Topic: First Drive: 2013 Honda Civic Sedan

[Autos_Editor]

After a full redesign in 2012, Honda takes the Civic back to the drawing board for 2013.

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[aaronk]

A much-needed update in all the right places. Good job, Honda! Although from the front view, it sure looks a lot like the 2006-2011 models...not that that's' such a bad thing.

[ArticSteve]

All of these changes will cost the 2013 Civic buyer between $200 and $450 dollars more, a good deal, yes, but still a risky move for Honda in a price-sensitive vehicle category. The popular LX model for example will rise from $17,740 to $18,190, a $450 increase.

MSRP matters not.  This is a payment car (aren't they all  ).  It's all about the subvented rates.

If they have truly beat down the rear wheel road surface noise then that's great.  One needs to test drive in the rain to really find out though.

[Vanstar]

Honda, despite the predictions of its rapid demise, sold loads of the 2012 Civic and I would wager that with the same pricing still in effect, they will sell even more of the 2013 model. The Civic is a good car for they money. Maybe not as flashy and blingy as some competitors, but not everyone wants flash and bling, myself included.

It seems last year's earthquake really shook the Japanese makers up; they are now aggressively improving their products. This is a big gain for all consumers. Better choice and lower prices; we are all winners.

[tortoise]

Heated seats (cushion and back) are now available with cloth upholstery as well as leather, and a rear-view camera is now available in upper trim levels. Apparently, heated seats were the number one requested feature in Honda’s focus groups.

Very smart move on their part.

[dewey9315]

Agressive pricing and incentives really helped to keep the Civic on top. Helps to keep bragging rights, but needs to be used carefully or else residuals will suffer.

[ArticSteve]

Heated seats (cushion and back) are now available with cloth upholstery as well as leather, and a rear-view camera is now available in upper trim levels. Apparently, heated seats were the number one requested feature in Honda’s focus groups.

Very smart move on their part.

More like a forced move.  Everyone is including heated seats in that price point.  You can thank Hyundai for that. 

[5 Wheel Drive]

What a difference a year makes, nice update!!!

[ArticSteve]

Agressive pricing and incentives really helped to keep the Civic on top. Helps to keep bragging rights, but needs to be used carefully or else residuals will suffer.

Well that's generally the case, but both Civic and Corolla resist depreciation better than the others.  It's cemented into ppl's brains that Civics and Corollas are 10 year cars where a Ford, GM, even a Hyundai, after 5 years have one foot in the wreckers.

Positive preceptions are a great thing to have and difficult to get regardless of the realities.

[Fobroader]

Looks like the Si sedan is still the only way to go.

[Mike]

Agressive pricing and incentives really helped to keep the Civic on top. Helps to keep bragging rights, but needs to be used carefully or else residuals will suffer.

Well that's generally the case, but both Civic and Corolla resist depreciation better than the others.  It's cemented into ppl's brains that Civics and Corollas are 10 year cars where a Ford, GM, even a Hyundai, after 5 years have one foot in the wreckers.

Positive preceptions are a great thing to have and difficult to get regardless of the realities.

Very true

[2JDM]

Looks 100x better. Good job Honda.

[Vanstar]

Agressive pricing and incentives really helped to keep the Civic on top. Helps to keep bragging rights, but needs to be used carefully or else residuals will suffer.

Well that's generally the case, but both Civic and Corolla resist depreciation better than the others.  It's cemented into ppl's brains that Civics and Corollas are 10 year cars where a Ford, GM, even a Hyundai, after 5 years have one foot in the wreckers.

Positive preceptions are a great thing to have and difficult to get regardless of the realities.

Judging from what I see on my street, a Civic can last a lot more than a decade. Looking out my window right now, I can see three  Ciivics. One is a 1985 model, the others around 2000. Seems they are a good buy for the money.

[redman]

Seems like a better car. Most consumers are like sheep and continue to buy the Civic because it's the Civic. I'm surprised with the vast amount of information available that the sales did not dip. Many other manufacturers are inching there way into the next generations mind, who knows what will be there civic in years to come. After all in the 50's G.M. owned about 50% market share & look at them now.

[CanuckS2K]

I really like the front and the rear of this new model MUCH better than the current one.  Well done.  Just looking the interior pics, it doesn't look to be an overly huge difference in design and layout......just materials quality is much improved.   

[ArticSteve]

Judging from what I see on my street, a Civic can last a lot more than a decade. Looking out my window right now, I can see three  Ciivics. One is a 1985 model, the others around 2000. Seems they are a good buy for the money.

That was not to be taken literally. 

Here's the perception.  New buyers in this segment generally finance for 5 years.  Then they drive the car for another year "free and clear".  Now as they approach the beginning of year 7 they start ruminating about repairs that have yet to occur.  They also realize that they are on the very edge of receiving a tangible trade-in value because the car has re-sale legs.  However, here is the rub; only Civics and Corollas benefit from this perception based on memories from a decade ago.  So as long as Honda and Toyota can keep the quality steady the cycle will continue.

And Van, you live in a bit of a bubble being in the lower main land of BC.  Generally, vehicles are ripped apart from Canadian winters and road salt.

[OliverD]

Sucks if you bought a 2012 Civic. I feel bad for my old neighbors, they bought a coupe AND a sedan!

[JohnM]

Nice to see Honda back at the head of the pack.   Nobody though has mentioned the transmissions.   A 5 speed manual that turns 2500 at 100k, just doesn't cut it now.

Despite that, it appears the rest of the car is so good no one noticed.

Cheers,
John M.

[CanuckS2K]

Sucks if you bought a 2012 Civic.

Depends on who you are.  My wife, for example, wouldn't notice nor care about the improvements of the 2013 model over her 2012 EX-L.  Also, I doubt you'll see finance/lease rates as low on the upcoming model as what you saw this year on the current model. 

[hemusbull]

There are many changes for good. But why Honda decided to keep the double deck for the Civic when the entry Acura is back to normal dash board?