The interior looks and feel high-quality, though there’s a little too much piano black trim. The Civic’s controls are easy to use and logical, the and the retro-looking mesh screen that hides the air vents adds style. Although the price is a little higher this year, the Civic is still top of its class in lots of ways. All the features also work with manual transmissions, which many competitors have dropped. Higher trims get a few safety extras like blind-spot monitoring, but Honda’s generous suite of standard active-safety gear also provides lots of reassurance at a low price. Lower trims get a very basic infotainment setup that assumes most users will use Apple CarPlay or Android Auto (both standard) instead, but higher trims get a larger screen and comprehensive, easy-to-use system. There are some cheap plastics in evidence, but the look is one of sophistication, and the Civic’s systems have been designed for an easier user experience than almost any of its competitors. Mazda can’t match the Civic on space in either area, but offers a more stylish cabin, though the Civic’s redesign has made it a standout on interior design as well as exterior sophistication. The Elantra has a fractionally larger back seat, but a slightly smaller trunk, and offers no hatchback. Some return up to 36 mpg combined, and all are fun to drive, especially the Si and Sport Touring.īest of all, they have lots of room and lots of cargo space. All are front-wheel drive, and while the Si sedan comes only with a manual (optional on hatchbacks), most use a continuously variable transmission (CVT). There are three levels of four-cylinder power, a 158-horsepower 2.0-liter (LX, Sport), a 180-hp turbocharged 1.5 (EX, EX-L, Touring and Sport Touring) and a 200-hp version of that same 1.5 (Si). While Mazda leads on verve and Hyundai on economy, the Civic seems to blend the best of both. The most fun variation? The top-spec Sport Touring manual. The latter body style adds a great deal of utility, but it costs $800 to $1,700 more per model. The 2023 Honda Civic comes as a sedan or a hatchback. Other competitors include the Kia Forte, Subaru Impreza and Toyota Corolla and Volkswagen Jetta. The Mazda offers more performance and sleeker styling, but worse fuel mileage at a similar price. The Elantra costs a little less and offers a hybrid option. What has changed is how strong the competition, particularly the Hyundai Elantra and Mazda3, has become. Honda knows that the Civic is (and has always been) popular with first-time and value buyers, so it’s always had to balance creating a satisfying experience and not busting budgets. ![]() A hybrid Civic arrives this summer for 2024. This buys you a whole lot of standard safety gear and the Civic’s long reputation for durability, but all-wheel drive and a hybrid model are not offered, at least not yet. The only new 2023 version is the much hotter Civic Type R, which we review separately. It’s light, fun and frugal.Īll of the various eight trims from the base LX sedan ($24,545 including destination) to the Sport Touring hatchback ($32,045) carry over for 2023, but inflation and supply chain issues have driven their prices up about $1,600. Now about the same size as a 1992 Accord, the Civic offers what used to be midsize interior room while retaining its traditional small car characteristics. That’s no bad thing though, because Honda hit all the right notes with this reinvention, shedding the previous model’s agglomeration of angles and boy-racer style for a sleek, mature shape, adding a more stylish, user-friendly interior and packing in even more value. Last year the Honda Civic celebrated its 50th birthday with a total redesign, and the now eleventh-generation model continues unchanged for 2023.
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