Less than a month into the New Year, Honda's diminutive Civic is on a roll. The all-new tenth-generation redesign took top honors as 2016's 'North American Car of the Year," at the Detroit Auto Show running through Sunday (Chicago's Auto Show takes place next month, Feb 13- Feb 21).
Of all the endless vehicle awards strewn throughout print and cyber space, this honor carries ultimate cache, determined through a vetting process of 53 international journalists. Runners up were Chevrolet's mid-size Malibu sedan and Mazda's two-seat MX-5 roadster.
It's not Civics first turn in the winner's circle. Ten years ago, Honda's venerable compact earned the same top distinction. This latest 10th generation builds upon successes of past incarnations, while excelling with superb fuel economy. Highway estimates top 40 mpg with both available four-cylinder engines. It's all wrapped in the sleekest-looking exterior of any past execution.
Civic ranked as the fifth best-selling car in the U.S. in 2015. Two of the cars ahead were Honda's own mid-size Accord (#3) and compact CR-V crossover (#4). Toyota's Camry and Corolla ranking number one and two respectively. Civic posted sales of 335,384, up almost 3 percent from 2014.
American Honda Motor Company (which includes the luxury Acura division) boasted sales of 1,586,551 in 2015, a new high water mark.
Sandwiched between award-winning 8th and 10th generation Civics was a 2011 effort, which rode head on into a buzz saw of critical cyber space bullying; the result of thrift-store like interior, sparse standard equipment and less-than-thrilling transmissions. To Honda's credit, it scurried to introduce a 'mid-cycle' refresh one year later to squelch negative buzz. Through it all though, sales remained strong.
A majority of Civics sold throughout the United States are built in the eastern reaches of our neighboring Hoosier state, at a facility opened in late 2008. The Greenberg Indiana location (about half way between Indianapolis and Cincinnati) is Honda's fourth U.S. auto assembly plant.
Back in 1986, Honda began building Civics in Ohio, one of the first Asian automakers to assemble vehicles in the U.S. at a newly-built assembly plant. Today, such globalization remains commonplace.
Unlike a majority of compact rivals, Civic continues offering four-door and two-door variants. The 2016 four-door Civic began production last November while the coupe, with a one-inch lower roofline and unique taillight artistry, is set to reach dealers by March. Near future plans also include a five-door hatchback.
Five sedan trims include LX, EX, EX-T, EX-L and new-for-2016 top-shelf Touring. Two all-new four-cylinder engines and two transmissions are available.
In a random act of scheduling Karma, Civic ended up as the tester during a snowy trek (where Civic performed admirably) to the Detroit show's media days where 'Car of the Year' honors were bestowed.
Pricing for an entry LX with six-speed manual transmission checks in at $18,640. Our top-tier Touring tester with peppy 1.5-liter turbo and CVT automatic transmission included a $26,500 starting price.
Joining a new naturally aspirated 2.0-liter with 158 horsepower (more than Hyundai Elantra and Toyota Corolla rivals) is the aforementioned 1.5-liter turbocharged variant upping the ante to 174. The outgoing 2015 offered a naturally-aspirated 1.8-liter four cylinder, chugged by with 143 horses.
Wheelbase (distance between front and rear axle) grows by 1.2 inches while overall length adds nearly three inches. Also providing more girth, trunk space; growing to an impressive-for-the-segment 15.1 cubic feet, up substantially from 12.5. Extra dimensions add up to an inside cabin now qualifying as the compact segment's roomiest.
Throughout the industry of late, front and rear headlight housing provides designers a chance for creative tweaks thanks to light emitting diodes (LED) and sleek, leading to elegant touches. Civic's narrow, bejeweled headlight layout incorporates this theme, until recently the domain of high-end luxury sedans. The rear C pillar gently slopes alongside the square rear window through the short deck lid creating a coop-like swoop. Strap-like door handles adorn with chrome in Touring, while sporting body-colored hues in all other trims.
Push-button start comes in all trims sans entry LX; also the sole trim with a six-speed manual transmission. An inside latch unlocking the trunk conveniently locates on the driver's door in its own designated area away from power window controls; a superior placement to the floor, left of the driver's seat.
The multi-function seven-inch touch screen high atop the mid-center column includes a full-color back-up camera display when heading in reverse. For 'knob-files' such as myself, sad to say no easy-grab twists are present for audio volume or station pre-set turns. Instead, sound adjusts through a far left vertical side touch sensor or tactile thumb scroll on the steering wheel's 9 o'clock region.
While front and rear window defrost buttons reside in a row under screen, most other climate functions are summoned through touch commands of the multi-function screen. That includes fan speed and direction. Temperature selection adjust through old-school twist dials in addition to secondary touch screen commands.
A nice example of high-tech working in harmony with drivers is Honda's Lane Watch, a seamless-to-use visual assist of autos or bicyclists roaming the pesky right-side blind spot. Utilizing a tiny camera mounted on the right side-view mirror, a full-color, real-time feed projects through the multi-purpose screen whenever the right turn signal switches into action. It's standard in our top-trim Touring tester, optional in all others and well worth the investment.
Civic's also available with advances once the domain of large luxury autos such as radar-sensing cruise control, automatically adjusting speeds depending upon proximity of vehicles ahead; a perk employed when trekking to the Detroit and back to the Windy City.
Seating positions check in a pinch lower than some rivals while headroom remains adequate both front and back. Drivers enjoy better-than-average road views and perception thanks to four side windows and large rear glass. Second row 60/40 split seatbacks (in all trims sans entry LX) unlatch once trunk located tab gets pulled. As compact-sized sedans like the 2016 Civic add girth, it's possible to fit three adults in back for short treks.
The high-tech instrument panel includes a deep set design partitioned into three slices, each portion resembling a top-side view of a Chicago deep dish pizza; especially the two outboard slices. The right portion contains a large bar-type fuel gauge while the left end's bar-type fixture regulates engine temperature. The large V-shaped center reveals more detailed and colorful animated factoids including a digital speedometer and outer edge half-moon tachometer. Below the digital speedometer is a scrollable display of everything from station preset to estimated miles per gallon. This new design replaces a much maligned double-tier framework from Gen Nine.
The 12.9-gallon tank accepts regular, 87-octane fuel. New this year; a cap-less fuel lead. No twist cap to misplace since it's been removed entirely. Once a square fuel door opens, the long cylindrical gas nose pushes through a flat barrier, which self-seals upon the nozzle's exit.
At A Glance
2016 Honda Civic sedan
Touring trim starting price: $26,500
Engine: 1.5-liter turbo
Horsepower: 174
Overall Length: 182.3 inches
Overall Height: 55.7 inches
Overall Width: 70.8 inches
Wheelbase: 106.3 inches
Fuel economy estimates: 31 mpg city, 42 mpg highway
Assembly: Indiana