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“Every generation of the car rested on the assumption that buyers were blindly loyal and that every competitor was asleep like they were in the ‘80s. This car will be far more dynamic and sporty than past Civics.”

-- Eric Noble, president of CarLab, a consulting firm in Orange, Calif.



"Those faithful to manual transmission can rest easy: a six-speed is still offered. Most buyers, however, will opt for the continuously variable transmission, or CVT, a version of which underwhelmed us in the new Honda HR-V ... The bane of Honda’s existence over the years has been high levels of interior noise, which, Honda says, will be much better with this new model. In an effort to quell the din, the 2016 Honda Civic uses new body-sealing techniques, a flush-mounted acoustic glass windshield, a more tightly sealed engine compartment, and triple-sealed doors ... There was a time when Civics ruled our ratings, but the last several years have seen the once-mighty Honda play second fiddle to the Mazda3, Ford Focus, Subaru Impreza, and Hyundai Elantra. Will the new 2016 Honda Civic win over new buyers and become a solid contender again? We’ll let you know when we buy ours for testing."

-- Consumer Reports



“The new Civic faces a major challenge as the market has clearly shifted from small and mid-size cars to small and mid-size SUVs and trucks. With that said, the Civic is an icon in the industry, and will always be one of Honda's most compelling products. The introduction of sportier variants will certainly help, as the Civic needs to be viewed as more than just a reliable car to get you from point A to point B. The new Civic should add fun and style to the mix, along with a host of strong features and value for the buck.”

-- Kelley Blue Book analyst Akshay Anand



"The new 2016 Honda Civic sedan’s low-slung shape looks good in person, and the range-topping Touring model shown at the debut featured nice, upscale details like LED accents in the headlights and sharp alloy wheels. Longer, lower, and wider than its predecessor, a 1.2-inch wheelbase stretch results in 3.7 cu ft of extra space inside, 2 inches more legroom in the rear seat, and 2.6 cubic feet more trunk space. We wonder about headroom in back, though, as the steeply sloped rear end cuts into the space over your head a bit—passengers over six feet tall don’t have much clearance back there."

-- Automobile



"While the Civic has stood atop retail compact car sales since 2007, the challenge to its sales growth is evident inside Honda itself, where the Honda CR-V crossover — built on the same platform as the Civic — has become the hottest-selling vehicle in the hottest segment in America. CR-V sales jumped 10.9 percent to a record 335,019 in 2014 and are up 6 percent this year while Civic sales slid by 4 percent. To prove its relevance, the U.S.-developed, tenth-generation Civic throws everything and the kitchen sink at the market. It will come in the most diverse packaging in the Civic’s 43-year history: Sedan, coupe, five-door hatchback, performance Si models, and a hot-hatch, 300-horsepower Civic Type-R. A suite of driver-assist features will be available including Collision Mitigation Braking, Road Departure Mitigation, and Adaptive Cruise Control as well as a buffet of digital features from a 7-inch touchscreen to apps for Apple Car Play and Android Auto."

-- The Detroit News



"Cheers: New looks make the car very sporty. Better gas mileage, more interior room and more power. High performance versions should be fun to drive. Jeers: Comes out when small-car sales are falling in the U.S. and more people are shifting into small SUVs."

-- Associated Press



The sedan is the first in a family of Civic variants that will include an Si coupe aimed at younger consumers, a high-performance Type R coupe for enthusiasts and the first five-door Civic hatchback sold in the U.S.

With that range, along with the stiffer platform and an available turbocharged engine -- the Honda brand's first in the U.S. -- the Civic is elbowing its way into the turf of Volkswagen's newest Golf, which has been a hit with critics and consumers.

But as engineering began in early 2012, Honda set its sights even higher, benchmarking vehicles such as the Audi A3 and some BMW models in an effort to recapture the Civic's sportiness and raise the bar for mainstream compact sedans.

"This 10th-generation Civic is quite simply the most ambitious remake of Civic we've ever done," said John Mendel, executive vice president of American Honda Motor Co.

