Because of its small displacement, the 1.5-liter engine requires a little work to pinpoint its torque curve.
As for handling, the Civic Sport's suspension is set up more for comfortable daily driving than for track work. If you're looking for a hardcore track-day special, wait for a hotter Civic Si or Type R variant.
In normal operation, the Civic Sport is expected to return 30 miles per gallon on fuel economy in city driving and 39 mpg on the highway, according to the Environmental Protection Agency*.
*For the CVT-equipped Civic, the EPA reported fuel-economy figures of 30 mpg city, 36 mpg highway, and 32 mpg in combined driving.