Honda is offering a revised powertrain for the 2017 Civic Coupe and Sedan that promises to add enthusiast appeal to these mainstays of the lineup. Introduced in mid-line EX-T trims and rolling into showrooms now, the 2-door and 4-door Hondas offer the a 174-horse/1.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder with a 6-speed manual transmission — the same engine/gearbox duo on offer in the new 5-door Civic Hatchback. Prior to now, the manual was limited to the base LX with a 2.0-liter/158-horse non-turbo four. The CVT is the only transmission on the leather-appointed Civic EX-L and Touring variants.
Those opting for the 6-speed can slip behind the wheel of a Civic EX-T Coupe for $22,435 while its Sedan commences at $22,335, each of those figures being $800 less than cars fitted with a CVT. As in the Hatchback, choosing the manual also nets a modest bump in maximum torque, which rises from 162 to 167 lb-ft.
Also: Kelley Blue Book Best Buy Awards of 2016
"This has been a tremendous year for Civic, starting with the Sedan and Coupe setting sales records and leading the compact segment," said Jeff Conrad, senior vice president and general manager of the Honda Division. "For 2017, we’re thrilled to boost the Civic lineup by pairing the manual transmission with the 1.5-liter turbocharged engine – something we know our customers are very excited about."
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