Consumer Reports no longer recommends Honda Civic
10-26-16, 01:21 PM
#1
Consumer Reports no longer recommends Honda Civic
Consumer Reports annual Car Reliability Survey is out, and yes, there are some big surprises. First and foremost? The venerable publication no longer recommends the Honda Civic. In fact, aside from the walking-dead CR-Z and limited-release Clarity fuel-cell car, the Civic is the only Honda to miss out on CR's prestigious nod.
At the opposite end there's a surprise as well – Toyota and Lexus remain the most reliable brands on the market, but Buick cracked the top three. That's up from seventh last year, and the first time for an American brand to stand on the Consumer Reports podium. Mazda's entire lineup earned Recommended checks as well.
Consumer Reports dinged the Civic for its "infuriating" touch-screen radio, lack of driver lumbar adjustability, the limited selection of cars on dealer lots fitted with Honda's popular Sensing system, and the company's decision to offer LaneWatch instead of a full-tilt blind-spot monitoring system. Its score? A lowly 58.
The Civic isn't the only surprise drop from CR's Recommended ranks. The Audi A3, Ford F-150, Subaru WRX/STI, and Volkswagen Jetta, GTI, and Passat all lost the Consumer Reports' checkmark. On the flipside, a number of popular vehicles graduated to the Recommended ranks, including the BMW X5, Chevrolet Camaro, Corvette, and Cruze, Hyundai Santa Fe, Porsche Macan, and Tesla Model S. Perhaps the biggest surprise is the hilariously recall-prone Ford Escape getting a Recommended check – considering the popularity of Ford's small crossover, this is likely a coup for the brand, as it puts the Escape on a level playing field with the Recommended Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, and Nissan Rogue.
While Ford is probably happy to see CR promote the Escape, the list wasn't as kind for every brand. For example, of the entire Fiat Chrysler Automobiles catalog, the ancient Chrysler 300 was the only car to score a check – there wasn't a single Dodge, Fiat, Jeep, Maserati, or Ram on the list. That hurts. FCA isn't alone at the low end, either. GMC, Jaguar Land Rover, Mini, and Mitsubishi don't have a vehicle on CR's list between them, while brands like Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, Nissan, Lincoln, Infiniti, and Cadillac only have a few models each.
At the opposite end there's a surprise as well – Toyota and Lexus remain the most reliable brands on the market, but Buick cracked the top three. That's up from seventh last year, and the first time for an American brand to stand on the Consumer Reports podium. Mazda's entire lineup earned Recommended checks as well.
Consumer Reports dinged the Civic for its "infuriating" touch-screen radio, lack of driver lumbar adjustability, the limited selection of cars on dealer lots fitted with Honda's popular Sensing system, and the company's decision to offer LaneWatch instead of a full-tilt blind-spot monitoring system. Its score? A lowly 58.
The Civic isn't the only surprise drop from CR's Recommended ranks. The Audi A3, Ford F-150, Subaru WRX/STI, and Volkswagen Jetta, GTI, and Passat all lost the Consumer Reports' checkmark. On the flipside, a number of popular vehicles graduated to the Recommended ranks, including the BMW X5, Chevrolet Camaro, Corvette, and Cruze, Hyundai Santa Fe, Porsche Macan, and Tesla Model S. Perhaps the biggest surprise is the hilariously recall-prone Ford Escape getting a Recommended check – considering the popularity of Ford's small crossover, this is likely a coup for the brand, as it puts the Escape on a level playing field with the Recommended Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, and Nissan Rogue.
While Ford is probably happy to see CR promote the Escape, the list wasn't as kind for every brand. For example, of the entire Fiat Chrysler Automobiles catalog, the ancient Chrysler 300 was the only car to score a check – there wasn't a single Dodge, Fiat, Jeep, Maserati, or Ram on the list. That hurts. FCA isn't alone at the low end, either. GMC, Jaguar Land Rover, Mini, and Mitsubishi don't have a vehicle on CR's list between them, while brands like Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, Nissan, Lincoln, Infiniti, and Cadillac only have a few models each.
10-26-16, 01:31 PM
#2
Lexus Champion
And yet the Civic is still the compact sedan I would choose over any other, even without a volume ****, the lack of lumbar adjustability, and with LaneWatch. I find it rather curious that they dinged it for how cars on lots are equipped.
10-26-16, 03:21 PM
#5
Lexus Fanatic
Thats shocking to me...my cousin has a new Civic and its a great little car. I don't have an issue with the touchscreen any more than any other touchscreen...
10-26-16, 03:41 PM
#6
Lexus Fanatic
A vehicle can fall from CR's Recommended List (or fail to make it, even with a competent road-test), if the reliability record is lower than CR's "Average" range. And an all-new design, even with a previously reliable record for that nameplate. has to wait for reliability verification, even if it aces the road and safety-tests. Hondas and Acuras, for some unknown reason, seem to have recently been losing some of their former stellar reliability, even though, IMO, they still come off of the assembly-line put together like Swiss Watches.
