***** If you're talking about regular cars, I can see how. In terms of sports cars and luxury cars though, GM is currently making some really excellent stuff.
+Guillermo D whats wrong with trying the best you can do? isn't that better than settling for an average run of the mill product? doing just a little bit more and thinking you've made it is what makes people falling further behind from their goals everyday
+Justin Y Here's my take on that - it's just fine for Honda to push the limits of what they're capable of - in fact, that's great and they should keep it up. (Look at Asimo!) But here's my beef with this car specifically - the Civic is a totally different animal from its roots. The Civic began as a car centered around practicality, economy, and reliability. It wasn't flashy, try-hard, or aggressive in it's own right at all. There were plenty of aggressive 80's and 90's Civics on the road - but their owners made them that way. From the factory, they were as unpretentious as a Buddhist monk. Now? They are way more expensive, packed full of unnecessary technology, overweight - and here's what really kills it for me - less fun, less practical, and less efficient. (ROBOT STEERING) The car has literally lost everything that made it what it was. Today's Civic is by no means a bad car - it's excellent - but as I see it, it has nothing in common with the Civics that defined the brand. This car reminds me much more of an Acura TL or something like that - which, unless I'm mistaken, was actually built on the same frame as the Civic of it's day. The fact that Civics sucked by then is beside my point... If I wanted a car dripping with technology and screens and cameras and whatnot, I'd buy the Acura - but if I want a nice, simple, road-legal go-cart of a vehicle... well... you just can't get those anymore and I happen to think that's kind of lame. So - I'll keep repairing my 6th gen until gas-burning cars aren't legal anymore - because that's a Honda that I actually love.
If you look at its number one competitor the Toyota Corolla. The Civic offers so much more including soon to be 4 engine choices. The Corolla only one engine choice. I think they got it right by looks and performance. Honda is engineering some great cars lately, especially the new Acura NSX. Great job Honda!
+Sandor Fazekas Corolla's engine is old and horribly slow off the line with its CVT. I could not even get the tires to chirp even with traction off, just horrendous overweight car that also has interior rattles and cheap plastics. Only thing it has going for it is good interior space, gas mileage, and being a fleet car you can buy a 1-2 year old used one for pretty cheap.
+oldtwins na I agree the Corolla is a great fleet car for its reliability and fuel economy. Also I think Toyota did a decent job redesigning the Corolla a couple years ago but it its in desperate need of a refresh and like the Civic give us some engine choices!
+captainchaos087 I picked up a Civic Touring two weeks ago and traded a 1998 Accord. The Civic has ONE cubic foot more space inside! Should really be considered a mid-sized sedan now.
I own a 2001 Honda Accord Coupe and test drove the 2016 Honda Civic Touring Coupe. It is exactly the same size in every aspect +/- 1-2", but it is 10" shorter, which reduces the rear seat and trunk space compared to my Accord. It is a remarkable car and a great replacement option for those of us with 6th gen Accords...I'm waiting for the EX-T Manual Transmission and an announcement at least on when the Civic Si comes out. My only complaint is that it STILL doesn't have an adjustable seat belt like the sedans, just like the 6th gen Accord. Why oh why does Honda keep messing this up? The coupes need the adjustable seat belt MORE than the sedan imo.
I really like the styling on this new Civic. After a long period of disappointment Honda might be starting to turn around and build some exciting cars. Then again there's the new NSX which seems kind of a let down.
Now that looks like the civic it should it should be. And the interior looks much better and big in the rear seat. Great trunk space too! And no more double cluster instrument panel. And watch out Honda Fit. Your bro is having a hatchback version coming early next year. 10th time is the charm while the 9th gen was a dud. Thank you Honda!
And thank you John Davis. You've still got it. Most everyone wants you to retire soon, but keep up the excellent hosting duties and narrating road tests as always. Been watching you and Pat Goss for the past 18 years.
Very awesome car, I like it. But it's a shame they didn't make the SI model for this year. I love the SI in the fact that it comes standard with a 6 speed manual transmission, even on the higher trim. Above that, this car looks amazing to me. Nice work, Honda.
What is Honda doing? I used to own a 78 Civic CVCC. I bet I good get it in the trunk of this monster. And if they can milk 35 mpg out of the Civic shouldn't the Fit be even more fuel efficient?
Looks like there is more than enough room for the engine to be oriented longitudinally for a rear drive layout to make it a worthy BMW 3 series competitor. Besides there is also enough room to accommodate a propeller shaft too. Wouldn't that be nice!
3:15 -- "now feels more midsize than compact", they say. It's as big now as the Accord/Camry were ten years ago, so yes, it's gonna feel midsize. I miss the days when the Civic was small and light; guess the torch is being carried by the Fit and CR-Z now.
