Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

2013 Honda Civic

Gallery:
http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2013-...photo-5654642/

On some level, it's hard to blame Honda for the strategy it took with its new-for-2012 Civic. Executives looked at the key players on the market as the model was being developed, soaked in the growing global economic malaise, and decided that if they wanted to make decent money on their small car, they'd have to find creative ways to take cost out of its build. In light of the financial crisis, consumers and critics would surely understand some belt-tightening in order to secure the company's legendary reliability, resale value and ease-of-use, right?

So Honda took a pass on expensive new technology – more complex transmissions, forced induction, active aero, and so on. And it also substituted in some cheaper interior materials, skimped on sound deadening, creature comforts and found lots of little ways to save money. Surely in a segment where the frankly ancient and moth-eaten Toyota Corolla has consistently ranked among the sales leaders, nobody would care, eh?

Well, Honda was half right. After an unusually long product cycle with the eighth-generation Civic, loyal customers were all too eager to plunk down their hard-earned cash for a new model, with 2012 sales totaling well over 300,000 units. But the model's long-term prospects were less certain. That's because Honda miscalculated the strategies of its rivals, playing things close to the vest when others chose to double-down in the segment.

Between the time the 2012 Civic's design was locked in and the moment it hit the market, the compact car fray became exponentially more competitive. Ford took the wraps off of its sophisticated and tech-rich Focus. Hyundai rolled out its audaciously styled and value-laden Elantra. Mazda took its already great-driving Mazda3 and elevated its fuel economy with Skyactiv engineering. Even perennial small car backmarker General Motors put forth a high-quality effort with its mature new Chevrolet Cruze. Critics' reaction was no less swift and stern: Not only was the 2012 Civic a galactic comedown in terms of interior appointments and design, it wasn't as much fun to drive as its predecessor, nor was it the least bit innovative. For a company that made its nut – and its reputation – on the back of its engineering prowess, all of this was bitterly disappointing.

We're not sure whether it was enduring the media drubbing (that Consumer Reports fall-from-grace had to sting), looking around at its suddenly fierce competition, fielding embittered calls from its dealers or just a simple bit of soul searching that spurred Honda to react so quickly, but here we are, just one model year later and there's a surprisingly comprehensive update on sale. But is it an impressive about-face for Honda or just a bit of apple-polishing and slight-of-hand? We spent a week with a loaded EX-L to find out.


When we initially heard rumors of an "emergency refresh" coming for the 2013 Civic, we honestly didn't expect much – the era of massive year-over-year changes died decades ago, after all. But what arrived at November's Los Angeles Auto Show was a whole lot more comprehensive in scope than what we anticipated.

To begin with, the 2013 Civic's nose features a thoroughly updated look, with a more complex hood stamping, larger mesh grille opening framed by a chrome-edged smile, more expressive headlamps and a reworked lower fascia with a fillet of brightwork that does wonders to help the design look more upscale. In profile, with the exception of fresh wheel patterns, the look stays largely as it was for 2012, with the same aggressively raked greenhouse and fuss-free sheetmetal contours. Out back, a redesigned trunklid houses a better-integrated license plate pocket and a chrome trim strip is bookended by larger and more elaborate two-piece taillamps. Overall, we think the look is a major improvement, appearing far more sophisticated than the 2012 car, which was at best an incremental improvement over the admittedly radical eighth-generation model.


But the 2012 Civic's personal Waterloo wasn't really its exterior – it was inside where the car stumbled. A quick peek at Honda owner forums reveals that existing Civic drivers who came in looking to trade their cars for a 2012 model were disappointed with the noticeable cheapening of cabin materials. That's been rectified for 2013, with more soft-touch plastics, convincing faux stitching on the dashboard and doors, a richer headliner, nicer upholstery and, in general, a more premium aura.

The unique two-tier dashboard strategy remains, and while it looks busy, it's quite easy to get used to. Items like a backup camera, Bluetooth telephony/streaming audio and Pandora integration are welcome standard equipment additions, but the biggest improvement to the cabin isn't something you can put a finger on, because it lies beneath. A canopy of additional sound deadening has been added to the firewall, wheel wells and flooring, and a thicker windshield and front-row side windows further mute the outside world. Hondas have rarely been known for their noise abatement abilities, but the 2013 update helps bring a welcome composure to the Civic's cabin, cutting powertrain noise noticeably under acceleration, and road and wind noise everywhere else.


Speaking of the powertrain, it's untouched – no Earth Dreams here. You'll find the same 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine doling out 140 horsepower and 128 pound-feet of torque through either a five-speed manual or the five-speed automatic fitted to our test car. It continues to be a smooth-revving if unremarkable drive partner, more notable for the relative ease with which it hits its EPA fuel economy numbers of 28 city and 39 highway than anything else. Despite picking up a modest amount of weight thanks to its higher feature count and sound insulation (50 to 100 pounds, depending on specification), the Civic's mid-pack 0-60 time of 9.2 seconds is unchanged, yet the quieter accelerative experience is a lot more pleasant.

While Honda didn't spend its engineering resources on redressing the Civic's powertrain, it wisely focused on trying to restore some of the car's spunkiness, thickening the anti-roll bars both front and rear, quickening the steering rack by some seven percent and retuning the bushings, all in the name of better handling. Despite the sun-soaked images of our California photo car, our week with the Civic was spent in the greater Detroit area, snow and all. Thus, properly assessing the full measure of the car's handling envelope wasn't on the table, but the ride did seem less busy and turn-in perhaps a skosh quicker. And while the company's engineers were fiddling around with the car's greasy bits, they also reinforced the front body structure and tweaked the side airbags for better safety.