Consider it penance for the widely panned previous-generation Civic, for which, Honda has acknowledged, it set its sights too low in a mistaken bet that post-recession consumers were willing to forgo quality materials and fetching design for a low price. The misstep dinged Honda's reputation, prompting an apology from top Honda brass and a rushed midcycle redo.

With the redesign, "they have to launch well just to counteract the impression they left with a lot of people the last time around," Karl Brauer, senior analyst at Kelley Blue Book, told Automotive News.

The latest overhaul could help the Civic stand out in a market that's tilting heavily toward crossovers and SUVs, including Honda's own CR-V and its new HR-V subcompact crossover.


-- Automotive News




This is the 10th generation of Honda's Civic and the company says it's "the most ambitious remake of Civic ever." But what does that mean?

Civics have always been a great choice for buyers who want simple, reliable transportation. But this time around, Honda put a lot of effort into making the new Civic not just simple and (hopefully) reliable, but also nice, a little more like a luxury car.

That's a much-needed move. The outgoing Civic delivered on the traditional Civic virtues, but that wasn't enough. Honda's reliability record used to be much better than most of its rivals' and that used to be a huge selling point -- but big competitors like General Motors have largely closed the gap.

That made the somewhat spartan Civic a harder sell against competitors' models that are more plush, or more fun to drive, or both. Ford's Focus and Hyundai's Elantra both out-classed it right from the start, putting Honda in an unaccustomed position in the compact-car segment: also-ran.

Honda thinks the new Civic will change all that.

On paper at least, the new Civic makes a big move in the right direction. Reliable basic transportation doesn't cut it anymore. Even at the Civic's price point, buyers nowadays are looking for a premium ride and advanced features -- and finding them in many of the Civic's rivals.

Honda still has a great reputation for quality and value, and that still draws buyers to its showrooms. If the new Civic can deliver more of a fun-to-drive experience along with a premium feel -- together with its traditional virtues -- it should do very well.


-- Motley Fool



The Civic long had a following among new, young buyers looking for their first new car, who then just kept buying them because they loved them so much. That sort of fell apart with the ninth-generation Civic, a car so removed from its ancestry in terms of feel, looks, and overall spirit. It's like the Honda Civic became what your Aunt Hattie replaced her '93 Achieva with.

It's shown in the sales figures. In 2014, the Accord became Honda's car with the most buyers under the age of 35. The HR-V and CR-V SUVs also represent more of what buyers want these days, with rugged looks and available all-wheel drive. It's no cakewalk for the Civic anymore.

Clear past the clutter of the band and the fog of the reveal, and the 2016 Civic already looks like it has the things young new-car buyers look for when they go shopping. Show-car styling, the promise of good fuel economy, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and lots and lots of features.

The first of the new Civics Honda showed touts technology, refinement, and content more than the fun-to-drive characteristics. Enthusiasts may not find much comfort in the fact you can only get Honda's new 1.5-liter turbo on models equipped with a CVT, now that the six-speed manual has really been relegated to the base LX. But then you were probably waiting for the forthcoming Si, or next year's hatchback model, or probably the new Type-R. The Civic sedan targets the mainstream, and this time, the mainstream is the under-35 crowd.

The marketing for the 2016 Civic will undoubtedly be pitched so hard at Millennials, it'll make you squirm. But with this car, Honda has to pull out all the stops to get the kids' attention. The future of the Civic as the car young people steer towards when they get their first grown-up job depends on it.


-- Autoblog
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BigBang09

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So, in short, it seems the new Civic will have a tough road ahead but is off to a good start in tackling it.

Automobile's quote regarding rear-seat space caught my eye. For those of you who went to the reveal, didn't the back seat have decent head clearance despite the fastback rear end?
 

///Mookster

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"Cheers: New looks make the car very sporty. Better gas mileage, more interior room and more power. High performance versions should be fun to drive. Jeers: Comes out when small-car sales are falling in the U.S. and more people are shifting into small SUVs."

