The Civic->ke236 has been a mainstay in the small car category for the better part of 20 years. Its affordability and rock-solid reliability, combined with its racing culture and huge aftermarket parts availability, all make the Civic a respectable choice for fun transportation on a budget.

However, when Honda->ke34 went about redesigning the Civic sedan for 2012, it apparently didn’t do its homework. The car was not well received which forced Honda to revamp it for 2013. The changing continues in 2014 with revisions yet again. The look steers the Civic toward a more masculine design and away from the low-budget, econo-box design of 2012.

The 2014 Civic Coupe->ke141 gets updated as well, having missed the 2013 changes. Crisp, bold lines give the sheet metal a sportier, more athletic look. New wheel designs sharpen things even further. Inside, both Civic sedans and coupes receive an new instrument panel with plenty of chrome detailing. An impressive new seven-inch capacitive touchscreen infotainment system is new with LaneWatch blind spot monitoring.

Under the hood, the standard 1.8-liter I-4 is still present, however, it can now be mated with a CVT transmission. The six-speed manual is available in the base model, but the traditional automatic is gone. Si models get an upgraded 2.4-liter I-4 i-VTEC with four extra ponies and pound-feet of torque, bringing its output to 205 horsepower and 174 pound-feet, thanks to a retuned exhaust system. The 1.8-liter produces 143 horsepower and 129 pound-feet of torque. Fuel economy is improved as well with the CVT-equipped sedan getting an EPA-estimated 30 mpg city and 39 mpg highway. The HF trim gets even better at 31 mpg city and 41 mpg highway. Base model LX coupes get 30 mpg city and 39 mpg highway with the manual transmission while the higher trimmed EX and EX-L fitted with the CVT are rated at 29 mpg city and 38 mpg highway.

Updated 09/16/2014: Honda announced prices for the 2015 Civic lineup which continues to be offered pretty much unchanged. The only addition is a new Special Edition (SE) sedan positioned between the LX and EX.

Click past the jump for more info on the 2014 Honda Civic

2014 - 2015 Honda Civic

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2014 - 2015 Honda Civic
  • Engine/Motor: inline-4
  • Horsepower: 143 @ 6500
  • Torque: 129 @ 4300
  • Transmission: 5-speed manual
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Pros
Cons

Exterior

Styling for 2014 evokes more excitement than before. Minor changes appear on the sedan, but the coupe gets all the headlines. It’s updated to mirror the sedan with a new front grille and lower fascia. A creasing body line shoots to rear tail lamps that are much more 3D-looking and interesting. New and larger wheels are also present.

Honda is also giving owners more ways to upgrade their Civic with genuine Honda parts, via its new Honda Performance Division (HPD). Aero kits, wheels and performance upgrades are among the choices.

2014 Honda Civic - Exterior Dimensions

LX

EX

EX-L

Wheelbase (in)

105.1

105.1

105.1

Length (in)

179.4

179.4

179.4

Height (in)

56.5

56.5

56.5

Width (in)

69.0

69.0

69.0

Track (in, front/rear)

59.0 / 59.9

59.0 / 59.9

59.0 / 59.9

Curb Weight (lbs, MT/AT)

2754 / 2811

NA / 2868

NA / 2921
NA / 2930 (with Navigation)

Weight Distribution (%, front/rear, MT)

60 / 40

60 / 40

60 / 40

Weight Distribution (%, front/rear, AT)

61 / 39

61 / 39

61 / 39


2014 Honda Civic LX - Exterior Standard Features:

- Integrated Rear-Window Antenna

- Security System with Remote Entry and Trunk Release

- Body-Colored Power Side Mirrors including Expanded View Driver's Mirror

- 2-Speed/Intermittent Windshield Wipers

- Impact-Absorbing Body-Colored Bumpers

- Multi-Reflector Halogen Headlights with Auto-Off

- Body-Colored Door Handles

Honda Civic EX adds:

- One-Touch Power Moonroof with Tilt Feature

- Smart Entry System

- Variable Intermittent Windshield Wipers

Honda Civic EX-L adds:

- Fog Lights

New for 2015

- Civic SE which adds CVT, 15-inch aluminum alloy wheels with black painted inserts, Honda LaneWatchTM, automatic climate control, Display Audio with next-generation HondaLink and additional tweeter speakers.

