Since it debuted for the 1973 model year, the Honda Civic has been one of the most consistently high-achieving cars in the automotive industry.
Armed with a gutsy-yet-buttery-smooth four-cylinder engine and an affordable price tag, along with ....
... the Civic has, over the years, proven itself to be a fan favorite for those looking for something fun ...
... a potent track weapon when called upon. In other words, the Honda Civic had something to offer to just about anyone looking for a car.
However, the 9th-generation Civic seemed to have lost a bit of its edge. The Civic's one universally praised ergonomics and trademark peppy driving experience are not what they once were. In 2012, Consumer Reports went as far as removing the 9th-generation Civic from recommended list, citing poor driving dynamics, high road noise, and an "insubstantial feeling" interior.
Source: Consumer Reports
Speaking of 9th-generation interiors, Honda's attempt at futuristic two-tier instrument cluster looks awkward and is complex purely for the sake of complexity.
For 2016, Honda addressed many of the 9th-generation Civic's short comings. However, all is not perfect.
First, the new Civic's rear end design is somewhat controversial. Its fastback roofline slopes down towards a trunk, instead of hatch like on an Audi A7. Which means you get the diminished headroom of the sloping roofline without any of the added functionality of a hatch.
Then there's the Civic's new infotainment system. While the graphics and overall presentation is solid, it's difficult to use. The layout and user interface is convoluted and complex. In addition, Honda replaced all physical buttons on its infotainment system with touch-sensitive versions. While it certainly looks sleek, it's infuriatingly imprecise to use. I have yet to come across a manufacturer that's mastered the touch-sensitive panel. Honda joins that list. However, the system is available with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto — which are its saving graces here.
And finally, there's the CVT. An automotive concoction so insipid and soul-sucking only Lucifer himself could dream it up. Instead of fixed gear ratios, a CVT finds the optimal engine revs and continuously varies the gearing to fit that RPM. While this type of transmission is great at producing solid fuel economy numbers, a nasty side effect is that CVTs aren't great at effectively transmitting torque to the road. This makes for loud and labored acceleration runs — especially in cars such as the Civic with smaller displacement engines that produce less torque.
All of this brings us to our 2017 Honda Civic Hatch Sport test car. Here it is clad in a Darth Vader-esque Crystal Black paint job with black 18-inch wheels. For me, this is the Civic that Honda has needed to build all along.
Inside, the British-built Civic Sport is handsomely restrained (it's assembled in the south of England). The materials feel solid. More importantly, this model has buttons instead of annoying touch panels to control the radio.
Like all other 10th-gen Civics, the split-level instrument cluster has been replaced by this tasteful and easy-to-use analog unit.
Under the hood of the Civic Sport is a standard 1.5-liter, 180-horsepower, turbocharged four-cylinder engine — mated to ...
... an old-school, slick shifting six-speed manual. (A CVT is available as an option. Don't do it!) Personally, I found the clutch feel to be a bit vague, but the shifter itself was very smooth and precise. However, my colleague Matt DeBord disagrees. He found the transmission to be "disappointingly un-sporty" in its demeanor.
To drive, the Civic Sport feels nimble and peppy. The combination of turbocharged engine and six-speed stick shift mesh together like Michael and Scottie. Due to 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 to setup more for comfortable daily driving than 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 mpg on fuel economy in city driving and 39 mpg on the highway, according to the EPA*.
*For the CVT equipped Civic, the EPA reported fuel economy figures of 30mpg city, 36 mph highway, and 32 mpg in combined driving.
