4-cyl	28 / 39
SI	$22,555	2.4L 4-cyl	22 / 31

Civic Alternative Fuel Trims
Name	MSRP	Engine	Best MPG City / Hwy
Hybrid	$24,200	1.5L 4-cyl Hybrid	44 / 44
Natural Gas	$26,305	1.5L 4-cyl NG	27 / 38

Performance

The 2012 Honda Civic is pretty average among its competitors in terms of performance, but it does have one big edge over the competition. The acceleration, handling and braking of the Civic are pinpoint. Even though the Civic is not the most athletic compact car, it is one of the most precise and refined to drive.

The majority of the Civic's trims come with the 1.8L 4-cyl engine that produces 140 horsepower and 128 lb-ft of torque. In most models the five speed transmission is standard with an optional five speed automatic. The only real standout engine is the SI trim's 2.4L 4-cyl engine that gives it 201 horsepower and 170 lb-ft of torque.

Interior / Exterior

If it's not broke don't fix it seems to be the Honda Civic's mantra, and it is evident in its interior and exterior styling. It's hard to argue considering how well the Civic sells, but this new model shows little difference from the last. Tell tale signs of the old Civic are back, like the slicked back windshield and the dual level dash display. Competitors' interior designs have the Civic beat handily, especially the Hyundai Elantra and the Chevy Cruze. The Civic took a conservative approach and played it safe, and the rest of the class has caught up to it.

Features

The Civic offers many of the features you'd expect, the only catch is you have to shell out for the higher trims to get them. There is a new five inch infotainment display, and also a new Eco Assist mode that helps you drive more efficiently. The LX trim and above gets the new intelligent Multi-Information Display, which integrates data about gas mileage, trip information and Bluetooth connectivity. If you opt for navigation, it will also give directional instructions.

Safety

Honda has a reputation for making safe cars, and the Civic is no different. The sedan scored slightly higher than the coupe however. In government testing, the sedan aced the overall score with five out of five stars. It got five stars on its front and side impact tests, but only four for its rollover risk. The Civic coupe received four stars for its overall score, thanks to its four star score in front, side and rollover tests.

All 2012 Honda Civics come standard with anti lock brakes, brake assist with electronic distribution and the standard array of airbags. Each Honda Civic also now comes standard with vehicle stability assist.