2020 Honda Civic Sedan Review: A Dynamite Package

Compact cars are falling by the wayside, but for those who refuse to let go, those who invest heavily in developing the best compacts they can, there are rewards to be reaped as their slices of the compact pie grow ever bigger. The tenth-generation Honda Civic is one such vehicle reaping the rewards; not just because there are fewer contenders than ever in the segment, but because the Civic is consistently one of the best cars available. That's why it made the shortlist for our 2019 People's Car awards - it's simply brilliant. Not only is it highly refined with a quality interior, loads of standard safety features, and a spacious cabin and trunk, but it has one of the most enjoyable chassis around, and when paired with a choice of two engines, one a turbocharged torque-monster, and boasting the availability of a manual gearbox, it's a recipe for fun. With new rivals like the updated Toyota Corolla, the Subaru Impreza, and the always-impressive Mazda 3, there's no space for Honda to rest on its laurels. The Japanese manufacturer hasn't, though, and the Civic Sedan is still one of our top picks for affordable motoring.

Honda Civic Sedan Exterior

The new Honda Civic has a unique appearance, characterized by sharp angular elements that look overwrought at times. Up front, an all-black grille takes center stage with automatic halogen projector-beam headlights integrated on either side, upgraded to automatic LED headlights on the Touring. The grille is underscored by a prominent open-air dam that's flanked by black fog light housings with chrome trim. The chrome trim is eliminated from the grille and housings on the Sport model for a completely stealthy impression. It's also fitted with a gloss-black decklid spoiler. 16-inch steel wheels with full covers are standard on the LX. The Honda Civic Sport is equipped with 18-inch alloy wheels, the EX and EX-L with 17-inch alloy wheels, and the Touring with 18-inch alloy wheels with bespoke styling. Other than basic black and white, silver, blue and red can also be had as exterior paint colors.

Dimensions

Next to the Civic Hatchback, the Civic 4-door sedan measures 4.8 inches longer at 182.7 inches; both, however, share a wheelbase of 106.3 inches.The Sedan is 0.8 inches shorter in stature with a height of 55.7 inches, but only a fraction wider at 70.9 inches. With curb weights starting at 2,762 lbs, the sedan is nearly 150 lbs lighter than its hatchback counterpart.

Civic Sedan Performance

Engine and Transmission

Honda sells the Civic Sedan with a choice of two engines and two gearboxes, with availability dependent on trim. On the LX and Sport derivatives, a 2.0-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder develops 158 horsepower and 138 lb-ft of torque, with figures sent to the front wheels through a CVT on both trims, although the Sport has the option of a sweet-shifting manual gearbox that's a joy to row through the gears with. EX, EX-L, and Touring models downsize to a 1.5-liter turbo-four which loses the option of a manual gearbox altogether but increases potency with up to 174 hp and 162 lb-ft on tap. It's a pity the manual gearbox and turbo engine can't be paired together as they're both exceptional, but despite this small faux pas, either powertrain is efficient and keen, and buyers won't be disappointed with either. Still, we'd recommend opting for the turbo motor - even with the CVT it's a joy to pilot, and it's equally as efficient as it is strong.

Handling and Driving Impressions

Honda did excellent work optimizing the Civic's underpinnings as it strikes a near-perfect balance between sophisticated ride quality and apt handling dynamics. In terms of ride quality, the Civic handles the roads really well for a compact sedan, its well-tuned chassis keeps it composed on the road, and, while the ride is soft, it isn't overly cushy nor too harsh. Imperfections from rough roads are adequately damped, and most undulations fail to unsettle the cabin.

The Civic is also one of the more enjoyable compact sedans to drive, with its exceptional ride quality, one would think that the chassis' handling competence would have been compromised, but the Civic only proves to be a factotum. It feels athletic and capable when punted through corners as it remains firmly planted to the road at all times and body roll is well-mitigated. Its steering is nicely weighted and its responses are precise and prompt, and even surprisingly communicative, making the Civic a blast to pilot. Its brake pedal is firm and easy to modulate, though stopping power isn't as robust as it should be. Does it achieve a blistering 0-60 mph run? No, it doesn't, but that isn't what it was made for.

