Review: 2017 Honda Civic Type R Touring

Just mention the phrase "Type R" and you're bound to set any car enthusiast into a bit of a tizzy. The kind of tizzy depends on how the phrase is used. If used to talk about a real Honda Type R vehicle, you can expect passionate praise and respect. If you're talking about putting a Type R badge on the back of anything other than a real Type R, then you can expect vitriol and jest at the very least. However, if imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then the Type R gets a lot of flattery.

Video Review: 2016 Honda Civic 1.5T 2D Touring

Not too long ago, Scott reviewed the 2016 Honda Civic Touring Sedan, complete with the all-new 1.5-liter turbocharged, direct-injected Earth Dreams engine. Now, we'll show you the coupe version of Civic Touring model in a retina-burning shade of green. This is our first attempt at a video review, so let's keep the heckling down to a minimum.

THE BASICS: 2016 Honda Civic Sedan Touring 1.5T 2D Touring
MSRP As Tested:	$26,960
Engine:	1.5-liter DOHC turbocharged 4 cyl.
Transmission:	CVT
Horsepower:	174
Torque:s	162 lb/ft
Curb Weight:	2,888 lbs.
Wheelbase:	106.3
Overall Length:	176.9"
Suspension:	F: MacPherson Struts R: Multilink
Brakes:	F: Disc w/ABS R: Disc w/ABS
Wheels:	17" alloys
Tires:	215/50/17
Fuel Economy (MPG):	31 city, 35 combined, 41 highway
Fuel Type:	Regular 87 octane

Review: 2016 Honda Civic Sedan Touring

By Scott Araujo

So I get a call from Andy.  "I've got the 2016 Civic Touring with the 1.5 turbo engine.  Have you got time to review it?" No. Not at all. Not even a little bit. But I'm certainly not going to turn it down.  Who would do that?

As you may remember, I purchased a brand new 1997 Honda Civic CX hatchback and drove it for over seventeen years and 217,000 miles. It was basic, simple, and just fun to drive. Just the other day I had my wife's 2012 Civic LX sedan for the whole day by myself which doesn't happen too often. It was like putting on my favorite old sweater, familiar and comfortable. That feeling was still fresh in my mind when Andy called.

Review: 2016 Honda Civic EX

By Andy Lilienthal

The omnipresent Honda Civic’s last major overhaul was for the 2012 model year, and if you remember, many didn’t like the redesign. In fact, Honda made an emergency update for MY2013 to make it more appealing, and yet another update in 2014. We assume Honda wanted to avoid such shenanigans for its next redesign, and thus appears the all-new 2016 Honda Civic.

Stop Making Small Cars Bigger!

They grow up so fast. A '16 MINI Clubman is 168.3-inches long. An '08 Clubman was 155-inches long.

I was just taking my lunchtime browse through Autoblog, and read that the new Ford Focus is getting longer and wider. The article starts out saying, "The next Ford Focus is going to get even bigger. We know that, not because new cars are almost always bigger than those they replace, but because we actually have a round of spy photos supporting it."

This got me to thinking: Why is it new cars are, indeed, almost always bigger than the ones they replace? I want to know: Are people demanding bigger small cars? (How's that for an oxymoron?) Are buyers constantly wishing they had more room? Do automakers assume people simply want larger cars? How much does the Empire State Building weigh? Baby carrots are simply large carrots cut down? WTF carrots!

I say stop making small cars bigger. Some people actually like the size of their vehicles the way they are. If I want a bigger car, I'll buy a bigger car. Some might say this is a growing problem ...

Review: 2014 Honda Civic Si Coupe

The ninth generation Honda Civic, including the high-performance Si model, has been a constantly evolving affair. There have been numerous interior and exterior updates each year since the car was redesigned in 2012—something fairly unheard of in the auto industry these days. We’ve driven the 2012 Civic Si and 2013 Civic Si, so when the 2014 Si came up for review, I initially wondered if there’d be any difference. Well, sure enough, Honda made yet another round of changes to the Civic Si for ’14, and luckily, they’re all good moves.

