Find Reviews by Make:
Photos of the 2016 Honda Civic have popped up online in Civic forums, ahead of the car’s official reveal on Sept. 16.
The photos follow closely the Civic Concept we saw in New York, including the taillight array (although it doesn’t go all the way across the trunk.)
The Civic will be powered by a 1.5-liter turbocharged four with direct injection mated to a six-speed manual or CVT.
The sedan is likely to hit showrooms sometime soon with the coupe, hatch and Si models to follow soon. The Type R hatchback model will likely be powered with a 2-liter turbo four producing 300 horsepower, instead of the smaller mill.
71 Comments on “SPIED: Next-gen 2016 Honda Civic Spotted in Michigan...”
Read all comments
“The Civic will be powered by a 1.5-liter turbocharged four with direct injection and will be mated to a six-speed manual or CVT.”
So much fail from a brand I thought knew better.
LX trim will have an NA 2.0L w/ 6MT or CVT. EX trim gets the 1.5 turbo.
That’s a little bit better.
Also, the same sort of powertrain we’ll see in the new Malibu.
x.x
That 1.5T will probably be the base engine in the next Accord too.
you got ta use this motor to pass cafe no choice0
Well, the turbo should DEFINITELY solve one of the Civic’s longstanding problems, to wit: no damn torque.
And after having a sampled an arrangement like this in the Golf, I can say I have no objections.
… it looks like a cross between Mazda’s Kodo and a honda Crosstour … ulgy
phew… thanks. I thought, I will be the only one who sees Mazda3 in it
Nope, that’s the first thing I saw too.
Looks disjointed, but probably somewhat better than the last generation.
lol oh no … it was the 1st thing I saw with all that hood landscape and the sculpting ..
“phew… thanks. I thought, I will be the only one who sees Mazda3 in it”
Same here, although I like the Mazda 3 and this.
I saw Crosstour a bit at first, but then I realized the car isn’t awkwardly jacked up and doesn’t have a bulbous butt-shaped rear, and I was relieved.
It looks like a Kodo-fied Subaru Legacy to me…
I ‘kinda’ thought Subie as well. but he hatch made me think Crosstour ..
I had a Crosstour. It was a good car. I will go to my grave thinking Honda screwed up the idea for the car. If it came from the factory sitting as low as the Accord does and they called it the Accord Sportback, (a poor-man’s A7), they could have sold a gazillion of these things.
Yes indeed, the Audi A5 Sportback (sold only in Europe I think) and the A7 Sportback are attractive cars with a practical hatch.
I owned a 1987 first generation 5 door Acura Integra, and it could be described as a sportback. I would have taken a second look at a hypothetical Accord Sportback. I averted my eyes when it came to the Crosstour and ZDX.
This new civic will destroy mazda’s dream of having the 3 as a class leader. Honda will finally have a competitive civic, and not just depend on that honda name.
“Honda will finally have a competitive civic, and not just depend on that honda name.”
Well, it’s about time!
To really stop depending on the Honda name, or even the Civic name, I heard rumors Honda will switch to letters, like they did with Acura. So the Civic Sport will be the CVS. Wait… that name’s been taken…
Destroying the Mazda 3 is a pretty tall order.
I really like that design, although I’m disappointed that it won’t have a proper rear hatch, like the 428i Gran Coupe I borrowed for a couple of days.
The hatch version they sell in Europe will be available this time around for North America at some point, but that is a traditional 2-box style hatch.
The trunk opening looks positively useless. Cargo will have to be slot loaded horizontally like a dvd player.
Shame about the fastback, I like the 3-box look better. Kudos to Honda for a clean hood/A-pillar/front-door junction, very clean for a FWD car. Side profile reminds me a bit of the Volvo S60, not a bad thing.
That’s funny, because the current Volvo S60 always reminds me a bit of the 2006-2011 Civic.
Not sure about that chrome unibrow across the front, but otherwise so much better than the awkward current generation.
I will be very interested to see how well mainstream autodom’s premier engine manufacturer handles a 1.5 turbo w/ CVT.
Nice overall shape. Grille and tail could use some more work. I guess that’s what the MMC is for.
Just bought a Mazda 3, and at least from the nose to the windshield, this looks a lot like a Mazda 3. It is unlikely to drive much like a 3, however.
Don’t turn around – oh oh!
Der Kommissar’s in town – oh oh!
You’re in my eye
And you’ll know why
The more you live
The faster you will die…
One nice thing I can say for this Civic is you at least won’t have to pay nearly 25 grand just to get the upmarket engine option, unlike the Mazda3. And actually, make that 26 grand for the 2016 Mazda3, because they’re apparently removing the 6MT from Touring trim. You have to go all the way up to Grand Touring if you want the 2.5L / 6MT combo.
