2016 Honda Civic Expert Review
Reviewed by Michael Cantu
Honda fully redesigned the Civic from the ground up featuring new exterior and interior styling, more powerful and fuel efficient engines, a larger cabin, and a host of new features and safety technology.
Vehicle Summary
The 2016 Civic is Honda's smallest and most affordable sedan and coupe, below the larger and more expensive Accord sedan and coupe. If you are cross-shopping hatchback or crossovers, the Fit is similar in size but has a lower starting price. The HR-V crossover has more interior volume and only a slightly higher starting price.
Overview
The 2016 Honda Civic comes standard with a 2.0-liter I-4 that produces 158 hp and 138 lb-ft of torque and delivers 30/40 mpg city/highway when mated to a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and 27/38 mpg when mated to a six-speed manual transmission in the sedan body style. The coupe delivers a similar 30/39 mpg with the CVT and 26/37 with the six-speed manual. Found on the higher EX-T, EX-L, and Touring trims, the 174-hp, 162-lb-ft of torque 1.5-liter turbocharged I-4 engine comes mated only to the CVT and delivers 31/42 mpg in the sedan body style and 31/41 mpg in coupe form. The Honda Civic is only available in front-wheel drive.
Opting for the top Touring trim and you will receive a myriad of features that includes Honda Sensing, rearview camera, remote engine start, power moonroof, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, leather-trimmed interior, LED headlights, eight-way power driver's seat, heated front and rear seats, and a 450-watt premium audio system, navigation, and a 7-inch touchscreen display. If you want to brighten up the interior, order the available center console illumination, door sill illumination, and interior illumination accessories.
Safety
The 2016 Honda Civic sedan and coupe are both considered a 2016 Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS for receiving the highest rating of "Good" in all crash evaluations (small overlap front, moderate overlap front, side, roof strength, and head restraints and seats) and for receiving the highest rating of "Superior" for the front crash prevention evaluation. The Civic received the institution's highest rating for avoiding a collision in both the 12-mph and 25-mph automatic braking tests thanks to the Honda Sensing suite of safety and driver assist technologies. Unlike many of the Civic's rivals, the automaker makes Honda Sensing available on all trim levels, not just the top trims. Honda Sensing consists of Lane Keeping Assist, adaptive cruise control, Road Departure Mitigation System, and the all-important Collision Mitigation Braking system that can automatically apply the brakes in order to avoid or reduce the impact of a frontal collision. The Honda Civic also received the NHTSA's highest rating of five stars for its overall rating.
What We Think
In 2016 Motor Trend Car of the Year testing, we liked how the all-new Civic was "bigger, flashier, and more technologically advanced than ever." We were also impressed with the extra rear legroom, the nicely appointed and styled interior, and the available Honda Sensing active safety technology. We also enjoyed the quiet and smooth 1.5-liter turbocharged engine but noted that it is a little slow off the line. Our biggest complaints were the new exterior styling and the complex infotainment system.
In a 2016/2017 seven car compact sedan comparison, the 2016 Honda Civic EX came in first place: "Lacking luxury-oriented items like in the Chevy or Hyundai, it's pretty evident where the development and packaging money went in this car: Efficiency, Safety, and Performance."
We felt the Civic was a complete all-around package as it excelled in many categories: "It drives better, it feels better, it's engineered better, it's got special sauce—the X factor—and this thing has it in spades."
Cool Fact
Honda has reduced Noise, Vibration, and Harshness (NVH) as a result of an acoustic glass front windshield, triple door sealing (a first), A-,B-, and C-pillar separators (a first), new hood seals, sound-absorbing heat baffles and body undercovers, new rear wheelhouse liner, and formed fiber carpeting (a first).