-- Associated Press
Well thank goodness for companies who aren't lemmings just following the trend to chase sales volume. Actually making interesting and exciting cars for people who love cars and performance. Amazing that's a novel concept nowadays, very sad.
 

Tegster

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Well thank goodness for companies who aren't lemmings just following the trend to chase sales volume. Actually making interesting and exciting cars for people who love cars and performance. Amazing that's a novel concept nowadays, very sad.
Yea Honda hasn't totally turned into Toyota whew :) New Civic, NSX, S600 all :thumbsup:
 
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The sedan is the first in a family of Civic variants that will include an Si coupe aimed at younger consumers, a high-performance Type R coupe for enthusiasts and the first five-door Civic hatchback sold in the U.S.

With that range, along with the stiffer platform and an available turbocharged engine -- the Honda brand's first in the U.S. -- the Civic is elbowing its way into the turf of Volkswagen's newest Golf, which has been a hit with critics and consumers.

But as engineering began in early 2012, Honda set its sights even higher, benchmarking vehicles such as the Audi A3 and some BMW models in an effort to recapture the Civic's sportiness and raise the bar for mainstream compact sedans.

"This 10th-generation Civic is quite simply the most ambitious remake of Civic we've ever done," said John Mendel, executive vice president of American Honda Motor Co.

Consider it penance for the widely panned previous-generation Civic, for which, Honda has acknowledged, it set its sights too low in a mistaken bet that post-recession consumers were willing to forgo quality materials and fetching design for a low price. The misstep dinged Honda's reputation, prompting an apology from top Honda brass and a rushed midcycle redo.

With the redesign, "they have to launch well just to counteract the impression they left with a lot of people the last time around," Karl Brauer, senior analyst at Kelley Blue Book, told Automotive News.

The latest overhaul could help the Civic stand out in a market that's tilting heavily toward crossovers and SUVs, including Honda's own CR-V and its new HR-V subcompact crossover.


-- Automotive News
 


martyr

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The bit about the new body-sealing techniques, a flush-mounted acoustic glass windshield, a more tightly sealed engine compartment, and triple-sealed doors sounds like the car will feel more premium than ever. But will be interesting to see if it ends up too refined and quiet. A lot of cars as they move up in premium level and feel go down in the sportiness and fun factor. Road and wind noise is bad but if you also dial out engine and exhaust noise that can takes some excitement out of the car IMO.
 

///Mookster

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Road noise has been a common complaint with the current Civic and it gets dinged for it often in CR and media reviews so I'm glad they are taking steps to fix the issues and I don't blame them for advertising it. The majority of people buying this car would probably love a fully quiet interior. I hear what you're saying about too quiet ruining the thrill of opening up the throttle but this is not a pure sports car where Honda is putting enthusiasts first and foremost in design considerations. It's sportier on the outside yes, but things like ride comfort and mpg are still paramount to thrilling to drive. Good thing there are such things as aftermarket exhausts :)
 

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So, in short, it seems the new Civic will have a tough road ahead but is off to a good start in tackling it.

Automobile's quote regarding rear-seat space caught my eye. For those of you who went to the reveal, didn't the back seat have decent head clearance despite the fastback rear end?
Once inside, yes, headroom was not an issue. I did hit my head on the roof getting into the back seat.

Side note, the back seats in the Touring are super comfortable, like sitting on a La-Z-Boy.
 

back2civic

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Once inside, yes, headroom was not an issue. I did hit my head on the roof getting into the back seat.

Side note, the back seats in the Touring are super comfortable, like sitting on a La-Z-Boy.
Are the rear head rests adjustable or are they fixed?
 
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This is the 10th generation of Honda's Civic and the company says it's "the most ambitious remake of Civic ever." But what does that mean?

Civics have always been a great choice for buyers who want simple, reliable transportation. But this time around, Honda put a lot of effort into making the new Civic not just simple and (hopefully) reliable, but also nice, a little more like a luxury car.

That's a much-needed move. The outgoing Civic delivered on the traditional Civic virtues, but that wasn't enough. Honda's reliability record used to be much better than most of its rivals' and that used to be a huge selling point -- but big competitors like General Motors have largely closed the gap.

