Used 2019 Honda Civic

The 2019 Honda Civic continues to set the benchmark for what a compact car should be. Where competitors like the Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Chevy Cruze and Kia Forte only come in 4-door body styles, the Civic still offers the snug fit of a 2-door coupe. The Civic also offers a broad range of models and prices, covering the spectrum from the fuel-sipping LX and sporty Si, to the 306-horsepower Honda Civic Type-R. The Civic is big on safety, too, with a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), and the Honda Sensing suite of driver assists standard on all but the Si and Type R. The Civic remains the resale champ in this segment, as well as one of the most reliable cars on the road, claiming KBB.com’s Small Car Best Buy award five years in a row.

Honda tells us its long history in racing is what allows its production cars to ride and handle a cut above the competition. In the case of the 2019 Honda Civic sedan, coupe and hatchback, we’d have to agree. The turbocharged 1.5-liter engine is both satisfying to drive and remarkably easy on gas. Even base models with the normally aspirated 2.0-liter engines have plenty of zip, especially when paired with the 6-speed manual. Unfortunately, for the bulk of sedans and coupes, a turbocharged engine means a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) is the only option, and while Honda’s CVT is one of the best we’ve tested, it’s just not as sporty as driving a stick. If you want more power and better handling, you’ll have to move up to the Si or 306-horsepower Type-R, both of which come only with a manual transmission. As for the rest of the Civic line, the cars are definitely more dialed-in than a Chevrolet Cruze, Toyota Corolla or Hyundai Elantra, but still not as adept at cornering as the Mazda3.

The 2019 Civic’s interior is full of premium materials and top-notch plastics. Ergonomics is amenable to drivers of all sizes while the large, easy-to-read infotainment touch screen also serves as the control center for audio, Apple CarPlay and the optional navigation system. The Civic boasts some of the best interior volume among compact cars. Rear-seat legroom is impressive in the sedan, but beware of the wide sills when entering and exiting. At 15.1 cubic feet, the Civic sedan’s trunk is huge. Hatchback Civics boast 25.7 cubic feet of space with the rear seats up and some 20 additional cubic feet with them down.

Honda took chances when the company redesigned the Civic and they have paid off. The 2019 Honda Civic’s shape is daring and innovative, with an aggressive new front end, a long, low and wide stance and unique C-shaped taillights. The Civic sedan and coupe feature elegant sloping rooflines, while the Civic hatchback stands out with its bulbous rear end, high-mounted spoiler and the gaping fake vents on either side of its rear bumper. Sport and Sport Touring hatchbacks can be spied via their center-mounted dual-exhaust outlets, while the new Si boasts its own edgier exterior cosmetics. The Type R gets a hood scoop, three exhaust pipes and a gargantuan rear spoiler.

HONDA SENSING
Standard on all but the high-performance models, the Honda Sensing suite of driver assists includes forward-collision warning, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control with low-speed follow, road-departure mitigation and low-speed collision avoidance with emergency braking. Manual models do not include low-speed follow and will deactivate around 20 mph if the driver doesn’t downshift to avoid stalling.

APPLE CARPLAY AND ANDROID AUTO
A feature increasingly important to smartphone-addicted drivers, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto allow the car’s infotainment system to integrate with a smartphone, giving the driver access to navigation, music, apps and text messages without having to fumble with their phone.

The least expensive Civic LX sedan includes Honda Sensing, automatic climate control, rearview camera, folding rear seat, and a 4-speaker AM/FM audio system with USB port, Bluetooth connectivity and 5-inch screen. The Sport adds aggressive exterior design elements and 7-inch display audio with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. We think most buyers will prefer stepping up to at least an EX, which includes an automatic transmission, the 1.5-liter engine, remote engine start, moonroof, 60/40-split-folding rear seat, LaneWatch side-view camera, 17-inch wheels, updated audio with eight speakers (10 speakers in the coupe), a power driver’s seat, heated front seats and leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob.

As is the Honda way, options are bundled by trim, and not a la carte as with many competitors. Exclusive to the sedan line is the EX-L that adds leather seating surfaces, an auto-dimming rearview mirror and HomeLink. The top-of-the-line Touring brings 18-inch wheels, paddle shifters, LED headlights, rain-sensing wipers plus upgraded audio and navigation. Touring sedans alone receive heated rear seats and a 4-way-power passenger seat.

Two engines and two transmissions are used in the high-volume members of the 2019 Honda Civic. LX and Sport sedans and coupes use a 158-horsepower 2.0-liter 4-cylinder available with a 6-speed manual transmission or an excellent CVT automatic transmission. Sport hatchbacks and EX and higher sedan and coupes get a 1.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder that is more powerful and efficient. This engine can also be connected to a 6-speed manual transmission in the Sport hatchback, but all others come with a CVT automatic. Sport and Sport Touring Hatchbacks get a power bump, while the Civic Si pairs its 205-horsepower 1.5-liter turbo engine with a 6-speed manual as does the Type R with its 306-horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged engine. All 2019 Civics remain front-wheel drive, but while the baseline models burn regular unleaded gasoline, the Si and Type R require premium to exploit their full performance potential.

2.0-liter inline-4 (LX, Sport Sedan, Sport Coupe)
158 horsepower @ 6,500 rpm
138 lb-ft of torque @ 4,200 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 25/36 mpg (manual, sedan), 25/35 mpg (manual, Sport coupe), 30/38 mpg (automatic, sedan/LX coupe), 29/36 mpg (automatic, Sport coupe), 29/37 mpg (automatic, Sport Sedan)

1.5-liter inline-4 turbocharged (LX hatchback, EX, EX-L, Touring sedan and coupe)
174 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm
162 lb-ft of torque @ 1,700-5,500
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 32/42 mpg (sedan), 31/40 mpg (coupe), 30/38 mpg (Touring sedan), 30/37 mpg (Touring coupe), 29/38 mpg (hatchback, manual), 31/40 mpg (hatchback, automatic)

1.5-liter inline-4 turbocharged (Sport, Sport Touring hatchback)
180 horsepower @ 5,500 rpm
177 lb-ft of torque @ 1,900-5,000 rpm (6-speed manual)
162 lb-ft of torque @ 1,700-5,500 rpm (CVT automatic)
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 28/38 mpg (manual), 30/36 mpg (automatic)

1.5-liter turbo inline-4 (Si)
205 horsepower @ 5,700 rpm
192 lb-ft @2,100-5,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 28/38 mpg (manual transmission only)

2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 (Type R)
306 horsepower @ 6,500 rpm
295 lb-ft of torque @ 2,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 22/28 mpg (manual transmission only)