Interior

As a whole, the interior is much more masculine. It has chrome galore, sparkling off the gear selector, steering wheel and AC vents. It’s especially classy offset with the black dashboard and makes the car look more upscale. The split-dash design returns and continues the theme.

There is much to say about the new Display Audio (Display Audio+ with navigation) infotainment system. Four touch-sensitive buttons (Home, Volume, Menu, and Back) on the left side help speed up navigating through menu options and settings. Each button can cleverly disappear whenever that option isn’t available; like the Back button while viewing the Home screen.

The seven-inch screen will also recognize multi-touch gestures as well. Like a smartphone or tablet, the screen will swipe, pinch, drag, and double-tap. On the down side, the screen does need a millisecond longer to register finger inputs, so typing is a touch-and-hold process, but only a fraction of a second longer than an iPhone. Thankfully, Honda left real buttons to control the HVAC system and the audio volume can also be controlled via real buttons on the steering wheel. We like real buttons in some cases.

2014 Honda Civic - Interior Dimensions

LX

EX

EX-L

Headroom (in, front/rear)

39.0 / 37.1

37.9 / 36.2

37.9 / 36.2

Legroom (in, front/rear)

42.0 / 36.2

42.0 / 36.2

42.0 / 36.2

Shoulder Room (in, front/rear)

56.6 / 53.3

56.6 / 53.3

56.6 / 53.3

Hiproom (in, front/rear)

50.5 / 51.4

50.5 / 51.4

50.5 / 51.4

Cargo Volume (cu ft)

12.5

12.5

12.5

Passenger Volume (cu ft)

94.6

92.1

92.1

Seating Capacity

5

5

5


2014 Honda Civic LX - Interior Standard Features:

- Air Conditioning with Air-Filtration System

- i-MID with 5-Inch LCD Screen and Customizable Feature Settings

- Power Windows with Auto-Up/Down Driver's Window

- Cruise Control

- Driver's Seat with Manual Height Adjustment

- 160-Watt AM/FM/CD Audio System with 4 Speakers

2014 Honda Civic EX adds:

- Automatic Climate Control

- Honda LaneWatch

- Passenger-Side Seatback Pocket

- Rear-Seat Center Armrest

- 160-Watt AM/FM/CD Audio System with 6 Speakers

- 7" Display Audio with High-Resolution WVGA (800x480) Electrostatic Touch-Screen, Rearview Camera with Dynamic Guidelines and Customizable Feature Settings

2014 Honda Civic EX-L adds:

- Leather-Wrapped Steering Wheel

- Driver's Seat with 8-Way Power Adjustment

- Leather-Trimmed Seats

- Heated Front Seats

Engine

Two engines are available. Starting out, the familiar 1.8-liter I-4 gets a modest three horsepower bump to total 143. One foot-pound is added bringing its total to 129. This is the volume engine powering every Civic save for the Si version. The sporty Si gets the larger 2.4-liter I-4 that makes 205 horsepower and 174 pound-feet of torque. Both engines earn higher EPA numbers than last year as well.

All-new for 2014 is a CVT transmission that’s been adapted from the Accord’s. As far as CVTs go, this one is class-leading. It provides smooth performance and offers seven “gears” when placed in Sport mode. Paddle shifters elicit surprisingly quick shifts. It’s no PDK, but it’s better than its competitors. A six-speed manual transmission is offered in the base LX trim and the sporty Si package. The traditional automatic is completely gone from the Civic lineup except in the CNG variant.

LX

HF

EX

EX-L

Engine Type

In-Line 4-Cylinder

In-Line 4-Cylinder

In-Line 4-Cylinder

In-Line 4-Cylinder

Engine Block/Cylinder Head

Aluminum-Alloy

Aluminum-Alloy

Aluminum-Alloy

Aluminum-Alloy

Displacement (cc)

1798

1798

1798

1798

Horsepower @ rpm (SAE net)

143 @ 6500

143 @ 6500

143 @ 6500

143 @ 6500

Torque (lb-ft @ rpm, SAE net)

129 @ 4300

129 @ 4300

129 @ 4300

129 @ 4300

Redline (rpm)

6700

6700

6700

6700

Bore and Stroke (mm)

