2017 Honda Civic Road Test and Review

2017 Honda Civic Sedan Front Profile ・ Photo by Honda

The 2017 Honda Civic sedan didn’t launch with the best timing, yet it’s definitely one of the best choices for customers in the compact segment. Here’s the issue: Even though the 2016 Civic sedan was last year’s North American Car of the Year (and it kicked off 2017 as one of the segment’s top sellers), overall sales for the Civic slipped a bit due to increased customer demand for trucks and SUVs. Even despite Honda's efforts of adding new, enthusiast-oriented models to the lineup, like a turbo trim with a manual transmission, sales have dropped. However, the Civic sedan distinguishes itself with plenty of customer-satisfying technology, including smartphone-integration for advanced connectivity, plus the kind of driver-assistance measures needed for top safety ratings. And as for the EPA ratings, they’re top-notch as well.

Pricing

The 2017 Honda Civic sedan is relatively expensive. The starting price of the entry-level LX, for example, is $18,740, which is the highest MSRP in the segment. Yet the so-called “entry-level” Civic is no bare-bones model — even though it has a standard manual transmission. Indeed, the Civic sedan also comes standard with a multi-angle rearview camera with guidelines, stylish LED daytime running lights, Bluetooth connectivity for handsfree calling and audio streaming, and a peppy four-cylinder engine with superior fuel economy in a segment that’s known for high EPA ratings. Also, choosing a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) is an affordable $800, while the range-topping Civic Touring, with an MSRP of $26,600, brings more standard content than comparably positioned rival cars. As a Civic-to-Civic comparison, the more athletically inclined coupe model opens at $19,150, and the five-door hatchback in the family has a starting MSRP of $19,700.

Photo by Honda

Standard Powertrain

The 2017 Honda Civic sedan has a noticeable advantage over many of its rivals; the Civic is available with a choice of two engines, either of which can be paired with a manual transmission or a CVT. All four resulting configurations serve up engaging driving dynamics, peppy acceleration, and high fuel economy ratings. It all begins with a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder, naturally aspirated engine which produces 158 hp and 138 lb-ft of torque. That’s 18 more horsepower and 12 more lb-ft of torque than a Toyota Corolla, and the Nissan Sentra trails the Civic by 34 hp and the same amount of torque. And, the Civic doesn't sacrifice fuel economy. When ordered with a standard six-speed manual transmission, EPA ratings are at 28 mpg city/40 mpg highway/32 mpg combined; CVT-equipped Civics can post an EPA line of 31/40/34. The Sentra, for one, tops out at 37 mpg.

Photo by Honda

Optional Powertrain

As mentioned earlier, the 2017 Honda Civic also has a turbocharged engine on its resume, and Honda now offers it with both the 6-speed manual and the CVT. However, your choice of gearbox will have a minor impact on output. With the DIY transmission, the car’s peak 174 hp is reached at 5,500 rpm; it takes until 6,000 rpm with the CVT. Additionally, manually transmissioned models deliver 167 lb-ft of torque, to 162 lb-ft in Civic sedans with a CVT. There also are some minor differences in EPA ratings. Thus, fuel-economy grades for the turbo with manual powertrain are set at 31 mpg city/42 mpg highway/35 mpg combined, with the CVT bumping things up to 32 mpg city/42 mpg highway/36 mpg combined. Taking into account all those numbers, drivers will discover the turbo engine is not only more powerful than the standard, naturally aspirated unit, it’s also more efficient.

Photo by Honda

Exterior Design and Lighting

Designers really pushed the ol’ envelope in creating the 2017 Honda Civic sedan, which showcases a sculpted and aerodynamic shape, dramatic full covers for its standard 16-inch wheels, and standard LED daytime running lights that are matched by standard LED light-bar accents for the taillights. Moreover, it is worth pointing out that body-color mirrors and door handles are standard across the Civic lineup, providing a more refined appearance for all customers. Front-facing illumination is handled by standard halogen projector-beam headlights. Fog lights are then on the options menu, as are, for the Touring trim, full LED headlights. The Touring model also adds turn-signal indicators to the heated exterior mirrors that are offered on middle-level trims. Other key exterior upgrades for the Civic sedan are a body-colored decklid spoiler, a keyless-entry system, and an assortment of 16- and 17-inch alloy wheels. Finally, all trims above the entry LX configuration come with a power-opening moonroof.

