The 2016 Honda Civic is the latest reminder from the Japanese carmaker why this badge continues to be one of the bestselling cars not only in the U.S. but in the entire world.
According to Auto Blog, the new Civic prioritized overall refinement, steering experience, quiet cabin and high-speed stability as areas that this current generation car must excel in. The new Civic also offers two variants to choose from — a 2.0-liter naturally aspirated engine and a 1.5-liter turbocharged version.
As for its MPG ratings, the 1.5 variant delivers 31 MPG in the city, 42 on the highway and with a combined 35 MPG rating. The 2.0-liter engine isn't too shabby either as it gives 31 in the city and 41 on the highway, making also a combined 35 MPG rating.
Although the 2.0-liter variant is expected to make the bulk of the sales, Honda engineers are mostly proud of their 1.5-liter turbocharged engine, which was reported to give an output of 174 horsepower and 162 pound feet of torque. However, fans of old school driving may be a bit disappointed as this trim will only be offered with a Continuous Valve Transmission or CVT.
But don't worry though, a six-speed manual transmission is also offered but only on the base 2.0-liter model. Furthermore, Car And Driver also noted that the new 2016 Honda Civic weighs less compared to the previous model. It's kinda disappointing that the turbocharged engine is only offered with an automatic, especially when you're trying to enjoy its superb handling and responsive steering.
However, the 2.0-liter naturally aspirated engine isn't quite bad and to be honest, it's also really fun to drive. Unless you're some professional racer, the base model that's offered in a traditional manual transmission will suffice.
In a similar report by Forbes, the new Civic has certainly regained most of the "fun-to-drive" spirit it was known for, a character feature that slipped during the mid-2000s.
But the good news is, the Honda Civic is back and it's better than ever. Expect the base model to clock at a price of $19,310.