81 x 87.3

81 x 87.3

81 x 87.3

81 x 87.3

Compression Ratio

10.6 : 1

10.6 : 1

10.6 : 1

10.6 : 1

Valve Train

16-Valve SOHC i-VTEC

16-Valve SOHC i-VTEC

16-Valve SOHC i-VTEC

16-Valve SOHC i-VTEC


Prices

TRIM

MSRP

Fuel Economy (city/highway/combined)

Civic Coupe LX 5MT

$18,190

28/36/31

Civic Coupe LX CVT

$18,990

30/39/33

Civic Coupe EX 5MT

$20,290

28/36/31

Civic Coupe EX CVT

$21,090

29/38/33

Civic Coupe EX-L CVT

$22,540

29/38/33

Civic Coupe EX-L Navi CVT

$24,040

29/38/33

Civic Sedan LX 5MT

$18,390

28/36/31

Civic Sedan LX CVT

$19,190

30/39/33

Civic Sedan EX CVT

$21,090

30/39/33

Civic Sedan EX-L CVT

$22,740

30/39/33

Civic Sedan EX-L Navi CVT

$24,240

30/39/33

Civic Sedan HF CVT

$19,940

31/41/35


2015 Honda Civic prices

TRIM

MSRP

EPA Fuel Economy Ratings (city/highway/combined)

Civic Coupe LX 5MT

$18,290

28/36/31

Civic Coupe LX CVT

$19,090

30/39/33

Civic Coupe EX 5MT

$20,390

28/36/31

Civic Coupe EX CVT

$21,190

29/38/33

Civic Coupe EX-L CVT

$22,640

29/38/33

Civic Coupe EX-L Navi CVT

$24,140

29/38/33

Civic Sedan LX 5MT

$18,490

28/36/31

Civic Sedan LX CVT

$19,290

30/39/33

Civic Sedan SE CVT

$19,990

30/39/33

Civic Sedan EX CVT

$21,190

30/39/33

Civic Sedan EX-L CVT

$22,840

30/39/33

Civic Sedan EX-L Navi CVT

$24,340

30/39/33

Civic Sedan HF CVT

$20,040

31/41/35


Competition

2014 Toyota Corolla

The Corolla provides some stiff competition, so much so that Toyota sold nearly 300,000 of them in 2012, and that was before its all-new replacement rolled in for 2014. Once the 2014's first year sales figures are in, we imagine those numbers will head north.

For 2014, the Corolla is all new. The interior is a big improvement with plenty of character expressed in decent materials with good fit and finish. It's powered by a 1.8-liter in-line four that makes just enough power to move the car -- 140 horsepower in its sportiest form. Power is routed through either a six-speed manual or a CVT transmission. Starting price for the Corolla is $16,800 and grows to $21,300.

2014 Hyundai Elantra

The Elantra also brings some freshness to the table, but only in the form of a mild makeover. Designers did a good job and the exterior still looks clean, modern and attractive. It's interior isn't all that different, but has a richer, more premium feel to it. The HVAC controls were redesigned and more aluminum bits are used to brighten the environment.

Motivation comes from either a 1.8-liter in-line four or a 2.0-liter in-line four. Both engines do a good job, but the 2.0-liter is the obvious driver's choice, as it lays down 173 horsepower and 154 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed manual and a six-speed auto are available.

Pricing for the 2014 Elantra starts at $17,200 and tops the $25,000 mark with all the option boxes checked.

2014 Hyundai Veloster

The quirky Veloster is more the competitor or the Civic Coupe, but unlike the Civic, the Veloster has some innovative features that make it more livable as a "three-door" car. In reality, the three-door hatchback has an extra door on passenger side, making rear-seat entry and exit an easier task. Occupants aren't required to be contortionists to squeeze between a folded front seat and large B-pillar. This aspect makes the Veloster appealing to young families with a kid in a car seat. Sporty yet practical.

A 1.6-liter in-line four powers the standard Veloster with an optional turbocharged 1.6-liter. Power jumps from 138 horsepower to an impressive 201 with the addition of the turbo. Base asking price is $17,800 and with options and the turbo, the price increases past $25,000.

Conclusion

The evolution of the Civic was a careful calculation this time around, following the debacle we saw last year. As always, the Civic will be in the top three in sales in its class, and will continue being one of the most reliable cars on the market. That said, Honda needs to keep a close eye on its competitors from Korea -- Hyundai and Kia -- as they are slowly creeping up with increase quality, more luxury features and peppier drivetrains.