2013 Honda Civic Review (AutoGuide)

[ne_one]

2013 Honda Civic Review
AutoGuide
November 29, 2012
by Colum Wood

How bad was the 2012 Honda Civic? Despite the less-than favorable reviews, not very. So why all the fuss?

Simple: expectations.

With other automakers, ranging from the domestics to the surging Korean powerhouses of Hyundai and Kia, having stepped-up their respective games, 2012 was seen as a sink or swim moment for Honda. The once revered brand had suffered from a spate of problems, ranging from supply issues and low sales surrounding the Japanese earthquake and tsunami, to products that were either poor, or perceived to be that way, including the Insight, CR-Z and Crosstour.

In other words, Honda needed to do something big, right at a time when anything less than big would be perceived as half-assed. The 2012 Civic was undoubtedly of the partial-posterior variety.

Full article at link.

[BlackGTP]

You know when the article starts off saying that the 2012 wasn't that bad, that they are going to love the redesign.

But it does look like Honda fixed its issues and now has a competitive vehicle again.

[yamahr1]

You know when the article starts off saying that the 2012 wasn't that bad, that they are going to love the redesign.

But it does look like Honda fixed its issues and now has a competitive vehicle again.

Except the styling changes amount to lipstick on a pig. I do give them credit for finally taking the interior noise issue seriously.

[GM-Joe]

Nothing sensational there. The 2006-2011 was ground breaking and still looks nice, this still looks awkward, maybe even worse than the 2011-2012.75 (Neon) model. The tail lights look like they belong on a different vehicle and don' t match the front fascia. The interior is improved, but this is now an also-ran.

[WishIhadatruck]

Was that an advertisement or a review? Sounds improved but I didn't pay much attention to the 2012. Good for Honda on making some quick and apparently needed improvements.

[Ambalanche]

Lipstick on a Pig indeed! I wonder if the press will fawn all over the Malibu in a year when it get's it's slight makeover...Doubtful!

[90CamaroRS]

Car still looks like hell inside and out though. Not a fan of the GMT-800 style dash with the radio and all controls facing the driver. Works great for a truck, but not a compact car. Also, the dashes in these things are more bloated and drawn out all over the dash then they ever needed to be. You don't need more than two places to look to control your car. All you need(and what looks much better) is a dash in one place, and a center column. Never been a fan on this car, so no surprise nothing excites me here either.

[AMERICA 123]

Interesting -

Also improved is safety.

While cosmetic updates are the norm for a mid-cycle refresh, modifications to the car’s structure are unheard of, and yet that’s what Honda has done. Numerous reinforcements are designed so that the Civic will meet new even more strict crash testing procedures, including the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s new Top Safety Pick Plus rating.

Those structural changes, as well as the added sound deadening do, however, add weight to the Civic. According to a Honda representative we spoke with, the updates add as much as 100 lbs. He informed us that small changes to the engine did actually result in improved fuel economy, but the added weight negated the benefits.

[steve333]

Honda's used to be simple and classy looking. They should go back to that look, IMO

[Pedal 2 Metal]

Honda's used to be simple and classy looking. They should go back to that look, IMO

They did it with the new Accord. Not sure why they're having such a hard time with the Civic.

Part of their problem is an unwillingness to spend money. The Americans and Koreans especially are offering tremendous value with their economy cars, where as Toyota and Honda are just like, "Well. It's reliable". An optioned out Veloster has more gadgets than the much pricier ct200h. That's just wrong.

[Neanderthal]

I just drove a 2012 Civic and don't see where all the hate comes from.

How many of the critics here have actually laid hands on the wheel, feet on the throttle?

Parroting opinions from the autoscribes is one thing, actually driving the car is different and often an other-worldly experience.

[Ambalanche]

I just drove a 2012 Civic and don't see where all the hate comes from.

How many of the critics here have actually laid hands on the wheel, feet on the throttle?

Parroting opinions from the autoscribes is one thing, actually driving the car is different and often an other-worldly experience.

I don't care how it drives, I think it's ugly!

[Neanderthal]

I don't care how it drives, I think it's ugly!

That's a perfectly legitimate critical opinion. That's what keeps me off Ford lots for the most part. Their cars just don't synch with my tastes.

My question is to all the folks who are influenced by the autoscribes but who have not set foot on a lot to experience the "horrible" 2012 Civic.
Elsewhere in these pages you will find a brief write-up of that and a few other cars.

[Tetrabin1]

I think that worth at least to try driving that car before making any statement.

[ElmerMCR]

Pretty good to go through this refresh, add standard back up cameras across the line and only go up under $200 on each trim level.