The Honda Civic has been a popular small car for many years. Much esteemed by younger drivers, it virtually invented the mainstream tuning scene – if you’ve ever sat behind a small car at the lights with its exhaust burbling out through a coffee can exhaust that is making a desperate attempt at sounding like a Harley Davidson, there’s a good chance it was a Civic.
The 2012 model is the newest model, and, well, it’s competent. I suppose. As soon as you sit in it, you’ll notice the familiar (to Honda Civic drivers) split level dashboard. The worst that can be said about it is that it’s polarizing stylistically, and you may have to fiddle around with the seat adjustment for a few minutes before you can see everything through the steering wheel. The EX trim which I tried comes standard with a sunroof.
When I visited the Honda showroom, the salesman took great delight in pointing out the highly sophisticated electronic baubles that lit up as soon as I turned the key. The problem is it’s all show. The flash and gaud might be initially amusing, but look beyond it and the 2012 Civic can be taken as evidence that Honda’s resting on the laurels of success. The quality of the interior is tacky; while the engine and mechanics might be as reliable as ever, I’m not convinced the cabin materials will hold up anywhere near as long.
In terms of roominess, it’s moderately comfortable inside, with increased dimensions all around. But churn it up for a drive and you’ll see what all the lights are there; it’s the only way to keep you awake. The Civic is just plain dull. The only fun to be had is in playing around with the whiz-bang menus on the five-inch screen. A driver’s car, this is not.
Speaking of those menus and the display screen, you can engage in yet more sensory diversion by uploading your own wallpaper and trying to figure out the complex screens. The 2012 Ford Focus, a strong competitor, has gotten some flak for the complex MyFord Touch system (which is used in other Ford vehicles), but to my eye it’s not as bad as Honda’s screens.
Summary
Probably the best thing about the Civic is it has a good reliability track record. But for the same money you could buy a 2012 Ford Focus and have a blast during your morning commute. If you’re strongly considering the Civic, I’d highly recommend comparing the Focus or the Hyundai Elantra. If you can wait for a few months, you might also want to look at the new 2012 Subaru Impreza. I wrote several months ago that 2012 would be the year of the compact car, and Ford and Subaru are certainly shaping up to make that the case. It’s a shame Honda won’t be coming to the party.