The Civic 's reputation DID suffer in 2012 (correctly, IMO) when Honda tried to cost-cut the design with a virtually all-hard plastic El Cheapo interior, and did an even worse job inside than the all-plastic 2009 Subaru Impreza....the Impreza's interior of that vintage at least looked nice, even if it wasn't nice LOL. But Honda quickly realized its mistake, and did an emergency refresh for the interior the very next year (2013).
Steve.....I'll take your word for it that your cousin got a good car (as Civic owners usually do...my brother has owned two new ones in the past)...but, given CR's comments, my curiosity's up. It might be worth an actual look and maybe a test-drive of the new one, though I don't plan to formally write it up.
The Civic 's reputation DID suffer in 2012 (correctly, IMO) when Honda tried to cost-cut the design with a virtually all-hard plastic El Cheapo interior, and did an even worse job inside than the all-plastic 2009 Subaru Impreza....the Impreza's interior of that vintage at least looked nice, even if it wasn't nice LOL. But Honda quickly realized its mistake, and did an emergency refresh for the interior the very next year (2013).
Steve.....I'll take your word for it that your cousin got a good car (as Civic owners usually do...my brother has owned two new ones in the past)...but, given CR's comments, my curiosity's up. It might be worth an actual look and maybe a test-drive of the new one, though I don't plan to formally write it up.
Last edited by mmarshall; 10-26-16 at 03:49 PM.
10-27-16, 08:41 AM
#7
Lexus Fanatic
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10-27-16, 09:09 AM
#8
Lexus Champion
I think Autoblog missed the main reason CR removing its recommended rating ---
-------->>>>>>>> First year reliability of the redesign has been well below average <---------------------
-------->>>>>>>> First year reliability of the redesign has been well below average <---------------------
10-27-16, 09:32 AM
#9
The pursuit of F
I'm losing respect for CR. Not that I'm a Civic (or Honda) fan for that matter, but to not recommend a car for the reasons listed is ridiculous as most of that is subjective.
10-27-16, 10:37 AM
#10
Lexus Fanatic
Are they serious? Because of being frustrated with the radio, not enough cars on the lot, no lumbar support
they are not going to recommend it even though it is getting very good reviews? How can they be taken seriously anymore? Isn't the point of consumer reports really to get an idea of what is a unreliable POS that is going to strand you on the side of the road, will have a bunch of issues, or empty your bank account fixing it and maintaining it and what is reliable, good buy for the price, well built, etc? That is mainly what I want to know but lately they tend to recommend unreliable brands with expensive maintenance as long as it checks off things they like over more reliable cars. Auto journalist whine and complain about too many buttons in cars and when car makers unfortunately listen and now make everything a annoying overly complicated touchscreen they complain more.
10-27-16, 10:44 AM
#11
Lexus Fanatic
Are they serious? Because of being frustrated with the radio, not enough cars on the lot, no lumbar support they are not going to recommend it even though it is getting very good reviews? How can they be taken seriously anymore? Isn't the point of consumer reports really to get an idea of what is a unreliable POS that is going to strand you on the side of the road, will have a bunch of issues, or empty your bank account fixing it and maintaining it and what is reliable, good buy for the price, well built, etc? That is mainly what I want to know but lately they tend to recommend unreliable brands with expensive maintenance as long as it checks off things they like over more reliable cars. Auto journalist whine and complain about too many buttons in cars and when car makers unfortunately listen and now make everything a annoying overly complicated touchscreen they complain more.
10-27-16, 10:51 AM
#12
Lexus Fanatic
Are they serious? Because of being frustrated with the radio, not enough cars on the lot, no lumbar support they are not going to recommend it even though it is getting very good reviews? How can they be taken seriously anymore? Isn't the point of consumer reports really to get an idea of what is a unreliable POS that is going to strand you on the side of the road, will have a bunch of issues, or empty your bank account fixing it and maintaining it and what is reliable, good buy for the price, well built, etc? That is mainly what I want to know but lately they tend to recommend unreliable brands with expensive maintenance as long as it checks off things they like over more reliable cars. Auto journalist whine and complain about too many buttons in cars and when car makers unfortunately listen and now make everything a annoying overly complicated touchscreen they complain more.
10-27-16, 10:51 AM
#13
Lexus Champion
"First year reliability of the redesign has been well below average.", from the CR link in the Auto Blog article. This probably disqualified the Civic from being Recommended. Reading their overview it sounded like the Road Test was pretty good.
10-27-16, 11:22 AM
#15
Lexus Champion
My brother in law bought a new Civic last January and uses it for his daily commuter (has a long commute). I think it's a remarkable car and he has really enjoyed it. It's well equipped, comfortable, solid, and gets great gas mileage.