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2014 Honda Civic

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2014 Honda Civic

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Overview

The Honda Civic is highly ranked among compact cars, consistently placing in the top two spots across various categories. It is second out of 26 on the Best Compact Cars list, indicating its superior quality and performance in comparison to most other vehicles in its class. The Civic also stands out for its resale value, topping the list of Compact Cars with Best Resale Value. This suggests that it retains its value better than any other compact car. Furthermore, it is also ranked second out of 12 on the Best Japanese Compact Cars list, demonstrating its strong reputation not just globally, but also within its country of origin. Overall, the Honda Civic is a top contender in the compact car market.

2014 Honda Civic Sedan


Written by James Hamel

Overview (Final Grade out of 8 Categories: B+)

Although Honda managed to silence most critics of the 2012 redesign of its compact stalwart Civic with a shockingly thorough refresh in 2013, apparently the brand still wasn't satisfied and has made yet still more major changes to the car for 2014. Honda has always been known for having shorter model cycles than other automakers but seriously this is getting ridiculous. Clearly Honda's engineers and manufacturing powers that be can react at the speed of light but what do we think of this updated 2014 model?

First off, let's go over what they did to enhance the 2013 Civic. Honda started by boosting interior materials quality to class leading levels with a sense of perceived quality that is undeniable. Then they continued by enhancing steering feel with changes to where they mounted the rack, interior noise dropped noticeably thanks to sound deadening measures and suspension adjustments made the ride smooth yet still as agile as any Civic owner should rightly expect from this always fun to drive car. You'd think that was enough right? Wrong.

So, for 2014 Honda replaced its five-speed automatic which to our thinking worked perfectly well and replaced it with a new, more efficient CVT automatic similar to but not exactly like the one found in the larger Accord. Then, to quell complaints that its navigation system was antiquated and the stereo face plates which we thought were delightfully straightforward have been replaced by new, state of the art high-resolution 7-inch touch screens on all models even those without navigation. With this new feature also comes a back-up camera and features like the Honda-Link system previously only available on Accord. People also didn't like the fact that last year's model used a key to start it, apparently, so Honda responded by adding a Stop/Start button on the dash. And lastly, on the safety front the Civic also now boasts Honda's Lane Watch System which has a camera in the passenger side mirror so every time you activate your turn signal you can see across the two lanes next two you via the center screen to ensure no one is in your blind spot. Happy now?

The 2014 Honda Civic is available as either a slightly remodeled coupe or a stylish four door sedan and can come equipped with a range of powerplants spanning everything from a hybrid gas/electric, a 1.8 liter 143 horsepower/129 lb. feet of torque 4-cylinder, the Si model's 2.4 liter 201 horsepower/170 lb. feet of torque 4-cylinder on down to even a natural gas powered variant. Prices range from about $18,000 for base LX models all the way to $27,335 for a fully loaded 2014 Honda Civic Hybrid sedan with leather and navigation. And trust us, there are Civic's at every price point in between.

Our test model was a 2014 Honda Civic EX-L coupe equipped with the new CVT automatic transmission but we have tested a 2013 Honda Civic Si, 2013 Honda Civic EX sedan, the hybrid as well as the Natural Gas model so our experience with this model is very broad. We will in this review, however, be focusing mainly on the volume selling 2014 sedan and coupe with the 1.8 liter 4-cylinder and new CVT automatic. If you have any questions about any Civic model, feel free to contact us with questions via the email address team@iseecars.com or send me a direct message on Twitter @jameshamelcaroc. I will respond to all queries.

What We Loved about the 2014 Honda Civic


  • The new styling enhancements to the Coupe model really make it look much sportier

  • We welcomed the addition of a back-up camera and Honda's Lane View Assist System

  • As always, the Honda Civic's steering and handling calibration was masterfully done


What We Didn't Love the 2014 Honda Civic

  • Can we get a volume knob on the new touch screen please for the audio system?

  • The CVT automatic didn't respond as quickly as the old 5-speed automatic

  • The cupholders for back seat passengers in the coupe are shaped unlike any bottle, can or cup


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Exterior View (9 out of 10)

For 2014 Honda made some nips, tucks and added some visual flair to differentiate the coupe version of the Civic from its more grown-up looking sedan sibling. Whereas the sedan has a tasteful and elegant chrome ringed nearly trapezoidal grille, the coupe uses three smoked gray slats in the grille to add a sense of visual menace. The tail-lamp design for the coupe is also updated and makes the two door actually look like a much more cohesive design overall compared to last year. As for the Civic sedan, we liked it last year, we still like it this year.

Interior Comfort, Quality and Overall Ease of Use (8 out of 10)

The quality of the 2014 Civic's interior is truly unimpeachable with nary a complaint about materials or build quality. This inside of a brand new Civic feels like it will look exactly the same 10 years down the road and from past experience they usually do. But as we tested the coupe version of the Civic, we did find that getting into the back seat was an act of gymnastic contortionism for this 6 foot tall road tester. Only the passenger seat slides forward for back seat access which seems silly to us and even with that seat pushed all the way forward the space left to get back there is narrow and the roof low so we hit our head a couple times. We are also loath to admit that during a photo session with the car we managed upon exiting the back seat to get our foot tangled in the front seat belt and do a major face plant into the concrete. In front of four passing joggers who did their best to hide their laughter at our epic fail.

