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Honda may have taken some flack over the newest generation of its mainstay small car, but the 2012 Civic still packs a lot of appeal, Especially the coolest and most attractive of the lineup: the two-door coupe.
A lot of the criticism of the redesigned vehicle centers around the materials used on the interior; with a consensus that components of the dash and upholstery have been cheapened in an effort to keep manufacturing costs down.
I'll go along with that. Sure, the new cabin does feel lighter and more brittle when you run your fingers along the dash and console; and the new steering wheel and shifter knob seem less unique than in the outgoing generation, but it's mostly when you compare the two models side by side that the differences are most glaring.
Taken on its own, my test car (an EX trim level, with manual transmission) still shows off a well-designed cockpit with instrumentation and controls that are easy to reach and use, a reasonably comfortable driver's seat, and aesthetically and ergonomically pleasing layout.
The split-level display above the steering wheel (which elevates the digital speedometer readout into an easily read display that keeps the info in a driver's sightlines) remains unchanged, and that's good.
The emergency brake handle has its shape changed; it's less intrusive now and less uncomfortable to have your leg resting against while driving -which always happens to me in compacts.
My tester boasts pretty good room overhead; though the reworking of the car's overall shape has made it friendlier to front seat occupants. The Civic coupe also allows great visibility in all directions. One of my pet peeves in a variety of small two-door cars is that many of them sport fat C-pillars that limit rear/ side visibility; however, the Civic's rear window and angled pillar let a driver see everything with a simple shoulder-check.
Outwardly, I like the 2012 coupe better than its predecessor by a large margin. The entire body has evolved into a sleeker, aerodynamic wrap that eliminates the awkward bulges and halfhearted look of the previous coupe's rear end. Even sitting on the 15-inch wheels of my EX test vehicle, the Civic maintains a balanced and proportional curb appeal. Frankly, I like the look of the car from any angle, though it's at its sportiest when approached from the front.
Keep in mind, though, that with the base Civic, the sportiness is mostly in the looks (if you want a high-powered driving experience, you have to go upmarket to the Civic Si). The standard engine isn't underpowered, mind you; Honda's four-cylinder i-VTEC power-plant is capable of 140 horsepower and 128 lb.-ft. of torque, which has no problem hauling the little car up to speed. The five-speed manual transmission is the gearbox to have if you want to get the most from the engine, as far as I'm concerned, as it allows a driver to wring the optimal performance from the car.
Pushing for performance won't get you the car's best fuel economy, though; and for that my test-coupe has its ECON mode. Enabled by a button on the dash, ECON basically changes the way the car accepts throttle input -smoothing it out, you might say -in order to minimize consumption. Indeed, once you get used to the feel of driving with it, operating the car in this mode all the time will deliver noticeable benefits at the pump, although it also gives the Civic the feeling of having all the guts sucked out of it. I shut Econ off almost instantly when I get into the car and it still got very good mileage.
On balance, the 2012 Civic coupe is still a highly recommended choice, even if it doesn't feel head-and-shoulders above the competition the way it used to; and it should still bring decent resale value (and Honda's reputation for reliability) for its reasonable sticker price.
2012 Honda Civic Coupe
Report Card (out of 5):
Trim level: EX
Price as tested (before taxes): $19,990 Freight/PDI: $1,395
Configuration: front engine/ front-wheel drive
Engine/transmission: 1.8L 4-cyl./ 5-spd manual
Power/torque: 140 hp/ 128 lb.-ft. Fuel (capacity): Regular (50L)
Fuel economy ratings: 7.2 L/100km city; 5.4 L/100km hwy
Observed fuel economy: 7.6 L/100km over 297 km
Warranties: 3 years/ 60,000 km (basic); 5 years/ 100,000 km (powertrain) Competitors: Chevrolet Cruze; Ford Focus; Hyundai Elantra Strengths: economy; appearance; resale value.
Weaknesses: limited cargo space; cramped rear seats; interior feels downgraded
Fuel Economy: 3.5 -decent
Value for $: 3 -outdone by Korean rivals Styling: 4 -exterior appearance greatly improved
Comfort: 3.5 -front row is fine, second row is tight
Performance: 3 -not a racer, but up to the demands of daily driving
Overall: 3.5 -still a benchmark for the class
Article from: http://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3339846
A lot of the criticism of the redesigned vehicle centers around the materials used on the interior; with a consensus that components of the dash and upholstery have been cheapened in an effort to keep manufacturing costs down.
