Consider the 2014 Honda Civic to be Exhibit A in the argument against buying “more car.” It’s also an example of just how important the Civic is to Honda, because for the third year in a row, this lineup of compact coupes and sedans gets another re-boot in order to remain as competitive as possible.
From a styling standpoint, the Civic Coupe (covered separately) gets a new look, while the Civic sedan carries over with nothing more than new wheel designs for the EX-L and Si trims. Under the hood, most 2014 Civics are making extra horsepower and torque, and the best-sellers are equipped with a new continuously variable transmission (CVT). Upgraded technology is along for the ride, too, in the form of HondaLink connectivity and services, Smart Entry with push-button ignition, a LaneWatch system showing what’s in the car’s right blind spot and a new 7-inch touchscreen display for most models.
The 2014 Honda Civic lineup hasn’t changed, though the version that runs on compressed natural gas gains a new variant equipped with leather seats, navigation and more. That means the Civic continues in LX, EX, leather-lined EX-L, sporty Si, fuel-efficient HF and Hybrid, and Natural Gas trim levels. The Civic sedan is available in all, the Civic Coupe in the first four.
At this point, we’re going to focus our attention on the Civic sedan, the version we tested. Prices start at $19,180 for the Civic LX, but that’s with a manual transmission. The new CVT adds $800, bringing the sticker price to an Andrew Jackson short of 20 grand. But, the Civic LX CVT includes everything you really need, unless what you really need is a set of aluminum wheels. And if that’s what you really need, the Honda dealer will install a set of 16-inch or 17-inch wheels and tires for less than $1,700.
Or, you can spend an extra $1,900 and upgrade to the Civic EX ($21,880), which includes aluminum wheels. It also includes automatic climate control, a power sunroof, two USB ports, a security system and automatic headlights. New for the 2014 model year, the EX adds a LaneWatch system, a Smart Entry system with push-button ignition, a 7-inch display screen with an upgraded audio system and HondaLink connectivity and services.
For a more luxurious Honda Civic, get the EX-L ($23,530). It includes leather seats, an 8-way power driver’s seat, heated front seats, heated side mirrors, foglights and 17-inch aluminum wheels. For another $1,500 on top of that, it adds a navigation system with voice-recognition technology, HD Digital Traffic, HD Radio, satellite radio and a multi-angle reversing camera. This is the model that I reviewed, painted Kona Coffee Metallic and priced at $25,030.
Early in 2014, the Civic HF, Hybrid, Natural Gas and performance-tuned Si models are delayed while dealers clear lots of the 2013 versions. For 2014, the Civic Natural Gas lineup gains a model with a leather interior, navigation and more. The Civic Si receives a revised suspension, slight increases in both horsepower and torque, and larger 18-inch wheels.
In terms of look and feel, the 2014 Honda Civic is an acquired taste, but one that’s easy to get used to due to the car’s excellent value and ubiquity on American roads. There’s no getting around it: This is a weird-looking car. It has been since 2006, and I’m not a fan of the exterior design, though the new 17-inch wheels installed on the EX-L model in the photos sure look good.
To the uninitiated, a Honda Civic’s cabin comes across as dated and futuristic at the same time. My dad had a Pontiac 6000 STE when I was in high school. The Civic’s two-tier dashboard and digital upper display zone reminds me of it. The new 7-inch tablet-style center control panel takes a good deal of acclimation, and I found it to be very distracting, just as using an iPad while driving would be very distracting. Once I had retrained myself to use the steering-wheel controls that correlate to the system’s simpler functions, and to use the integrated Siri Eyes Free technology, it became easier to perform basic tasks such as changing radio stations, adjusting volume, making phone calls, etc.
There’s no question that the Civic’s interior quality is exceptional for the compact car class. Go ahead. Look through the 2014 Honda Civic EX-L with a magnifying glass. In comparison to other small cars, you’re going to have a very hard time finding something egregiously cheap in terms of look or feel.