Up front, the Civic is the picture of comfort and all controls are easy to reach with the small i-Mid screen atop the dash proving to be extra handy as it can display your audio information, phone info and also tells you when to turn when you are using the optional navigation system. It helps you keep your eyes on the road. Our biggest complaint, however, is with the new 7-inch touch screen interface which instead of having a traditional volume knob has a touch activated sliding scale for volume adjustment which we found impossible to use reliably. Thankfully the Civic comes with steering wheel mounted volume controls so it is a problem we got around. Seriously Honda, some people are old and still need a volume knob.

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Technology and Audio System Sound Quality (9 out of 10)

Despite our qualms with the new Civic's touch screen and it's lack of an easy to use volume knob, otherwise the system is state of the art and very easy to use. Not only does it allow clear, easy to use access to things like your smartphone's phonebook, the music on your iPod, a very informative fuel economy tracker as well as serving as an easy to see camera screen when backing up or changing lanes. Our favorite high tech safety feature that is a Honda exclusive is the Lane Watch System which uses a camera in the right side mirror to show the next two lanes beside you when you activate the turn signal. Brilliant.

The touchscreen also offers access to features like Pandora, a system that will read back your text messages to you and is also where the optional navigation system lives. Our 2014 Honda Civic EX-L boasted the uplevel 360-watt 7-speaker and a subwoofer which performed on the level on the systems we have tried in the Civic Si and top trim Accord models. That is to say, the Civic Coupe EX and EX-L with this 360-watt not only come with an affordable car but they also managed to pass our very difficult audio test which nearly 70% of new car systems fail. Do note that all sedan models (barring the Si) make do with a lesser 6-speaker 160-watt system so you may want to make some aftermarket upgrades there if you like your music loud like we do.

Fuel Economy (9 out of 10)

Our 2014 Honda Civic EX-L coupe has an EPA fuel economy estimatation of 29 city/38 highway on regular unleaded gasoline with a fuel tank of 13.2 gallons. This is down one mile per gallon on models just equipped with the CVT automatic only but EX and EX-L coupe models feature a sport mode for the CVT and paddle shifters which can be used in either "normal" mode or "sport." Over the course of a week of varied highway and city driving we averaged a respectable 33.8 miles per gallon. The only compact car we have tested that bettered that number was the 2014 Mazda3 with 39 miles per gallon as tested.

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Predicted Reliability and Initial Quality Ratings (10 out of 10)

Well, duh, it's a Honda Civic people. But if you must have proof, just ask J.D. Power and Associates who know a thing or two about quality. Not only did the 2014 Honda Civic coupe win an overall Quality Award in the compact car class but it also got 5 out of 5 as its score in overall quality and 4 out of 5 for predicted reliability. Civics are so well known for their reliability that they consistently enjoy the highest resale by far in the compact car class.

Safety (10 out of 10)

In addition to the unimpeachably happy Honda Lane Watch Assist System, the 2014 Civic also bears the distinction of only being one of two compact cars to score the coveted "Top Safety Pick Plus" rating from the IIHS (the other one is the 2014 Mazda3). In order to get this rating, the Civic must not only pass the usual front offset, side impact and roof strength tests but also one that simulates something like the vehicle impacting a pole or tree—something which happens more often than you might think and is the most fatal type of road accident. But the 2014 Honda Civic sailed through this test with flying colors and you can even watch video of the impact on Honda's U.S. website when you look up the Civic. It's Honda.com if you couldn't figure that one out.

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Performance (7 out of 10)

First off, we are saddened that the only current Civic models to offer the option of a manual transmission are the LX and the admittedly hugely fun to drive Si sport sedan and coupe. We do remember a time, however, when buyers of EX and EX-L models could also pick the option of owning a Civic with one of Honda's world renowned sweet-shifting manual gearboxes. As you can buy a 4-cylinder Accord sedan and coupe in a plethora of trim levels with a self-shifter, we wonder why Honda has seemingly abandoned the transmission in the Civic. Surely there would be an even higher take rate for manual transmissions in the Civic which attracts more frugally minded buyers so we hope someday Honda reconsiders.

Our main reason for wanting a gearbox option was our semi-lukewarm response to the CVT automatic in the 2014 Honda Civic—odd, since the CVT automatic in the Accord is truly one of the finest of its kind in the world. The Civic's CVT is admittedly better than most others but at times on the freeway we found that when we needed an immediate bit of power from the still sweet sounding 1.8 liter 143 horsepower/129 lb. feet of torque 4-cylinder VTEC engine, there was a pause and hesitation before it responded. We only found this out on LA's precarious 405 freeway when a Prius driver must have dozed off and veered right into our lane. Thankfully, the Civic still steers and handles so nimbly and capably that we were able to safely swerve out of the other car's way, slow down with the solid brakes and then swerve back into our lane without losing control of the car.