You don`t need the upgraded engine choice in the 3 since the base engine has more horsepower (for a similar vehicle weight) than the current Civic.
> One nice thing I can say for this Civic is you at least won’t have to pay nearly 25 grand just to get the upmarket engine option
Where I’m at, the dealers are adding $500 on top of the better colours. The Mazda3 2.5 GT demographically is more or less in the same place that used to be occupied by the Acura Integra sedan.
Integra is a good comparison. The S touring sedan is a better integra replacement than an ILX, for sure. And that 1.5t engine is making about 150/150 in Japan. Who really thinks Honda is going to up that by much for US market, even if they can? They’ll want to protect the ILX, and Mazda has no such brand to protect. I think it will compete better with the i series 3, but not S.
“The Mazda3 2.5 GT demographically is more or less in the same place that used to be occupied by the Acura Integra sedan.”
That’s a keen observation. On the internet, the thought of Honda/Acura creating a successor to the Integra lingers. And in the here and now, Mazda has created one, with a hatch option no less.
Not convinced that Total Fastback is the way to go for sedans, but other than that I like it. It looks a lot more refined and expensive than the current version.
If anyone will get the small turbo four right, it will be Honda. Looking forward to trying out a turbo car.
Nice design. I usually don’t like design mashups, but Honda (of all companies) pulled this one off well. A bit heavy on the chrome on the front, but other than that, it looks like a job a well done.
What do you wanna bet that in three years at refresh time, those brake lamps head upward and creep on the C-pillar, just like the Fit does now.
Also, the wheels are gross. Honda and Acura are really failing lately IMO in the wheel style department.
Yeahhh.
An exciting looking Civic again. Now we just need the aftermarket to fix that protrusion called a grill. Reminds me of the crown worn by Guerren Lagann, another Japanese creation.
I guess the predominance of CVT’s is inevitable, perhaps it will push more buyers to just buy a stick.
Well, the Accord Sport 4 door must be selling more manuals. They added 2 new colors: Milano Red and White Orchid to the previous Black and Steel.
Congratulations to Honda for having four colours. Mazda has 7 with the 6!
I also recall some big Honda fans on here decrying other companies using either CVT’s or turbos. Now Honda do both, maybe they will appreciate Mazda engineering (which use neither) more.
The Honda has a better manual and is much faster.
Plus it sells.
btw, the Mazda3 has regrettable styling from the rear door back –
especially that rear door/C pillar mess.
https://www.google.com/search?q=mazda3+sedan&safe=off&espv=2&biw=1440&bih=779&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAWoVChMIucSIhOTvxwIVimk-Ch1iEw_S#imgrc=MZNPV1HRV1R5QM%3A
The Accord does sell more.
As for the better manual that is a matter of opinion since plenty of people rate both the manual and auto (we were talking about auto earlier) Skyactiv transmissions.
As for speed – same horsepower with comparable weights – acceleration is comparable. Not that many mid-size American drivers utilize all the power they have anyway.
I agree with you about the styling of the hatch from the rear portion. As for the sedan version, the styling works better on the 6 – which is simply a very good looking mid-size sedan.
The CVT on the Accord got good reviews here. Hopefully Honda can pull off the same magic on the Civic. That said, I’ll take a stick, please.
Factory turbo + 6 speed + Direct Injection + Honda = Sky’s the limit. I can envision the aftermarket support and hysteria amongst the import tuner community now. 400whp on e85? :-)
It definitely resembles the Mazda 3. I’m not too fond of the styling of either but prefer the 3’s front bumper and grill.
I kind of like the grill. Not so crazy about the fastback.
The turbo has me interested too… but I want a 2 door hatch.
Have seen the spy shots and cad drawings for weeks now. Was hoping it would look better in the flesh… Not a fan. I’ve said it before, but the current Gen, even if the Jalop crowd thinks is boring is nicely proportioned and has a practical layout. The short nose and steep windscreen are modern and practical. The trend towards longer hoods is partly bc of pedestrain impact, but also out of a misguided attempt to ape “the RWD look.”
I actually prefer the cleaner exterior lines of the pre-mmc refresh. This looks like a mish-mash of all the wish-fulfillment sketches that pop up on so-called enthusiast forums. When I see a 2012 or a post-mmc 8th gen on the road, to me, it still seems that the design has aged well.
