2016 Honda Civic Coupe: First Drive Review

2016 Honda Civic Coupe at the 2015 LA Auto Show

The 2016 Honda Civic Coupe is, unsurprisingly, a two-door version of the new Civic sedan. The sedan has already been applauded as the best Civic ever, with driving dynamics and cabin quality that can stand with the cream of the competition. This is the 10th generation of Honda’s big-selling compact car and it debuted for the 2016 model year. That’s the basic stuff out of the way; now, let’s get straight to the fun. The coupe variant is even better. It’s been given a sportier suspension tuning than the sedan, but it still manages to be supple over rough surfaces and sudden bumps. Honda says it went for a more European approach to handling, and that was definitely a good idea. If the company has come over as a bit dull and puritanical these past few years, the Civic Coupe should definitely restore some enthusiast edge.

Models and Pricing

There’s only one model, but there are five trim levels. Starting with the LX, standard equipment includes 16-inch alloy wheels, LED daytime running lights, 60/40 split/fold rear seats, automatic climate control, and a 4-speaker/160-watt audio system. LX-P brings a power moonroof, remote engine start function, and keyless entry/push-button start. EX-T is when the turbocharged 1.5-liter engine kicks in, along with 17-inch alloys, fog lights, heated front seats, dual zone climate control, and a 10-speaker/450-watt audio system. EX-L involves leather for the seating surfaces, steering wheel and shift knob. This trim also gets an auto-dimming rearview mirror. Touring adds turn signals for the side mirrors, automatic wipers, LED headlights, Garmin navigation and Honda Sensing, which is a collection of active safety features (see the Safety section). There are also some differences in the suspension setup according to the trim level. LX is the most basic by comparison but none the worse for that. EX tends to be sportier, and Touring goes a tad toward the comfort side. In practice, though, each one provides a satisfying drive. The 2016 Honda Civic Coupe goes on sale in March 2016. Pricing will be announced then, but Honda says it will be similar to the outgoing model, which started at $18,290.

Photo by Honda

Design

Some people might think it’s easy to design a coupe version of a sedan. Just ditch the rear doors and stick a sloping roof on it. Well, that is one way, but Honda went the extra mile. It’s all about the angle of the roof and the proportions of the rear side windows, and how they harmonize with the rest of the car. It’s about having a distinctive tail. And look at the muscular haunches above the rear wheels. The Civic Coupe is front-wheel drive, but the car has that “ready to spring forward” look that many sporty rear-drive cars have. The chrome frame around the side windows is bold and there are some cool alloy wheel designs, too. But design is not just about appearance. For example, by incorporating an electronic parking brake, it means the section between the front seats can be higher and provide a more comfortable place for an armrest. And the coupe has a wider track (the distance between the wheels at each axle) than the sedan, for a more planted and stable stance, bringing benefits in cornering abilities.

Photo by Honda

Interior Features

The cloth upholstery in the 2016 Honda Civic Coupe LX mimics the two-tone leather pattern of the Touring model. It’s good to see the entry level model getting some attention to detail. There’s also some pleasing high-resolution graphics in the instrument cluster and the seven-inch touchscreen. A large speedometer readout is directly in front of the driver and is almost as good as a head-up display, because the driver hardly has to shift vision and refocus. And running at the top of the instrument panel is a line that changes color from white to green according to how economical the driver is being. In mid-level EX-T trim and above, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are available. These bring smartphone functionality to a car’s infotainment system.

Photo by Honda

Comfort and Cargo

There’s plenty of space in the Honda Civic Coupe's quiet and refined cabin for the front occupants, and believe it or not, it’s tolerable for a male adult of average size to sit in the back, and not just for super-short journeys. The Touring version has more sound insulation than lower trims and is therefore even quieter, something that becomes more noticeable on those stretches of freeway that have concrete surfaces. Little details like a hydraulic front engine mount (and fluid-filled rear suspension bushings in higher trim levels) add up to keep noise, vibration and harshness reined in, and they all contribute to a broader feeling of comfort. Standing on the outside, one might think visibility could be compromised by the styling, perhaps because of those ample rear pillars, but over-the-shoulder checks are fine and there’s a large enough image in the rearview mirror. The trunk has 11.9 cubic feet of cargo space (12.1 cubes in the LX and LX-P versions). Honda says that’s enough for three golf bags or three soft suitcases. Probably not pro golf bags. But that isn’t a criticism. This is a coupe, after all.