That made the somewhat spartan Civic a harder sell against competitors' models that are more plush, or more fun to drive, or both. Ford's Focus and Hyundai's Elantra both out-classed it right from the start, putting Honda in an unaccustomed position in the compact-car segment: also-ran.

Honda thinks the new Civic will change all that.

On paper at least, the new Civic makes a big move in the right direction. Reliable basic transportation doesn't cut it anymore. Even at the Civic's price point, buyers nowadays are looking for a premium ride and advanced features -- and finding them in many of the Civic's rivals.

Honda still has a great reputation for quality and value, and that still draws buyers to its showrooms. If the new Civic can deliver more of a fun-to-drive experience along with a premium feel -- together with its traditional virtues -- it should do very well.


-- Motley Fool
 


10thG

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You have to wonder how much of a long term hit the Civic brand has taken due to the disappointment of the 9th civic and how easily (or not) Honda will be able to turn it around. In some ways it may work out for those of us looking to buy one soon as Honda should be trying to lead on all points (price/value, looks, performance, etc) to draw defectors back to the brand.
 

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You have to wonder how much of a long term hit the Civic brand has taken due to the disappointment of the 9th civic and how easily (or not) Honda will be able to turn it around. In some ways it may work out for those of us looking to buy one soon as Honda should be trying to lead on all points (price/value, looks, performance, etc) to draw defectors back to the brand.
I think the whole "9th gen disappointment" is a press and enthusiast-only thing. Sales did not suffer big losses because it was still a Civic and proved affordable, reliable, and fuel efficient. Was it as ground-breaking as the 8th gen? No, but is wasn't a bad car. The biggest hurdle Civic has in front of it is the HR-V and CR-V, not what happened four years ago.
 
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The Civic long had a following among new, young buyers looking for their first new car, who then just kept buying them because they loved them so much. That sort of fell apart with the ninth-generation Civic, a car so removed from its ancestry in terms of feel, looks, and overall spirit. It's like the Honda Civic became what your Aunt Hattie replaced her '93 Achieva with.

It's shown in the sales figures. In 2014, the Accord became Honda's car with the most buyers under the age of 35. The HR-V and CR-V SUVs also represent more of what buyers want these days, with rugged looks and available all-wheel drive. It's no cakewalk for the Civic anymore.

Clear past the clutter of the band and the fog of the reveal, and the 2016 Civic already looks like it has the things young new-car buyers look for when they go shopping. Show-car styling, the promise of good fuel economy, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and lots and lots of features.

The first of the new Civics Honda showed touts technology, refinement, and content more than the fun-to-drive characteristics. Enthusiasts may not find much comfort in the fact you can only get Honda's new 1.5-liter turbo on models equipped with a CVT, now that the six-speed manual has really been relegated to the base LX. But then you were probably waiting for the forthcoming Si, or next year's hatchback model, or probably the new Type-R. The Civic sedan targets the mainstream, and this time, the mainstream is the under-35 crowd.

The marketing for the 2016 Civic will undoubtedly be pitched so hard at Millennials, it'll make you squirm. But with this car, Honda has to pull out all the stops to get the kids' attention. The future of the Civic as the car young people steer towards when they get their first grown-up job depends on it.


-- Autoblog
 

///Mookster

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I think the whole "9th gen disappointment" is a press and enthusiast-only thing. Sales did not suffer big losses because it was still a Civic and proved affordable, reliable, and fuel efficient. Was it as ground-breaking as the 8th gen? No, but is wasn't a bad car. The biggest hurdle Civic has in front of it is the HR-V and CR-V, not what happened four years ago.
That is sort of the point I was making before. It would not shock me if this new Civic does not significantly increase sales. Sporty cars are not what sell to the mainstream and the current Civic is a good example of that, to your point. Clearly it is not selling on looks and performance at least in the enthusiast sense. The second issue is sporty cars are expensive and costly to make. This drives prices up and leads to fewer sales. It takes a bold move these days to build a sporty car in the face of all that.
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