The ’14 model has a different, more aggressive front and rear fascia. Our tester also included $1,300+ worth of optional front lip, rear valence, and side skirts. Also different: Orange Fire Pearl paint. This orange hue actually makes the car look pretty sporty and I dig it. The combination of body kit bits, revised front end, and orange finish help the car look less long and awkward, too. I’ve previously said the Civic coupe almost has a fish-like look to it. These body add-ons help reduce that, and I think the car looks best in brighter shades. I still, however, am not a fan of the 18" wheels, which look like they were pulled directly off a Hot Wheels car. However, the overall look is more aggressive, more sporty, and better looking than any other ninth-gen Civic Si to date. Still not lusty, but at least it’s making an effort.

A Fond Farewell to my 1997 Honda Civic CX

By Scott Araujo

About a week ago I did something I thought I might never do: I sold my Honda Civic. I really thought I might drive this car into the ground. You may remember this car from a posting Andy made some time ago showing the odometer at 200,000 miles. I thought I would at least get to 250, but it wasn't in the cards.

Flash back to a rainy October day in 1996 in New York. My air-cooled VW bug has just dropped a valve into the engine. I get on the phone to my buddy Ed, he has a spare motor for $50, I had gotten a transmission from him that summer for $25. I call my usual parts place and start checking on all the little parts I'll need. And then something happens and I just say, "Y'know what Billy, skip it." and I hang up. In that moment I had decided to buy a new car because I didn't want to spend a whole weekend in a rainy driveway shivering and fixing my car. 

Review: 2013 Honda Civic Si Coupe

Photo by Curtis Reesor

Did you ever date that person that is smart, athletic, and great to hang out with, but there is no physical attraction? Every now and then you would think to yourself, if he/she was a looker, they’d be the total package. For me, that’s the ninth (and current) generation Honda Civic Si Coupe.

In The Driveway: 2013 Honda Civic Si Coupe

In the driveway this week is the 2013 Honda Civic Si. The quintessential sport-compact car, the Si does have some changes compared the 2012 model we reviewed last year. However, I think I'm having more fun driving this one than the '12. Why? Not sure yet, but we'll see if we can pinpoint that reason. Maybe some revised suspension tuning or something.

I'm still not a fan of the shape. I keep thinking it's going to grow on me, but it just doesn't. Maybe some different wheels would help.

More on this little coupe soon. Soon! SOON! Stay tuned.

Subcompact Showcase: This Swapped '78 Civic—Ruby—Is a Gem

"Ruby," the 1978 Honda Civic with a 1983 Honda Accord engine swap.

 Ah, serendipity. Those wonderful accidental surprises that just seem to happen. It was a serendipitous event when my wife and Subcompact Culture contributor, Mercedes, ran across this gem of a first-generation Honda Civic.

Owner Corey Daggett says he brought the car, he affectionately nicknamed, "Ruby,"from his boss. His boss was the second owner since some guy named "Frank" had restored it.

"When I got the car, there were some 1stgencivic.com stickers on the side," says Corey. He then went to the site to learn more about it.

Corey learned that Frank was apparently retired and was looking for a project to pass the time. His daughter had the old hatchback sitting around and one day he just thought, I'll restore that. Frank used a 1979 wagon for donor parts and begin to rebuild Ruby.

A 1.8-liter engine from a1983 Honda Accord has been swapped into the Civc.

Ruby was originally a 1978 Civic CVCC with a 1.2-liter engine and four-speed transmission. Now, the engine is a 1.8-liter from an 1983 Accord that has a lot of internal work, as it's been bored, stroked, balanced, etc. The CVCC (compound vortex controlled combustion) system has been removed, and a Weber carburetor, two-inch exhaust system, and K&N filter have been added. Power is now put down through a five-speed manual transmission, also out of an '83 Accord. In addition, the brakes have been upgraded, suspension worked and lowered, bumpers moved in about three inches, and the taillights and turn signals have been modified. Additionally, the car has new carpet, seats from the '83 Accord, and a lot of custom touches inside and out.

