2016 Honda Civic Coupe Review

SAN DIEGO, California — The 2016 Honda Civic is a practical car for practical-minded people. It gets great fuel economy, has plenty of interior space, and is affordable to buy and own. (Hey, it’s a Honda after all.) But not all practical-minded people want to appear as such. That’s why Honda’s 10th-generation Civic boasts wilder styling than ever in an attempt to appeal to the more emotional (or irrational) factors that are so important when buying a car.

Cool and collected

That being said, we couldn’t really notice any difference between the way the two-door and four-door Civics drive, and that’s not meant as a slight. We first got behind the wheel of a loaded Civic Coupe Touring, with a 1.5-liter turbo-four and a CVT, and we were just as impressed with its composed demeanor as when we first drove the new 2016 Civic sedan.

Remarkably quiet and composed, the Civic Touring’s suspension delivers a planted feel on the road and satisfying on-center weighting from the steering. The ride is firm but rarely harsh, and the sophisticated setup of front MacPherson struts and rear multilink control arms does a great job of keeping body motions in check. Even as we push the car harder on some twisty sections, the Civic grips faithfully and never really gets unsettled. In fact, the 2016 Civic Coupe’s solid construction and refined chassis performance remind us of a Volkswagen Golf GTI, not the high-revving, more raucous Hondas of the past that we’ve known and loved.

We have to admit, though, that something is missing as we hustle the CVT-equipped Civic Coupe through San Diego County. The turbo engine pulls hard out of corners, but there is nothing we can do to stop the four-cylinder from droning as the CVT keeps the engine rpm hovering between 3,500 and 5,000 rpm. You won’t find any shift paddles for manual shifting, only a Sport mode that keeps the engine churning near its power peak. The Civic Coupe is more than willing to hustle, but it’s not exactly eager like a good sport compact should be. It’s too refined and mature to incite our inner hooligan.

2016 Honda Civic Coupe LX manual

Sure, compared to the turbo motor, the naturally aspirated four-cylinder is a bit less refined and doesn’t provide nearly as much of a punch. And yet, we are much more connected and engaged with the Civic LX as we fling it into corners, wring out the engine to redline, and work the excellent gearbox to keep the car’s momentum going. The new 2016 Civic still has that fun-loving spirit of Hondas past; you just have to drive the right version to find it.

We also feel immediately comfortable with the 2016 Civic LX’s dashboard layout, as it eschews the large touchscreen and touch-capacitive controls found in more expensive trim levels for a simple and easy-to-use 5-inch LCD with conventional buttons and knobs. Picking the LX isn’t a penalty either, as you still get standard equipment like a backup camera, Bluetooth, a USB port, cast-aluminum wheels, and automatic climate control too. You miss out on Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capabilities offered on higher trims, but that’s about it.

The only real downside to the Civic LX is its wheel-and-tire package. With 16-inch wheels carrying 215/55R-16 tires compared to the turbo’s 17-inchers with 215/50R-17, the Civic LX’s taller 55-series sidewalls dull the steering a bit and offer less stick when you’re pushing it. But the chassis setup still takes a confident set in corners and offers a composed ride. Plus, a price that should start under $20,000 (full Civic Coupe pricing is not yet available) should give thrill-seeking Civic Coupe LX buyers plenty of money left over for upgraded rubber.

Can’t go wrong

That’s not to say that there’s anything wrong with the better-equipped, turbocharged Civic Coupe models, which still offer plenty of verve. With nicely dressed interiors, handsome styling, and solid, satisfying driving dynamics, there’s little to fault about any version of the 2016 Honda Civic Coupe–or any 10th-generation Civic, really.

But really, it’s the stick-shift 2016 Honda Civic LX that best embodies the spirit of the Civic Coupe. More striking to look at than any mainstream Honda in recent memory, it also happens to get 38 mpg on the highway and provides a decent amount of space in the trunk and rear seat. The real kicker is that it’s also fun to drive in that classic Honda way, lending credence to its bold looks with some genuine excitement from behind the wheel.