Crazy to think that this is the first extremely major refresh since 2006 really, if you look at the 9th gen, the styling stayed very verrrry similar. But this new model is on to a completely new style. I wouldn't exactly call it a compact car anymore. This car makes my 08 Si look tiny :(
Disagree about the loss of the two tiered instrument panel. Sometimes unconventional is better, and this was one of those times. Loved my 2010 and it's digital speedo up high and forward in the cab.
I see all the hate on the comments, and the designers and engineers, are laughing along with the bean counters. No doubt this civic gen will be successful like the last one and the one before......., in the end money speaks and so far the success of the civic speaks for itself.
I just got one lx 2.0 with 6mt. I didn't like it at the begining. I wanted something with headroom. Manual and Honda or Toyota. But once you get used to it it's comfortable.
+Meng Lor unlikely the SI will be more than 30k. Target pricing has always been just 1-2k more than the top civic model. Type R is limited production so expect a near 40k price to compete against Golf R and the likes, with dealer markup expected due to the small sale numbers.
Great car and review but too bad that there was no mention about the lack of lumbar support in the seats on the higher end models. Not sure why Honda left this out since they did so much to this improved Civic. However, I still am considering a test drive with it.
+Fussinated I found this out from some other online car reviewers and they were also surprised and disappointed that Honda left this feature out in the new redesigned Civics, even the higher end models. However, the Accord has that seat comfort feature but I am not interested in an Accord.
Remember when the Honda Civic was a practical, efficient, lightweight, fun sub-compact that actually looked like a car? Pepperidge Farm remembers. Jokes aside, I do think this is the best looking Civic in years - but it's just too big. It's been too big since 2001. The car itself is just fine - but this looks more like a spaceship... or at least an Accord. I drive a 6th gen from '99 - so here's what I think is kind of funny - my 14 year old car gets mileage that's just as good, and I'd bet money that the steering is a lot better - or at very least gives better feedback from the road. Modern Hondas (and Toyotas and many others) feel like driving a radio-controlled car from the inside. All the fun is gone! Maybe I'm just old fashioned - but I think Honda became a totally different kind of car after 2000, and I do not like it.
+David Hoffnung I hate the new Civic!!! Bring back horse drawn buggies and out houses!!! How dare they improve their cars and make them more comfortable and appealing with crap like "technology" and "larger sizes"!!! Pfooey!!!
I love civics alot but the spacing of the "civic" letters at 4:58 is a little embarrasing, also look how the first "I" is crooked and the second is higher than the other letters
wiibaron Your mind is uglier than the ugliest HONDA, who cares what your ass looks like with piles in it. However, piles will give you a pain in the ass :)
+wiibaron Ugly compared to what? The sloped hood of 8th and 9th gen Civic is a joke. It's like traffic cone on wheels. It's not as good looking as Mazda3, but at least it doesn't look retarded like the previous 2 generation.
Looks like a truck Color combination matters (neutral high contrast needed) Looks like an Accord Needs better looking stock wheels Weird looking hood line Si looks better obviously
+DA BEARDSMEN I hate the new Civic!!! Bring back horse drawn buggies and out houses!!! How dare they improve their cars and make them more comfortable and appealing with crap like "technology" and "larger sizes"!!! Pfooey!!!
In the 1990s I had a Civic 2 door hatchback...this is so far from the car I loved I can't imagine even bothering to go and look at one at a dealership. I'm deeply disappointed at the direction Honda has gone with the Civic...the car has gotten too big and too expensive and this one too strange for me.
+Neb Omashin I hate the new Civic!!! Bring back horse drawn buggies and out houses!!! How dare they improve their cars and make them more comfortable and appealing with crap like "technology" and "larger sizes"!!! Pfooey!!!
Thanks for only offering stick on the lowest trims, I love Honda but the trims you offer for your cars are moronic. Such as the HRV not being offered a stick with the AWD model.
I've been voicing the same complaints for years. I don't know what is pushing this trend for larger and larger cars. It's like we are sliding into the mid and late 70s again with regards to size and styling. Everything trending bigger and uglier. Honda continues to build cars of good quality and reliability but they have lost me as a customer, likely forever.
+Don McCollough I hate the new Civic!!! Bring back horse drawn buggies and out houses!!! How dare they improve their cars and make them more comfortable and appealing with crap like "technology" and "larger sizes"!!! Pfooey!!!
stop demanding that CVT's act like an old automatic, that's like complaining that your iPhone doesn't have a rotary dial. CVT's are CVT's they should behave like a CVT not try and pretend they are something they are not.
This is nothing like the heyday of the civic 1991-2001. Honda needs to think about the past and actually get a clue to advance. They are as lost as Mazda giving up the Evolution Lancer.
Why the hell would normal customers care for a civic's shape? All they care about is economy and A to B transportation. Thy could care less of what they drive
That thing is way over-styled - its just a fucking civic; and entry level RELIABLE sedan. Just want a reliable funish car that blends in. What happened? The turbo 1.5 is a interesting development indeed...but look at the package. $25k for a civic now... oh kay...