We'd say Ruby is truly a gem. From the totally appropriate gold-mesh alloys, to the bright red paint and just-right stance, this old Civic not only looks good, but really gets up and goes thanks to that engine swap. We love vintage subcompacts, and Ruby is a fine example.

Ruby truly is a gem! Definitely a great small car project.

Review: 2013 Honda Civic Hybrid

Photo by Curtis Reesor

If you frequent the blog, you’ll have seen our reviews on the 2012 Civic Si Coupe and EX Sedan, as well as the 2013 EX Sedan. The general consensus is that we liked the ’13s more than the ’12s, that the looks aren’t terribly exciting, but the cars are well built, comfortable, but generally unexciting (sans the sporty Si). This go around, we got to spend time with the ’13 Civic Hybrid. And I must say, of all the new Civic sedans I’ve driven, this one might be my favorite.

In the Driveway: 2013 Honda Civic Hybrid

In the driveway this week is the 2013 Honda Civic Hybrid. Much like the '13 Civic EX Sedan we reviewed, this version features the redesigned front and rear ends, as well as interior and suspension changes.

I didn't think I'd like this one as much as I do, frankly. I haven't been a huge fan of the non-Si trim level Civics recently, but this one seems to work for me. Currently getting about 37 MPG after about 70 miles. It's rated at 44 MPG, but due to my city-style commute in Portland's hilly geography, I rarely achieve the city rating.

More later. Stay tuned.

Review: 2013 Honda Civic EX

Photo by Curtis Reesor

The Honda Civic was completely redesigned for MY2012. However, the redesign wasn’t a big hit with either the automotive press or the buying public. Although Honda still sold more than 221,000 units in’12, a lot of people found the Civic’s interior and exterior underwhelming.We were underwhelmed in our review from October, 2011.

Honda could’ve simply moved on and figured people would get used to the Civic's new look. However, in an seemingly unprecedented move for a modern-day automaker, Honda listened to the feedback from its customers (and the automotive press) and announced an emergency redesign for the 2013 model.

Cars with manual windows, mirrors, and locks

Today we say farewell to our 2012 Nissan Versa 1.6 S sedan review vehicle. This Spartan car proved to be good in many respects, although basic. No power windows, now power locks, no power mirrors, etc. Frankly, I didn’t know there were any cars left on the U.S. market without these three power items. This prompted me to see which other new vehicles are available without power features:

Chevrolet Sonic: Manual windows and mirrors (LS)

Chevrolet Spark: Manual windows and locks (LS)

Ford Fiesta: Manual windows and locks (S)

Honda Civic: Manual windows (DX)

Jeep Patriot: Manual windows and mirrors (Sport)

Kia Rio: Manual windows, mirrors, and locks (LX)

Kia Soul: Manual mirrors (Base)

Kia Forte: Manual windows, mirrors, and locks (LX)

Nissan Versa: Manual windows, mirrors, and locks (1.6 S)

Smart ForTwo: Manual windows and mirrors (Pure)

Toyota Yaris: Manual windows and mirrors (LE)

I think I hit almost all of them. Are there any 2012 or 2013 models that I missed? If so, let me know. Are you in a different country that the U.S.? Which cars don't have power locks, windows, or doors where you are?

Of small tires and economy cars

Recently, I posed the question to the Subcompact Culture Facebook page about who had the car with the smallest tires. I think the smallest was a 4.8-8" tires on a Messerschmitt mini car. Next smallest was 165/70/10 on the Micro Image Subaru 360.

The smallest tires I personally had were 145/80/12 on our 1979 Honda Civic 1200. That thing cut through the snow like a hot knife through butter, as evidenced by the video we shot of it in college. Other "small rollers" I remember having were the 175/70/13 tires on our Dodge Colts (yes, we were repeat offenders) growing up.

This got me to thinking: What's the smallest sized tire currently available on the U.S. market? Diameter wise, I believe that goes to the 14" wheels/tires available on the Hyundai Accent. In fact, I think it's the only 2012 to come with 14s wrapped in 175/70/14 tires.