I'll go along with that. Sure, the new cabin does feel lighter and more brittle when you run your fingers along the dash and console; and the new steering wheel and shifter knob seem less unique than in the outgoing generation, but it's mostly when you compare the two models side by side that the differences are most glaring.
Taken on its own, my test car (an EX trim level, with manual transmission) still shows off a well-designed cockpit with instrumentation and controls that are easy to reach and use, a reasonably comfortable driver's seat, and aesthetically and ergonomically pleasing layout.
The split-level display above the steering wheel (which elevates the digital speedometer readout into an easily read display that keeps the info in a driver's sightlines) remains unchanged, and that's good.
The emergency brake handle has its shape changed; it's less intrusive now and less uncomfortable to have your leg resting against while driving -which always happens to me in compacts.
My tester boasts pretty good room overhead; though the reworking of the car's overall shape has made it friendlier to front seat occupants. The Civic coupe also allows great visibility in all directions. One of my pet peeves in a variety of small two-door cars is that many of them sport fat C-pillars that limit rear/ side visibility; however, the Civic's rear window and angled pillar let a driver see everything with a simple shoulder-check.
Outwardly, I like the 2012 coupe better than its predecessor by a large margin. The entire body has evolved into a sleeker, aerodynamic wrap that eliminates the awkward bulges and halfhearted look of the previous coupe's rear end. Even sitting on the 15-inch wheels of my EX test vehicle, the Civic maintains a balanced and proportional curb appeal. Frankly, I like the look of the car from any angle, though it's at its sportiest when approached from the front.
Keep in mind, though, that with the base Civic, the sportiness is mostly in the looks (if you want a high-powered driving experience, you have to go upmarket to the Civic Si). The standard engine isn't underpowered, mind you; Honda's four-cylinder i-VTEC power-plant is capable of 140 horsepower and 128 lb.-ft. of torque, which has no problem hauling the little car up to speed. The five-speed manual transmission is the gearbox to have if you want to get the most from the engine, as far as I'm concerned, as it allows a driver to wring the optimal performance from the car.
Pushing for performance won't get you the car's best fuel economy, though; and for that my test-coupe has its ECON mode. Enabled by a button on the dash, ECON basically changes the way the car accepts throttle input -smoothing it out, you might say -in order to minimize consumption. Indeed, once you get used to the feel of driving with it, operating the car in this mode all the time will deliver noticeable benefits at the pump, although it also gives the Civic the feeling of having all the guts sucked out of it. I shut Econ off almost instantly when I get into the car and it still got very good mileage.
On balance, the 2012 Civic coupe is still a highly recommended choice, even if it doesn't feel head-and-shoulders above the competition the way it used to; and it should still bring decent resale value (and Honda's reputation for reliability) for its reasonable sticker price.
2012 Honda Civic Coupe
Report Card (out of 5):
Trim level: EX
Price as tested (before taxes): $19,990 Freight/PDI: $1,395
Configuration: front engine/ front-wheel drive
Engine/transmission: 1.8L 4-cyl./ 5-spd manual
Power/torque: 140 hp/ 128 lb.-ft. Fuel (capacity): Regular (50L)
Fuel economy ratings: 7.2 L/100km city; 5.4 L/100km hwy
Observed fuel economy: 7.6 L/100km over 297 km
Warranties: 3 years/ 60,000 km (basic); 5 years/ 100,000 km (powertrain) Competitors: Chevrolet Cruze; Ford Focus; Hyundai Elantra Strengths: economy; appearance; resale value.
Weaknesses: limited cargo space; cramped rear seats; interior feels downgraded
Fuel Economy: 3.5 -decent
Value for $: 3 -outdone by Korean rivals Styling: 4 -exterior appearance greatly improved
Comfort: 3.5 -front row is fine, second row is tight
Performance: 3 -not a racer, but up to the demands of daily driving
Overall: 3.5 -still a benchmark for the class
Article from: http://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3339846
should have gotten an SI 