Honda didn’t have to update any version of its Civic for 2016. It’s a massively successful vehicle. It’s Honda’s #1 mover, and it sells amongst the top five vehicles in the world year annually and has for many years.
And, it’s not as if the car has been lagging in quality over the last few years. The Civic just won 2015 Car of the Year at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. It would have been completely reasonable for Japan’s second largest automaker to rest on its four-wheel laurels.
Instead, Honda added an entirely redesigned 2016 Honda Civic Coupe to its updated lineup — focusing on improved styling and a more dynamic driving experience. During a media drive event through San Diego and its surrounding wilds, I had a chance to try out the new coupe in variety of trims and environments.
Of course, the most easily tagged improvement is the Civic Coupe’s updated and vastly improved styling. Honda went a little more daring with this new version, making it noticeably more aggressive and streamlined. The designers could’ve gotten away with keeping the Civic conservative and safe, but they upped their game here.
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Coming equipped with a 2 liter, inline, 4 cylinder engine, the Civic Coupe employs a turbocharged boost to up horsepower numbers to 158. At first glance, that can seem underwhelming and underpowered — and “under” words are not what make up for a fun car at first glance.
But, Honda put its engineers to work stripping weight out of the previous Civic Coupe versions — bringing that curbside number down to 2,739 pounds and reducing the need for 200+ horses to get this two-door Civic up to speed.
A six-speed automatic transmission comes equipped in most Civic Coupe’s going out the door, but we should all send Honda praise and blessing for offering a proper, six speed manual gearbox as a base option.
Improved balance and four wheel independent suspension allow this new Honda to maintain the Civic’s trademark smoothness and easy drive feel while tightening up handling. That’s the most important improvement made to this new coupe — driving sensation.
Past versions of Honda rides — though often immensely successful in the market place — were known for being soft, spongy or uninspiring. In short, Honda aimed at the widest possible collection of would-be consumers. Those buyers want comfort and reliability and are less concerned with response or drive quality. As a result, Hondas were easy to driver, but rarely fun to take anywhere.
This Civic Coupe gets away from that model, putting its lighter and more agile body to work with refined suspension to improved handling and steering. While this is by no means a sports car lover’s dream, it is a significantly more fun car to drive than previous Civic generations.
The car remains comfortable with ample space within, while build quality is adequate and in-car infotainment features in tune with modern automotive trends.
With an MSRP starting around $19,500, the 2016 Honda Civic Coupe’s price is competitive, but not the cheapest car in its class. Regardless, this more entertaining incarnation is sure to clean up at the dealerships.