This panoply of improvements adds just $160 to the Civic's base MSRP. That's both impressive and troubling. Impressive in that so little buys so much – we're not sure a better $160 has been spent on a car – but troubling in that Honda didn't think to do all of this last year. Assuming the company is still making a profit, do Honda's beancounters really think so little of compact buyers that they assume consumers wouldn't have spent an extra $160 to get a much better vehicle?

The reality probably lies somewhere in the middle. It's more likely that the 2013 Civic's profit margins aren't as generous as those of its counterpart from last year (tellingly, the base DX model has been dropped), and besides, Honda would probably rather fortify the model's prospect for long-term competitiveness and improve its critical stature than make a few extra bucks. That sort of recalculation would make sense to us, but we also have to wonder if this redesign isn't the result of Honda just pulling ahead what was basically an already-in-the-can refresh that wasn't scheduled to hit for another couple of model years. If that's the case, does that leave the Civic with bare cupboards a few years from now?


In the end, while there are still better driver's cars to be had in the segment, it's hard not to be impressed with what this litany of little tweaks has done for the Civic, from its more expensive appearance to its suddenly class-competitive refinement and equipment levels. While we still dearly miss the days when Honda reveled in challenging its engineers to openly and freely innovate on even its most basic of models, the Civic is once again in the thick of the small car hunt.

http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/21/2...-civic-review/

bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

nice (very needed) improvements. but new corolla is coming, no doubt elantra, focus, cruise, dart, etc. will improve too. very busy and competitive space. not something i'd drive though.

Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

The 1.8L is becoming an ancient little thing but surprisingly still somewhat relevant

mmarshall

All those improvements they made and they still didn't put in gas struts to hold up the hood or body-side mouldings to ward off parking-lot dings?

Some causes are just hopeless.

ArmyofOne

many days go by that i still miss my 2006 civic. it was a solid little car.

84Cressida

Mouldings are accessories now and hood struts aren't on anything in this class. The Accord doesn't have them either.

Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

I don't care about the mouldings, like you said they are accessories and anyone could add them. The gas struts on the other hand would be a welcome addition, and I applaud the first automaker to implement them in this class

bagwell

agreed!!!! I wonder how much better MPG and acceleration would be with just updated transmissions (6spd auto).

mmarshall

The entry-level Impreza had struts until the 2013 model came out. Moudings, as you say, are now accessories with some manufacturers...but IMO they should be standard. In fact, they were almost universally standard until the latest re-designs.

Anyway you look at it, it is simply B.S. cost-cutting.

BTW, from I read in some some car-forums, a number of owners are going to auto-parts stores and getting cheaper aftermarket ones that the manufacturers charge for their "accessory" mouldings. I did it myself, and stuck them on my Verano because Buick didn't offer them as accessories. I was annoyed......but it wasn't a deal-breaker, because the car was so nice in many other ways.

LexBob2

What about people who don't want moldings, or don't like the looks of them? If they came on all cars owners would messy/tricky job of removing them. IMO it's better to offer them as an option.

mmarshall

For years, though, most owners didn't complain about the mouldings...because, in general, they were (or are) preferable to ding-filled doors and fenders.

For those who truly don't want them (I myself can't think of any valid reason not to have them, but if some owners, as you say, just don't like then looks of them, then, yes, they could be a no-cost option. But automakers are now clearly profiteering on them as accessories....up to $200 or more for what are essentially $10-20 mouldings. They may be fooling some people.....they sure aren't fooling me.

Of course, mouldings aren't a 100% guarantee against dings/scratches (a number of factors are involved) but they significantly cut down on their likelihood.

mmarshall

Subie had them on the last Impreza....but then economized on the new one.

mmarshall

On a different subject, one thing I do like about the new Civic, from the posted image at least, is what seems like a good underhood layout.......no B.S. engine-cover, nice exposed easy-to reach battery/terminals, and space around the engine-block to reach things.

And if they actually did address some of that budget-grade hard-plastic all over the cabin of last year's model (I'll save further comment until I see and feel the new interior myself), that will also be a significant plus.

UDel

I have been using a broom to hold my hood up on my 50K Lexus because the struts quickly wore out and won't keep the hood up for 3 seconds. A latch would be nice and I would take it over the struts that are pricey to replace. The dealership wanted over $200 to put new ones in. There are less expensive methods if I do it myself but it is still a PIA to have to spend money and fix something that rarely gets used.

I detail cars on the side and I can't tell you how many times I see damage and misaligned hoods from the struts failing when mechanics are working on the car or doing a oil change and the hood slammed down on tools or other things sitting on the engine/engine bay causing latches to get bent and the hood to be misaligned. It is very common for those struts to start failing after just 4 years, I see it all the time on expensive Japanese, German, and British luxury cars to where I don't rely on the struts to hold the hood up when I detail the engine bay after it happened to me a few times. I know someone that got a nasty head injury requiring stitches from a hood hitting him in the head after the strut failed when he was working on his car.

Struts may be nice to many but it does not concern me when buying a car. If they put struts on Honda civics and that class of car they are going to be cheap struts that aren't likely to last, cheaper then what they put in luxury cars that often don't last very long

mmarshall

If they wore out that quickly, they weren't replaced under warranty?

With a Lexus, one should not have to expect to use either a prop-rod or a broom to hold the hood up.