Photo by Honda

Safety

Just as there are no official EPA fuel figures yet, it’s too early to report on crash test results. However, Honda anticipates acheiving the maximum rating of five stars from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The company also expects the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) to give it top scores of Good in each category, and make it a Top Safety Pick. As well as the mandatory safety equipment of traction control, anti-lock brakes, airbags, etc., a rearview camera is standard throughout the range. The higher trims, though, get a bigger screen and active guidelines to help with reversing. Active Lane Watch comes in EX-T trims and higher, showing on the center screen what’s being seen by a small camera built into the passenger-side mirror. The top Touring trim level comes with extra safety features: forward collision warning with collision mitigation braking, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and road departure mitigation.

Photo by Honda

Engines and Fuel Economy

The basic engine in the 2016 Honda Civic Coupe is a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder unit making 158 hp and 138 lb-ft of torque. This comes standard in the LX and LX-P trims. In the higher EX-T, EX-L and Touring versions, the engine is a 1.5-liter turbo four developing 174 hp and 162 lb-ft. Both engines are paired to a standard-issue six-speed manual transmission. The automatic option is a continuously variable transmission. Right now, it isn’t possible to get the turbo engine with the manual transmission, but Honda is planning to make that combination available in the future. At the time of publication, there were no official figures from the Environmental Protection Agency, but Honda is anticipating fuel economy ratings along the lines of 31 mpg city, 41 mpg highway and 35 mpg combined with the 1.5-liter turbo/CVT combination. The 2.0-liter/CVT arrangement is expected to return 30/41/34 mpg, and we’re looking at 26/38/31 mpg with the 2.0-liter/manual configuration.

Photo by Honda

Performance

In the 2016 Honda Civic Coupe, even the 2.0-liter engine feels sufficiently energetic and responsive and the chassis is completely up to the task of complementing it. Then again, it’s also more than able to contain the extra power from the 1.5-liter turbo engine. The Civic Coupe has a great combination of zip and poise in either form. Agile Handling Assist comes in all versions and is basically torque vectoring by braking to enable more precise cornering. It applies the brakes to an inside wheel to help the driver stay on the desired line. Straight Driving Assist is also standard throughout. It lends a little hand through the electronic steering assistance when driving on a sloped or markedly crowned road. Electrical power assistance doesn’t normally fill an enthusiast with glee, but the Civic Coupe has a decent steering feel, allowing the driver to perceive what’s going on with the front tires. The brakes are strong and confident but not grabby, another indication of how much attention to detail this car has received.

Photo by Honda

Pros and Cons

• Superb chassis
• great engines, especially the 1.5 turbo
• easy on the eyes both outside and in
• it’s easy to tell there’s been a lot of research and development to make this more than just a Civic with two fewer doors
• Honda build and reliability

• Even though it’s a good example of a CVT, it’s still a CVT — which means less-than-immediate responses to throttle inputs
• the Touring trim level is a bit pricey

Photo by Honda

Final Thoughts

Recommending which version of the 2016 Honda Civic Coupe to buy seems to have little point. It would be great to have more equipment than the basic LX (which is still really good). Then again, if the budget can stretch to an EX quite easily, then why not just go the whole way and get the Touring? Chances are, there may also be other versions at some point, like a sporty Si or an even sportier Type-R. In the meantime, considering how many Civic Coupes will be sold compared with the company’s SUVs and crossovers, we should all be grateful that Honda put in so much effort to make this a truly excellent car. One day, we might look back and remember it with the same kind of fondness we have for the CRX and the S2000.

Photo by Honda