Lesson For Others? CR Comments On Honda Civic Improvements

[Perian]

Consumer Reports

November 30, 2012

Article Quotes:

It's rather unprecedented for a car company to launch a mid-cycle freshening after merely 18 months on the market. But that's exactly what Honda did after our criticism of the 2012 Civic.

Shortly after Honda launched the 2012 Civic, we tested it. The resulting overall test score, based on more than 50 individual tests, was too low to meet the threshold for being recommended. The 2012 redesign was a measured step back, and, unfortunately came at a time when many competitors stepped up their game. (And we weren't the only media outlet to notice.) We've now driven the freshened model back to back with the 2012 one and can say that it's a marked improvement.

The Civic's freshening and the prominent announcement at a major auto show indicates how critical the Civic is for Honda. More motivating for the company, we think, is the fact that the Civic didn't qualify as being a recommended model by Consumer Reports.

We just experienced the new Civic, borrowed from Honda. At first, it feels very familiar and you might think this is just a cosmetic job, but as the miles rolled on it became clear the ride is no longer choppy. In fact it's quite good for the class. While road noise is not eradicated, it is considerably reduced—you no longer get that loud drumming every time you hit coarse pavement or concrete.

Handling is more responsive, too, with more prompt turn-in and less body lean. Also, the steering now has a modicum of feedback and decent weighting.

The interior is richer with some chrome accents and a soft dash top in front of the passenger. Elbow touch-points have soft padding on the front doors. An automatic climate control is a nice surprise for the EX version and a rear-view camera is standard across the board. Price goes up $160 for all versions.

It's always good to see a high-volume car getting better, and we're glad our constructive criticism helped bringing about such an improvement.

[Perian]

There is a huge lesson here for anyone willing to listen.

Why not bring CR engineers in as paid (or unpaid) consultants?

Why not let CR take a look at upcoming product and voice an opinion?

Why ignore something that can be vastly important in the marketplace?

I know what will appear in the postings to follow, but CR is just not something to be taken lightly.

Just ask Honda.

[eaton53]

There is a huge lesson here for anyone willing to listen.

Why not bring CR engineers in as paid (or unpaid) consultants?

Why not let CR take a look at upcoming product and voice an opinion?

Why ignore something that can be vastly important in the marketplace?

I know what will appear in the postings to follow, but CR is just not something to be taken lightly.

Just ask Honda.

Oh gawd, no.
I don't want to drive a frikkin toaster.

[70AARCUDA]

Why not simply "...LISTEN to the CUSTOMERS.."? (GM are you listening?)

[goochman]

Article seems more like a cry for help as CR tries to establish itself as *the reason* Honda made updates. Like CR still has some magical power and we should line up behind them to thwart the evil automobile empires.

Some road noise and cheap feeling materials - that is what makes a car 'unreliable' - guess CR outed themselves on their 'scientific' methods.

[Rocket 88]

Any manufacturer willing to make quick changes to improve their models should be applauded. Chrysler deserved the credit they got when they 'replaced' the Sebring with the update 200 and improved the Avenger.

The alternative is try to move metal at a discount and we all know how wonderful that works out.

GM has an IMPORTANT new Malibu with some really nice selling points, and some things that have recieved criticism. Your move GM.

[yamahr1]

CR patting itself on the back. It was almost worthy of an eye roll. Shows how full of themselves they really are over there.

Agree with others that GM needs to address criticisms of the Malibu, sooner the better.

[BerettaZ]

More likely it was the general consensus of most reviews that the new Civic was a step backward that prompted the quick change, not just CR.
However, kudos to Honda for responding quickly to the criticism.

[roy219]

Article seems more like a cry for help as CR tries to establish itself as *the reason* Honda made updates. Like CR still has some magical power and we should line up behind them to thwart the evil automobile empires.

Some road noise and cheap feeling materials - that is what makes a car 'unreliable' - guess CR outed themselves on their 'scientific' methods.

Not true at all. CR's test methods are robust, and it does not claim that their review was the reason Honda made updates - only that Honda took action based on their criticism and the criticism from other reviewers. Indeed, the very first sentence clearly states that CR found it unprecedented that any automaker would act so quickly to remedy flaws in a newly redesigned car.

And nowhere did CR even hint that road noise and cheap materials had anything to do with "what makes a car unreliable." The 2012 Civic's reliability was rated 'above average' in CR's most recent survey.

The main lesson is Honda has renewed its focus on what made them one of the most respected automakers extant.

[Novak454]

OR, bring in car enthusiasts from the major automotive mags, not CR reporters, and get THEIR inputs on upcoming cars....

[germeezy1]

So Consumer Reports alone was able to have Honda do an emergency MCE on the Civic despite all the postive reviews by the rest of the motoring press? Consumer reports has a rating system far more suited to toasters than it is to cars, and did they ever think that Honda actually listened to the customers who actually purchase Civics?

[mchicha]

The biggest lesson if for Chevrolet to update the Malibu for 2014, stretch it out somewhat, and fix the few other issues that have been raised.

It simply sucks compared to the fusion. It still a very competent car and in 2012 would have been king, but things are vastly different now.

[germeezy1]

In other news Maytag did an immediate MCE on it's lastest refrigerator lineup due to questionable reviews from CR. The amazing evolution , and design changes are below. We applaud Maytag for listening to CR , and the new design improves on several fronts including the whitest refrigerator white in the industry and low rolling resistance wheels as well as a microplished door hinge.

The pre MCE Maytag refrigerator



The post MCE Maytag refrigerator



Consumer Reports continues to drive manufacturers to do exactly as they wish or face the dreaded black dot that all manufacturers consider to be a death knell for a company.

[63GrandSport001]

Not true at all. CR's test methods are robust, and it does not claim that their review was the reason Honda made updates - only that Honda took action based on their criticism and the criticism from other reviewers. Indeed, the very first sentence clearly states that CR found it unprecedented that any automaker would act so quickly to remedy flaws in a newly redesigned car.

And nowhere did CR even hint that road noise and cheap materials had anything to do with "what makes a car unreliable." The 2012 Civic's reliability was rated 'above average' in CR's most recent survey.

The main lesson is Honda has renewed its focus on what made them one of the most respected automakers extant.

I read the first few paragraph and based on thay consumer reports gave themselves 100% of the credit for the changes. Also cr has flawed test methods...

[eaton53]

Some road noise and cheap feeling materials - that is what makes a car 'unreliable' - guess CR outed themselves on their 'scientific' methods.

All cars today are reliable.
That's why they've resorted to pickin' on stuff like this and interfaces that they can't figure out but aren't broken.
It's all they got...