2016 Honda Civic

For the 2016 model year Honda has added two new engines.

• A two-liter inline-four cylinder engine powers the LX and EX models.
• Honda's first-ever turbocharged engine for the US, a 1.5-liter inline-four cylinder powers the EX-T, EX-L and Touring models.

A six-speed manual transmission is standard on LX models, a CVT is optional.

A continually variable transmission (CVT) is standard on all other trim levels.

Pricing:

• The LX model with a six-speed manual transmission starts at $18,640.
• The EX model adds a 7-inch touchscreen display, moonroof and more, and starts at $21,040.
• The EX-T is powered by the all-new turbocharged engine and a CVT. Pricing starts at $22,000.
• The EX-L adds leather seats. MSRP starts at $23,700.
• The top-trim Touring model includes a bevy of active safety features, called Honda Sensing Feature Suite, and a 450-watt 10-speaker audio system. Pricing starts at $26,500.

Prices do not include an $820 destination charge.

All-new for 2016, Honda’s Civic sedan reimagines the original compact with a sporty stylish sedan that is equal parts fun to drive and easy on the wallet. Along with a completely redesigned and aesthetically pleasing exterior, Honda has added two new engine choices.

LX and EX models are powered by a two-liter inline-four cylinder engine that produces 158 horsepower and 138 pound-feet of torque.

• The new four-cylinder engine represents the most powerful standard engine ever offered in a Civic.
• When combined with the standard six-speed manual transmission, the base Civic earns a respectable 27 mpg city and 40 mpg highway. If you opt for the sport-tuned continuously variable transmission (CVT), those numbers become class-leading at 31 mpg city and 41 mpg highway.

A turbocharged 1.5-liter four resides under the hood of EX-T, EX-L and Touring models.

• A continually variable transmission (CVT) is standard on all turbocharged Civics.
• Honda’s first turbo engine ever offered in the US generates 174 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque across a wide power band.
• It's all good for excellent performance and amazing fuel economy, earning 31 mpg city and 42 mpg highway.

The all-new Civic offers precise steering and excellent handling. While not overly sporty, something we know Civic will remedy with the forthcoming Si models, Honda’s compact provides a nice balance of sport and comfort. The 2016 Civic is a nimble city car that likes to stretch its legs on the highway.

For reasons unknown to me, Honda has decided to not offer the manual six-speed transmission on the the turbocharged trim levels. To be fair, Honda is not alone in choosing to keep its sportiest engine and manual transmission apart, but I do miss the days when you could get a standard transmission across the line up.

When you open the door of Honda’s new Civic, you are welcomed by a roomy, redesigned cabin that boasts a class-leading 97.8 cubic feet of interior space. A redesigned greenhouse that features thin A-pillars and lower seats provides an open and airy feeling that is absent from much of the compact sedan segment.

• Fit and finish is excellent; the abundance of soft-touch surfaces and the quality of the materials elevates the new Civic to near-affordable-luxury levels, especially in higher trim levels.
• Now offering Apply Carplay and Google Android Auto, the Civic ups the technology factor exponentially.
• For those of us who are reliant on our smartphones, the Civic’s new infotainment system allows the vehicle to become a seamless extension of the device.
• Rear cargo space has grown over the outgoing model by 2.6 cubic feet. The new Civic’s 15.1 cubic feet of trunk space is among the largest in the segment.
• When you combined the spacious interior, generous cargo space, and amazing fuel economy, it is clear that the Honda Civic would make an excellent family road trip vehicle.

For reasons unbeknownst to me, Honda does not include an actual volume knob on many of the latest versions of its audio systems. The steering wheel volume control is rather nifty and quite ergonomic, but its use is limited to the driver -- leaving passengers to deal with the awkward touchscreen control.

The first time I saw the all-new 2016 Honda Civic in person I was completely taken by its new styling and proportions. Honda has created an attractive vehicle that looks more like a midsize sport sedan than a fuel-sipping economy car.

Perhaps the reality that you can’t get the manual six-speed transmission with the new turbo is a sign of the times, but the fact that the 1.5-liter lacks paddle shifters or some other way to cycle manually through the simulated gear ratios of the CVT seems odd. Perhaps Honda is saving the paddle shifters for the Si models?

Very few vehicles share the ten generations' worth of legacy represented by Honda’s beloved Civic. The model has stood the test of time and the all-new vehicle is in many ways the best Civic that Honda has offered to date.

With fuel economy more in line with a subcompact and an interior that feels like a midsize sedan, the 2016 Honda Civic has an incredibly broad appeal. If you have fallen out of love with the model over the years, the 2016 model just might be the one to rekindle the passion for Honda’s storied compact.