Topic: Long-Term Test Wrap-Up: 2016 Honda Civic Touring

[Solstice2006]

I want to dispute the Civic as an appliance.

The Corolla is an appliance, but any car that you can get with a VTEC surely can't qualify; Honda is too quirky / ambitious to really produce appliances.

The 1996 did start them down the bland fork in the road, leading to the boring exterior of the 2000 and the midling driving experience of the 2005. But Honda were always trying to the car better some how - room, comfort, cost, ... .

I would say the Civic is an honest car. Usually light on accoutrements, but mostly fun to drive.

errr....other than Toyota, and possibly Nissan, Honda is the most "appliance"-ish of any of the car companies. In no way are they quirky and ambitious [until very, very recently].

Even though the Ridgeline wasn't the success Honda wanted it too be, I think they did a good job of doing something different.  Along with the Honda Element.  The Crosstour was a good idea, but the styling wasn't the most desirable.  And we are still waiting for the Civic hatch, after all these years.

[hoodlum]

Based on the Hatchback leak in the US today, it will be available in LX, Sport, EX and Sport Touring.  And only available with the Turbo.  The Sport trim looks interesting as this is unique to the Hatchback.  If the Accord Sport is any indication we could expect upgraded exhaust system, larger wheels, larger brakes, different seats, leather steering wheel, aluminum pedals, moonroof and exterior cosmetic upgrades.

[tooscoops]

interesting to hear the foibles with the infotainment. even if it CAN be switched to be a bit more friendly, if an auto journalist who drives 50+ cars a year can't figure it out, that is just not intuitive...

great little car though. definitely a car worthy of a look for anyone thinking of this segment.

[sacrat]

I've already made my position known on the Honda Civic many times. 

One comment:  Why can't all carmakers just license FCA's UConnect system?  It's almost universally lauded as the best infotainment system out there.  Car makers should just license it and install in all new vehicles, then at least there would be some degree of commonality between vehicles.  You wouldn't need to spend 3 weeks learning the infotainment system of your car.  Or a rental.  Or a friend's car.

I've had my Genesis Sedan 3 MONTHS, and haven't even begun to figure out all the tech like voice commands other than Bluetooth calling. I'm probably typical of many 50-60 year old buyers who just figure how to use the stuff they really need. My music is on a USB stick and I can fairly reliably scroll through the search options. Someday I'll sit down with the dedicated audio/nav manual to figure out some of the rest. The typical Civic buyer is much younger and, being brought up with tech devices, can probably figure out 90% of the tech without ever opening the manual (they'd just find the answers online anyways). Jacob is likely a bit of a "tweener", young enough to want to figure the tech stuff out , but a bit old to grasp it intuitively.

[sacrat]

I've already made my position known on the Honda Civic many times. 

One comment:  Why can't all carmakers just license FCA's UConnect system?  It's almost universally lauded as the best infotainment system out there.  Car makers should just license it and install in all new vehicles, then at least there would be some degree of commonality between vehicles.  You wouldn't need to spend 3 weeks learning the infotainment system of your car.  Or a rental.  Or a friend's car.

I've had my Genesis Sedan 3 MONTHS, and haven't even begun to figure out all the tech like voice commands other than Bluetooth calling. I'm probably typical of many 50-60 year old buyers who just figure how to use the stuff they really need. My music is on a USB stick and I can fairly reliably scroll through the search options. Someday (maybe) I'll sit down with the dedicated audio/nav manual to figure out some of the rest. The typical Civic buyer is much younger and, being brought up with tech devices, can probably figure out 90% of the tech without ever opening the manual (they'd just find the answers online anyways). Jacob is likely a bit of a "tweener", young enough to want to figure the tech stuff out , but a bit old to grasp it intuitively.

[mixmanmash]

I want to dispute the Civic as an appliance.

The Corolla is an appliance, but any car that you can get with a VTEC surely can't qualify; Honda is too quirky / ambitious to really produce appliances.

The 1996 did start them down the bland fork in the road, leading to the boring exterior of the 2000 and the midling driving experience of the 2005. But Honda were always trying to the car better some how - room, comfort, cost, ... .

I would say the Civic is an honest car. Usually light on accoutrements, but mostly fun to drive.

I believe you meant the civic from the 80's and 90's when Honda was hip with NSX, integra, S2000, prelude, civic SiR in their fleet with real VTEC not the new crappy iVTEC...also since they ditched the double wishbone it has gone downhill...

What's so crappy about iVTEC?  From my understanding, the latter actually helps with low to midrange torque as it can advance the intake cam phasing, which is where traditionally VTEC suffered.