4 Reasons Compact Fans Will Fall for the 2016 Honda Civic

Honda is known for making high-quality cars that boast fuel-efficient engines. These cars are also consistently fun to drive, offering precise transmissions, responsive steering, and engines packing a big punch while still getting high mpg. Though it may surprise some drivers, the new 2016 Civic is a perfect example of this.

Sure, many may believe that the Civic hasn’t changed much over the years, but with the new 2016 model, that’s now far from the truth. Honda’s U.S. engineering team set out to change flagging perceptions of the Civic by benchmarking its handling against sporty European compacts. The results? A fun, reliable compact car.

Turbocharged for the First Time

For the first time in Civic’s history, Honda has made this already popular vehicle turbocharged. Forced induction in the new Civic models comes in a 1.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder. This means you’re getting 162 lb.-ft. of torque along with 174 horsepower.

If you don’t want to spend more to go turbo, you’re still getting considerable power with this new Civic. The 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder underpinning the base trims still gets you 138 lb.-ft. of torque and 158 horsepower, so you’re getting great power with your car either way.

Improved Gas Mileage

Honda hopes buyers will come to view their new Civic as a return to what made the Civic a longtime favorite: an attractive car that’s fun to drive and fuel-efficient. That’s good news for drivers. Whether you go for the turbocharged version or not, you’re still getting economy that’s better than average.

The 1.5 will give you 35 combined miles per gallon (mpg), with specific figures clocking in at 31 city and 42 highway. If you go for the 2.0, you’ll still get 35 combined mpg, with city and highway coming in at 31 and 41, respectively. No matter how you break it down, this new Civic boasts improved gas mileage, a big plus for new buyers.

Roomy Interior

Past fans of the Civic have seen it as a reliable, fun, and affordable car, but over time, many lovers of compact cars have felt the Civic has grown old. That’s no longer true with the new improvements to the car. While it remains a responsive compact sedan, drivers no longer have to squeeze inside either.

The new sedan is bigger, measuring two inches wider and three inches longer. That gives the Civic 3.2 cubic feet in increased passenger space. At the same time, the 2016 Honda Civic weighs less than the outgoing 2015 model, all while getting better gas mileage.

Fun and Easy to Drive

Responsive and tight, the new Civic is right at home on twisty roads, boasting confident brakes and direct steering. When going through fast curves, the suspension holds the car stable and flat while muffling the impact from rough surfaces.

Drivers can make things even smoother with available features. These include safety perks like forward collision warning, lane keeping assist, and a backup camera along with adaptive cruise control.

The Civic has been popular in the past because it’s an easy car to drive. Now, the new model brings fun into the mix.