Honda's Civic has long been a favourite with Canadians, and it's become more popular than ever thanks to the launch of an all-new generation which arrived just last year. This revamp saw the Civic go from a respectable little car to one of the most advanced and sophisticated models in its class.
While the Civic lineup receives key product revamps, very little has changed for the Sedan for the new year. The mid-grade EX trim level now receives the Honda Sensing suite of active safety equipment as standard, which includes radar cruise control, emergency autonomous braking, and lane-keeping assist functions. This system is standard on the EX-T and Touring trim levels, as well. Also new this year is Rallye Red, a new paint choice for all trims except the top-of-the-line Touring.
The cabin of the Civic is spacious with class-leading interior volume and a surprising amount of rear-seat legroom. Improved materials give it a more substantial feel, while the dashboard design is now more conventional, shedding the dual-tier speedometer design found in the past two generations of Civic. Top-shelf models offer luxuries including heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, and power adjustable front seats.
All Civic Sedans receive a standard rear camera, Bluetooth with streaming audio, USB port, and Siri Eyes-Free voice control for iPhones. All trim levels but the base DX trim receive a large 7.0-inch centre touchscreen display with standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto plus multiple USB ports, built-in wi-fi hotspot, and text/e-mail functionality. The EX, EX-T and Touring trim levels also use the centre display for the LaneWatch blind spot camera system. The Touring trim also comes standard with wireless device charging, a rarity in the compact segment.
Honda continues to offer two engines for the Civic, both of which offer more power than most competitors while simultaneously offering good fuel economy. Both are a good match to the Civic's agile handling and comfortable ride.
The standard engine on the Civic is a 2.0-litre four cylinder engine that develops 158 horsepower and 138 lb-ft of torque and features an Eco mode that optimizes the vehicle for maximum fuel economy. A six-speed manual transmission is standard equipment on the base DX and LX trims, with a CVT automatic optional on the LX, and standard on the EX. With the manual transmission, the Civic is rated at 8.5 L/100 km city and 6.0 highway; CVT economy is rated at 7.8 L/100 km city and 6.0 highway.
The Civic EX-T and Touring trim levels receive a small-displacement 1.5-litre turbocharged four cylinder which develops 174 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque, and comes paired exclusively to a CVT automatic. While a manual-turbo combination is available on other Civic body styles starting 2017, it isn't available on the sedan. Despite the added power, the little four-cylinder Turbo produces better fuel economy than the naturally aspirated motor: 7.4 L/100 km city, 5.4 L/100 km highway.
Pricing for the 2017 Civic Sedan starts at $16,390 for the DX and tops out at $27,390 for the Touring.