Photo by Honda

Interior Design and Capacities

Even with its compact exterior, the 2017 Honda Civic sedan features a relatively roomy cabin that expanded considerably when the all-new generation was introduced just last year. Compared to the previous Civic, today’s sedan has more passenger volume, more trunk volume, more front headroom, more rear headroom, and much more rear-seat leg, shoulder and hip room. The sedan’s long list of standard equipment then fills that interior standard automatic climate control, power amenities, a multi-function steering wheel, and rear-seat heat ducts. Of course, Honda also can supply a wealth of premium comfort cues, highlighted by leather-trimmed seats, an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s chair, a four-way power-adjustable front-passenger seats, and heat for the front and outboard-rear positions. Meanwhile, the Civic’s trunk capacity has grown to 15.1 cubic feet. To put that into perspective, the trunk in the Ford Fiesta sedan is limited to 13.2 cubic feet.

Photo by Honda

Audio and Infotainment Technology

Tech-oriented customers will find much to enjoy in the 2017 Honda Civic, since even the entry model gets a 160-watt audio system with a five-inch LCD screen, Bluetooth for handsfree calling and audio streaming, steering-wheel-mounted controls, speed-sensitive volume, and a 1.0-amp charging USB port. Keep in mind, too, that that standard display screen doubles as a monitor for an also-standard rearview camera system. A full display-audio infotainment system comes on board above the entry-trim Civic, and it’s supported by a seven-inch touchscreen, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone integration, HD Radio, SiriusXM Satellite Radio, and an eight-speaker, 180-watt audio system. Nor is that the range-topping setup: The full complement of technologies for the Civic sedan includes a premium 450-watt sound system with 10 speakers and Honda’s Satellite-Linked Navigation System, the latter backed by voice recognition and the automaker’s HD Digital Traffic service.

Photo by Honda

Safety Technology and Ratings

It may surprise some folks, but there are a number of mainstream compact sedans that can’t achieve a 5-Star Overall Safety Score from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The ranks include the Nissan Sentra and Toyota Corolla, to name just two. The 2017 Honda Civic, on the other hand, didn’t merely receive a 5-Star Overall Safety Score, it garnered five stars in all three individual NHTSA testing categories. The Civic took home the highest possible grades in crashworthiness testing — and in testing for front crash-prevention technology — on its way to a Top Safety Pick recognition from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Honda also bolsters those safety ratings with cutting-edge driver-assistance measures: Beyond its standard multi-angle rearview camera with guidelines, the Civic can be ordered with Honda’s LaneWatch blindspot-detection system and the Honda Sensing suite of technologies, a package which bundles together adaptive cruise control, collision-mitigation braking, lane-keeping assistance, and road-departure mitigation, complete with warning indicators for the car’s multi-information display.

Photo by Honda

Other Cool Info

A typical 2017 Honda Civic sedan review and road test will no doubt emphasize the car’s sporty nature, but enthusiasts will want to make sure the Civic Si sedan is on their radar screens. Because the Civic Type R is only available in a hatchback body style, the Si sedan is the most powerful and engaging four-door model on the roster. The heart of the matter is a re-engineered version of the Civic’s 1.5-liter turbo engine. Don’t let the small displacement fool you, either. This unit can yield up 205 hp and 192 lb-ft of torque, and that output is available much lower in the power band than in previous Si sedans. At the same time, the 2017 edition — which, to be clear, is brand-new for this model year—is much lighter, and a standard adaptive-damper system is part of an especially responsive suspension setup. The only transmission: a 6-speed manual.

Photo by Honda

Final Thoughts

As customers shift their attention from compact cars to compact SUVs, and automakers fight for sales, competition in the segment has become particularly fierce. As a result, the category leaders have evolved into highly sophisticated, highly efficient cars that are stylish inside and out.

The 2017 Honda Civic is one such example, boasting a fairly premium cabin with the sort of features — like heated rear seats — that could only be found on luxury cars just a few years ago. It’s a similar story with connectivity and fuel economy; in fact, there are still upscale cars that don’t offer the Civic’s Android Auto/Apple CarPlay functionality, and there are “economy” cars that can’t reach 40 mpg. The Civic sedan does so with both engines.

One last fact for potential Civic buyers to keep in mind: The Civic lineup extends beyond the sedan body style with both coupe and five-door hatchback variants, including an Si coupe and the Type R hot-hatch. With that kind of variety, there's a Civic to fit almost anyone.

Photo by Honda