Honda’s 10th-generation Civic is a big deal for the brand. Not only does the Civic account for nearly 25 percent of all Honda vehicle sales, it competes within one of the most competitive segments in the industry.
This reality has pushed Honda to completely overhaul the 2016 Civic, starting with the sedan, which goes on sale in November, and eventually moving to coupe, hatchback, Si, and Type R variants.
Pricing and fuel economy information has just been released by the Japanese automaker, and fans of the new Civic’s fastback styling and bold design cues will be pleased to learn it costs just $150 more than the 2015 model.
The entry level 2016 Honda Civic sedan starts at $18,640 and comes with a new 2.0-liter four cylinder that produces 158 horsepower and 138 pound-feet of torque. This entry LX trim is the only one (presently) to offer a standard six-speed manual in addition to the optional CVT (which costs an extra $800). Fuel economy estimates for the manual-equipped 2.0-liter four-cylinder stand at 27 city/40 highway/31 combined mpg. Add the CVT and you’re bumped up to 31 city/41 highway/35 combined mpg.
From there, Honda is offering its “Honda Sensing” suite of safety features for an additional $1,000 at every trim level. These tech. goodies include Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Low-speed follow, Lane Keeping Assist, Road Departure Mitigation, CMBS (collision mitigation braking assist), Forward Collision Warning, and Lane Departure Warning all work seamlessly. Notably, ACC with low-speed follow will work from highway speeds all the way down to stop-and-go traffic.
The EX trim starts at $21,040 with the same 2.0-liter engine and adds Smart Entry, walk-away door locks, push-button ignition, a Display Audio touchscreen, Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay.
If you can afford the EX-T version, things really get good. Honda has developed a new 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that manages 174 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque. This powertrain, like the 2.0-equipped Civics uses a CVT transmission, but it has been retuned for the turbocharged power delivery. Impressively, the turbo engine achieves 31 city/42 highway/35 combined mpg.
If you’re looking for a more luxurious cabin, Honda’s EX-L ($23,700) trim adds leather seating surfaces, dual-zone automatic climate control, an eight-way power driver’s seat, and a leather-trimmed steering wheel and shift knob. For an extra $1,000 Honda offers a Garmin navigation system with 3D-view and real-time traffic.
Finally, Honda’s new range-topping Touring trim turns an economy compact vehicle into an entry-level luxury car, adding LED headlights, rain-sensing wipers, a four-way power passenger seat, heated rear seats, and Honda Sensing safety features as standard.
All of the above prices exclude an $835 destination fee. A coupe version of the new Civic will go on sale sometime this winter.