After that, we found that putting our 2014 Civic EX-L in sport mode and/or using the paddle shifters cut a couple seconds off of our acceleration times from 40-60 and 50-70 miles per hour. In normal around town city driving we found that the CVT responded smoothly and always provided the power we wanted so perhaps it was our tester or the gearbox just needs a bit of a software update (our tester was an early production model). We also might never have noticed anything had that Prius not decided one lane was enough and that it wanted ours as well. Most new owners of the 2014 Civic would never notice this and our nitpicking might also perhaps have something to do with how many Civics we have driven over the years which is to say many.

Otherwise, the 2014 Honda Civic EX-L proved the perfect companion for any trip be it a short jaunt down to the grocery store or long cruises on the freeway where it proved to be truly exemplary when it came to low tire, wind and road noise. The steering calibration on the 2014 Civic coupe is near perfection with just the right amount of feel and smoothness. The ride soaked up bumps and potholes like a much larger car. As always, the 2014 Honda Civic just drives like a much more grown up car.

Pricing and Value for Money (9 out of 10)

Honda doesn't offer options on the Civic exactly, but rather offers it in trim levels ranging from LX, EX to EX-L and lastly EX-L with navigation. Our 2014 Honda Civic EX-L coupe stickered for an incredibly reasonable $22,540 (sedan EX-L is $200 more) and this included leather seating, automatic climate control, power windows and door lock, keyless entry with push button access and start, the CVT automatic, Bluetooth, 2 USB ports (one in bottom center of dash, other in the large covered center console), a back-up camera, stylishly aggressive looking 17-inch alloy wheels, a power moonroof, heated front seats and side mirrors, a power driver's seat, halogen headlamps, Honda Lane Watch and the 360-watt AM/FM/CD/i-Pod compatible/Bluetooth streaming audio system accessible via the rather large 7-inch center mounted high resolution screen. That's more for your money than you get at Kia.

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 "The Final Numbers" and the Competition (71 out of 80)

The 2014 Honda Civic in any of its many guises always makes for a smart, affordable buy that any owner will enjoy driving for the many years he or she owns it. This model year we just marked it down slightly for some qualms with the CVT automatic transmission, the limited availability of manual transmissions as well as the lack of a volume knob (we admit, that last one may just be us). Otherwise, the Civic remains a smooth riding, agile handling, fuel efficient and stylish compact car that truly leads the pack albeit closely with one other model that we recommend you test drive as well—the 2014 Mazda3. Otherwise, you really can't beat a Civic.

On one final note, we also do really like the 2014 Volkswagen Jetta with its new, fuel efficient and very powerful 2.0 liter turbocharged engine, the stylish 2014 Kia Forte as well as the 2014 Chevy Cruze which stands as a perennial favorite. With so many choices we wonder why anyone would choose the 2014 Toyota Corolla. Also recommendable are the 2014 Ford Focus and 2014 Dodge Dart which are quantum leaps in improvement over their predecessors.

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2014 Honda Civic Trims

Trim Engine Drive Train MSRP
LX 4dr Sedan 5M 4 Cylinder FWD 18390
LX 4dr Sedan CVT 4 Cylinder FWD 19190
HF 4dr Sedan 4 Cylinder FWD 19940
EX 4dr Sedan 4 Cylinder FWD 21090
EX 4dr Sedan w/Navi 4 Cylinder FWD 22315
EX-L 4dr Sedan 4 Cylinder FWD 22740
EX-L 4dr Sedan w/Navi 4 Cylinder FWD 24240
Hybrid 4dr Sedan 4 Cylinder FWD 24635
Hybrid 4dr Sedan w/Navi 4 Cylinder FWD 26135
Hybrid 4dr Sedan w/Leather 4 Cylinder FWD 25835
Hybrid 4dr Sedan w/Leather and Navi 4 Cylinder FWD 27335
Natural Gas 4dr Sedan 4 Cylinder FWD 26640
Natural Gas 4dr Sedan w/Navi 4 Cylinder FWD 29290
Si 4dr Sedan 4 Cylinder FWD 22990
Si 4dr Sedan w/Navi 4 Cylinder FWD 24490
Si 4dr Sedan w/Summer Tires 4 Cylinder FWD 23190
LX 2dr Coupe 5M 4 Cylinder FWD 18190
EX 2dr Coupe 5M 4 Cylinder FWD 20290
EX-L 2dr Coupe 4 Cylinder FWD 22540
EX-L 2dr Coupe w/Navi 4 Cylinder FWD 24040
LX 2dr Coupe CVT 4 Cylinder FWD 18990
EX 2dr Coupe CVT 4 Cylinder FWD 21090
Si 2dr Coupe 4 Cylinder FWD 22790
Si 2dr Coupe w/Navi 4 Cylinder FWD 24290
Si 2dr Coupe w/Summer Tires 4 Cylinder FWD 22990
Si 2dr Coupe w/Summer Tires and Navi 4 Cylinder FWD 24490

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