What could have saved this design (IMHO): Lets say for example we keep the fast back roof. Ok, then you pair that with a modest nose/grill, and finish with an elegant tail light assembly. If you’re gonna do something striking like a fastback roof on a sedan, then that has to be the center piece of the design. Sort of like the 911… the classic roofline speaks for itself on all the models except the 996, because you’re eyes are drawn to the fried egg headlights.
This is the automotive design equivalent of putting on a a daring plunging evening dress, and pairing it with open-toed gold platforms and big 80’s era hoop earrings.
Or in movie terms, one striking thing is good (Kurisowa and movement, Kubric and perspective) but too many striking things is bad (Michael Bay.)
I like the design.
It fixes all of the odd things about the current Civic design – like the littre windows in front of the front door, and the headlights.
It will class up office parks and parking garages near me. At least compared to the existing Civic, anyway!
Why do automakers insist on lowering the rear roof level besides for aerodynamics?
The car has some Nissan curves/looks but the rear roof line is much too low considering that many Civics I’ve seen locally actually have rear passengers.
That’s one of the things i like about the 9th gen Civic, there’s actual headroom for an average sized adult. I’m not that tall and I feel like I have to slouch in the backseat to keep my heard from touching the roof in a lot of current compacts.
If I buy a Mazda, will I have to make insecure comments on every story about a Honda?
Why the butt hurt? Maybe if you buy a Honda you will make comments on stories about Mazda and criticize their engineering.
Butts just fine, thanks for asking though.
I apologise, I was just frustrated that some (not you) have certain engineering preferences, when Honda then breaks those (use of turbos and CVT’s) nothing is said. They then also still criticise Mazda who use neither of those.
This will sell very well, as the Honda buyers have been seeing the Mazda 3 in the wild long enough now to be comfortable with the styling. As for the turbo mil, the tuners have already proven that a Honda vtech can handle some boost with out imploding.
If anything, this gets them back to mainstream in the styling department which should yield many 01-04 model year trade ins shortly.
Get both of these engines into the HRV stat!
Hey!
They’re not gonna kill the Crosstour after all!
Honda is finally stepping it up and going to sell a civic for itself. Not just for having the honda name. Even with the new bumpers the current civic is the walmart sedan of the year. Kinda that sarah palin lipstick on a pig comparo. KIA, Hyundai, Mazda, Ford, and VW have destroyed the civic on design and engineering for the past few years.
The Koreans and Mazda do for sure—the Focus is getting long in tooth and the whole Fusion grill doesn’t exactly go that well on there.
This Civic though is downright ugly. Too many lines and creases going on and then you have those tail lamps that go into the trunk lid most likely for the only purpose of having some sort of “signature” LED light pipe.
Actually, I think the Focus is aging rather well. And it’s got one of the best ride-handling tradeoffs in the compact car biz.
Confused as to how the donkey slow Hyundai 1.8 w/ 6spd and disastrous DCT in the Focus and terrible interior packaging qualify as “destroying the Civic on engineering”. Seriously, the current Elantra is nothing special outside the styling. I’m not a Civic fan, but this argument makes no sense to me. Boring =/= poor engineering.
It looks like the windshield is more vertical than on the current model, resulting in the base of the A-pillars being moved back. This should be an improvement over the pedestrian-obstructing pillars of the current generation.
As others have mentioned, the slope of the roofline suggests that rear seat headroom and ease of entry might be iffy.
Good eye with the A-pillar angle. Dare we hope for others to follow?
I feel like an old man for saying this, however…It’s definitely a sharp looking car, and despite some similarity to Mazda elements it doesn’t come across as derivative. Unfortunately, that fastback roof must cut headroom in the backseat, and that trunk lid won’t help on trips to Costco. Remember, for some buyers, this will be the family car
I love my new compact, light, and responsive Civic! Says absolutely no one ever again.
The haven’t been saying that for a LONG time now…
I wonder which print magazine in Ann Arbor left it sitting on 5th. I’m guessing the pompous Automobile bunch. Only because I would like to see how glowing a review it gets to keep in the American Honda Motor Co. good graces.
Honestly, it would take a sharp eye to know what it is, maybe they got complacent. With the wraparound eyebrow headlights and broken-spoke wheels I might have registered it as a Sonata in traffic. It may have taken awhile for someone to spot it.
Civic site:
http://www.civicx.com/threads/spotted-2016-honda-civic-sedan-fully-revealed.114/
Profile comparison:
http://o.aolcdn.com/hss/storage/midas/2dbbd3a72c5a032be36323b8d6ffcefb/200310696/lead5-2014-hyundai-elantra-review.jpg