First Impressions

43 years young, the Honda Civic is one of the most enduring names in the industry. And while there’s a lot new to look forward to…like a 5-door hatchback and super tuned variants, we’ll kick off the redesigned tenth generation compact with the high volume Civic Sedan.

The biggest news for gen-10 is turbocharging…yes, finally even Honda has jumped on the trend. Higher trims get a 1.5 liter turbo 4 putting out 174 horsepower through a CVT. A 158-horse naturally breathing 2.0 liter is standard in manual or CVT.

While neither powertrain had us fulfilling our boy racer fantasies – that’s for any Si and Type R’s to come – we did marvel at how much the new Civic is improved as an all-around family vehicle.

Styling takes a big, and some say a radial leap forward. LED lighting is everywhere. Inside technology rules with both Apple Car Play and Android Auto capabilities. Plus, it’s now the largest cabin in the compact sedan class.

BEN DAVIS: “…as far as the inside goes…plenty of room up front for the driver. Everything I see looks good. Most of what I can touch feels good. Even in the back seat, plenty of room for…well let me show you…SHAZAM…well I’m 5’ 10”, kind of chubby, but still cute, and I’ve got plenty of headroom back here…this is a sunroof car too. Plenty of thigh room, just the right amount of cush…I’m ready for the long haul.”

JOHN DAVIS: With the Honda Sensing safety suite optional, the 2016 Honda Civic Sedan starts just under $20,000.