Width wise, the Mitsubishi i has the narrowest rollers at 145/65/15 on the fronts.

It's amazing to me how 15s and 16s are now standard fare on the vast majority of small cars, when not that long ago (as late 1995)  you could still buy a Geo Metro with 145/80/12 tires, and in the '80s, there were plenty of cars on 13s.

Review: 2012 Honda Civic Si Coupe: It's what's inside (the engine bay) that counts

The Civic Si coupe has a great engine and admirable handling, but its looks don't do it for me. Photo by Curtis Reesor.

The Honda Civic Si has a reputation that precedes it. The car has become synonymous with words like quick, agile, high-revving, and sporty. However, the Civic has always been, well, a Civic. There’s certainly nothing wrong with that. But it’s never been a drop-dead looker (at least not from the factory). And every time a new Si model comes out (the model was introduced in 1986), people bitch about it losing its roots. It’s almost as if that’s what you’re supposed to do when it comes out. It’s too big. It’s too heavy. It doesn’t rev like the old ones. It’s too pricey. But year after year, Honda continues to offer this tarted-up version of the Civic, and the most recent version still has that original Si driving spirit. It’s got a great engine, it handles fantastically, it’s a hoot to drive, but it’s not the best looking girl at the dance.

In the driveway: 2012 Honda Civic Si

Ah, the Civic Si. That bastion of boy-racerdom mixed with wonderful driving dynamics, a wonderfully manic engine, and a typically great suspension. At least that's what I thought when I first drove the car. After driving it about 60 miles, I still think that.

I'm not in love with the car's shape, though. I just keep waiting to fall in love with it, but it hasn't happened. However, I am in love with the 2.4-liter i-VTEC engine, amazing shifter, and great cornering.This car is so much fun to drive; tere is a lot of "woo hoo!" factor here especially when the VTEC kicks in ... yo.

More later—stay tuned.

Question: What's the higest-mileage vehicle you've owned?

My friend Scott's 1996 Honda Civic CX hatchback rolled 200,000 miles yesterday. His trusty hatch has been continually maintained, and will likely go another 200,000 without too much hassle. There's something to be said about crossing certain mileage thresholds, especially when you're the vehicle's original owner.

The highest mileage car I've owned is actually my 1995 Suzuki Sidekick, which has 143,000+ miles on it. Granted, I've only put on 3,000 of them. My 1992 Mitsubishi Expo LRV racked up 118,000 miles before being traded in. Our 1998 Civic Sedan also had around 112,000 miles, if I remember correctly..
With regular maintenance, most modern vehicles should easily reach 200K and higher on the original engine. Which leads me to a question:
What's the highest mileage car you've owned?

A bit more about me, Mercedes.

Thanks to Andy, my husband, to officially introduce me as another active contributor to Subcompact Culture! As he mentioned, I have always been a small car fanatic, and am excited to expand my knowledge base in a more active role to the site. My first car was a rockin’ two-tone blue and silver 5-speed Honda Civic CRX Si (with the red pin striping), similar to the one at left.

My parents owned a 1979 diesel VW Rabbit, among other things, and have always been into cars. As a child, I was always helping my parents wax, touch-up, or help maintain them. From then on, I was hooked. I hope to bring a realistic, educated, and feminine opinion to Subcompact Culture. Thanks for welcoming me on board!

Quick Drive: 2012 Honda Civic EX with Navigation

The compact Honda Civic has been a staple of the American small car landscape since the late 1970s. Although it's substantially grown since it's 1973 introduction, it's carried on a legacy of quality, refinement, and a fun-to-drive factor unrivaled by most. The 2012 Civic is all new, and I got a chance to spend a bit of time in the 2012 Civic EX with Navigation.

On the outside, the Civic features somewhat bland styling. The overall look may be clean, but it borders on sterile. Then again, Civics have rarely been on the lusty side of styling. This one might be a bit too inoffensive. And FYI, I am not a fan of the chrome grille.