Honda showed it was listening to its critics and customers when it introduced a 10th-generation Civic sedan for the 2016 model year that was a huge leap forward from its predecessor and set a new benchmark for compact car comfort and refinement.
Despite having started out as a hatchback in the early 1970s, the Civic's sedan body style is most popular now, and Honda recognizes that by offering it with the widest range of trims, all of which carry over into 2018 with no changes, as do the car's drivetrain choices.
Those include a 2.0L four-cylinder engine (158 hp/138 lb-ft of torque) that comes with a six-speed manual in DX and LX trims but is swapped for a continuously variable automatic (CVT) in the EX. EX-T and Touring models use a 1.5L turbocharged engine (174 hp/162 lb-ft) and the CVT, while the sporty Si uses a 205 hp/192 lb-ft version of the turbo mill and the six-speed stickshift with a limited-slip differential.
The sub-$17,000 DX is a price leader that makes do without air conditioning, but does include power windows, keyless entry, backup camera and power-adjustable side mirrors.
LX trim adds heated front seats, digital gauge cluster and automatic climate control.
EX includes passive keyless entry, dual-zone air conditioning, sunroof, 16-inch alloy wheels (replacing 16-inch steels with covers) and a blind spot display. EX-T gets the turbo engine and also adds 17-inch wheels and fog lights.
Touring trim gains wireless smartphone charging, navigation, leather seating, power front seats, heated rear seats, LED headlights and rain-sensing wipers.
Si models boast 18-inch wheels, a centre exhaust finisher and a rear wing spoiler.
EX, EX-T and Touring trims also get the Honda Sensing suite of active safety features, which includes forward collision warning with automatic braking, lane departure warning with lane keeping assist, adaptive cruise control and road departure mitigation.
Once you get to the Touring model, the Civic looks and feels like a more luxurious car than its sub-$28,000 price would indicate on its own. It's a comfortable and spacious sedan with a smooth, strong powertrain bolstered by nearly hybrid-like fuel consumption estimates of 7.4/5.6 L/100 km (city/highway).
