2011 Honda Civic: Product Review
Pros: Wide variety of engines and transmissions; comfortable and well-built interior; available coupe body style, good fuel economy.
Cons: Elevated road noise, some common convenience and safety features are only available on fancier models; hybrid's high price and slow acceleration.
The 2011 Honda Civic is not much a different model from what Honda pushed out last year, but with just a minor change of its trim such as for the absence of manual transmission. It is one of those cars who earned its name and popularity at quite a good speed. Witness the 2011 Honda Civic. Ever since Ronny Reagan ran the country, the Civic has been the go-to small car choice for consumers, not only due to its legendary quality and reliability but also because of its fun-loving driving dynamics. The fact that it is offered in a range of flavors that would just match to the people of every segment.
Through the years the Civic has grown, with today's version being about as big as a Honda Accord from 15 years ago. And it is no longer Honda's littlest car, as the petite Honda Fit and the hybrid Honda Insight are both smaller. But the character of the Civic remains unchanged; it's still agile, comfortable and efficient. Our only significant gripe regards the unavailability of a few desirable features on lower trim levels (notably the volume-selling LX), such as Bluetooth, stability control and rear disc brakes. And the styling within the cabin might not appeal to everybody, as the bi-level instrument panel combines digital and analog gauges into a self-consciously futuristic presentation.
Few peculiar behaviors are forgiven in light of the Civic's impressive all-around character. As far as the aforementioned flavors, there's something here for everyone from the fuel-sipping Civic Hybrid and clean-burning natural-gas Civic GX to the high-performance Civic Si.
The sporty Mazda 3 is the Civic's strongest rival, offering performance that only the Civic Si can top, along with greater sophistication and the convenience of a hatchback model. The Volkswagen Golf and Jetta also perform well, offering more refinement even though their fuel economy (diesel excepted) is nothing to brag about. The 2011 Honda Civic is a compact car available as a sedan or coupe. For both, there are five main trim levels: DX, LX, EX, EX-L and Si. On the Civic sedan, Honda also offers the DX Value package, the LX-S, the Hybrid and the GX.
The DX comes with just the basics, including 15-inch steel wheels, power windows, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel and a height-adjustable driver seat. It doesn't even have a stereo, though the DX sedan's optional Value package includes a four-speaker CD/MP3 audio system, an auxiliary audio jack and air-conditioning. The LX adds 16-inch steel wheels, keyless entry, cruise control, full power accessories, center console with a sliding armrest, a folding rear seatback and cruise control. Going with a Civic EX gets you 16-inch alloys, a sunroof, a six-speaker sound system (coupes also feature an exclusive subwoofer) with steering-wheel-mounted audio controls and a USB input, ambient console lighting and a 60/40-split rear seatback with a fold-down armrest. The EX-L comes with heated exterior mirrors, leather upholstery and heated front seats. The sporty Civic Si has most of the EX's features plus a more powerful engine, a sport-tuned suspension, 17-inch alloy wheels with high-performance tires, foglights, sport seats and special interior trim.
The front-wheel-drive 2011 Honda Civic lineup offers a variety of available engines and transmissions. DX, LX and EX models are powered by a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 140 horsepower and 128 pound-feet of torque. A five-speed manual transmission is standard, and a five-speed automatic is optional. With an automatic transmission, the Civic sedan goes from zero to 60 mph in a class-typical 9.6 seconds. Manual-transmission models are notably quicker.
Nearly all Civic models Claim above-average fuel efficiency. Civics fitted with the standard 1.8-liter engine earn EPA estimates of 25 mpg city/36 highway and 29 mpg combined (26/34/29 with the manual shifter). The GX posts similar 24/36/28 mpg ratings. The Hybrid tops the Civic lineup with fuel mileage of 40 city/45 highway and 42 combined. Civic Si models have 21/29/24 mpg estimates.
Every Civic comes with front-seat side airbags, full-length side curtain airbags and active front head restraints. Antilock brakes are also standard; however, only EX and Si models have four-wheel disc brakes, while the rest have rear drums. Stability control comes on EX-L, Hybrid and Si trims but is unavailable on the others.
The Civic's dash features an unusual gauge layout. An analog tachometer is in the traditional location behind the steering wheel, but a digital speedometer and gas gauge reside at the base of the windshield. Some of our editors find the two-tier display distracting, though others say it makes quick visual checks of speed easier.
The 2011 Honda Civic handles more confidently than the average compact car, but it's not as capable on a curvy road as the class-leading Mazda 3. Still, for most drivers the Civic's handling will be just fine, and for enthusiasts the Civic Si's sporty suspension tuning and high-revving engine should satisfy. Ride quality is smooth enough, but not as cushy as that of the Hyundai Elantra. In typical Honda fashion, road noise is elevated even at moderate speeds. The Civic Hybrid and natural-gas GX are quite slow; we're inclined to forgive the uniquely powered GX but not the Hybrid, as the Toyota Prius is quicker and cheaper.
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