2012 Honda Civic

By Zack Spencer     July 21, 2011

When a car company has a best seller on its hands, there's a temptation to over-think things when it comes time to release an updated version.

Some companies totally re-invent the product, while others are happy to tweak and refresh instead.

This is the case with the Honda Civic, the best-selling car in Canada for the past 13 years. The all-new 2012 Civic looks similar to the model that it replaces, but there have been modifications and refinements embedded in this new car that make the newest Civic as viable a car as it has ever been.

If you are in the market for a compact car, you might read other reviews from journalists who have taken Honda to task for not updating enough. I'm here to tell you that the Civic is still a very good car, and the latest model is still a strong contender for anyone's money.

THE SKIN

The 2012 Civic is basically the same size as the outgoing model with a few minor adjustments. The overall length is only slightly shorter but the interior is larger -but more on that in a second. The body is instantly recognizable as a Civic but on closer inspection there are subtle changes to the 2012 model. There are now accent lines that run the length of the car in addition to new front and rear lights, bumpers and trim details. The front end looks similar to Honda's FCX Clarity hydrogen car, a look Honda is going to use more in the future. One improvement is that the front window pillars are narrower and the small windows between the pillar and side window are larger, resulting in better outward visibility.

Honda also decided to introduce a whole family of Civic models instead of staggering them over several years. These include a sedan and coupe using the base engine, a sedan and coupe version of the Si performance model and a hybrid. Prices start at $14,990 and top out at just under $26,000. The 2012 Civic Hybrid will arrive later this summer with a yet-to-be-determined price.

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