Honda Civic Sedan Gas Mileage

The 1.5-liter turbo-four and CVT pairing are the most fuel-efficient combination in terms of gas mileage, and models equipped with this powertrain return impressive EPA estimates of 32/42/36 mpg city/highway/combined. Those are better estimates than both the Toyota Corolla and Mazda 3, which returned 31/40/34 mpg and 26/35/30 mpg on those same cycles, respectively. The Touring trim is slightly less efficient, despite having the 1.5-liter engine, with estimates of 30/38/33 mpg due to its larger wheels. The LX, with its 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and CVT, manages 30/38/33 mpg on the EPA drive cycles, while the Sport returns 25/36/29 mpg when equipped with the manual gearbox (and 29/37/32 mpg with the CVT in play). All Civics are equipped with a 12.4-gallon gas tank, which gives its most efficient models a maximum range of 446 miles in mixed conditions.

Civic Sedan Interior

Seating and Interior Space

There's no way of putting this in a manner that won't offend rival manufacturers: the Honda Civic Sedan is the most well-packaged compact sedan available, seating up to five adults with generous head and legroom regardless of whether you're seated up front or on the rear bench. While seating adjustment may be manual on the LX and Sport - upgraded to eight-way power adjustment on upper trims - all models afford the pilot with an exceptional driving position, a great view of the road ahead, and comfort and support in equal measure. The rear seats are equally as comfortable and with rear-seat heating available on the topmost Touring trim and leather upholstery from the EX-L, those in the back won't ever feel like second-rate citizens.

Civic Sedan Trunk and Cargo Space

Most of the Civic lineup offers 15.1 cubic feet of cargo room behind the rear seats, but because of the upgraded audio system in the Touring, a large subwoofer takes up some of the cargo room in the trunk, decreasing it to 14.7 cu-ft. That's still enough room for two large travel cases and two carry-ons, though, and no rivals can lay claim to anything roomier. The rear seats in all but the LX model are 60/40 split-folding which are great for expanding cargo room and storage versatility.

The Civic is fitted with an array of ergonomically designed in-cabin storage solutions. On all four doors are large pockets with bottle holder slots; there's a small-items storage tray ahead of the shifter, and a hidden storage cubby beneath the front center console. Between the front seats, there is a cavernous storage bin with a small-items tray and sliding dual cupholders, while on the passenger side there's a sizable glove box.

Features

Inside, all models, except the base-spec LX, are generously outfitted with standard features. The LX's features include all power accessories, a tilt/telescoping steering column, manually-adjustable front seats, and an electronic remote trunk release. The Sport is fitted with a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, push-button start, and automatic climate control, while in the EX, there's an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat, heated front seats, a one-touch power moonroof, and dual-zone automatic climate control. From there, the EX-L gets an auto-dimming rearview mirror and a HomeLink remote system. There are heated front and rear outboard seats, and a four-way power-adjustable front passenger's seat added to the Touring. In terms of safety and driver-assist technology, the LX gets a basic rearview camera, all other models are fitted with a multi-angle rearview camera, auto-high beam headlights, and Honda LaneWatch. LX and Sport trims do not have access to the latter. All models come equipped with Honda's Sensing Safety and Driver-Assistive Technologies, which comprises a collision mitigation system, road departure assist, lane keeping and departure assist, forward collision warning, as well as adaptive cruise control with a low-speed following function.

Infotainment

The entry-spec LX is fitted with a five-inch touchscreen and a four-speaker sound system, with mobile connectivity only by means of Bluetooth audio streaming and hands-free smartphone functionality. Every other model gets a seven-inch touchscreen display with a control knob and hard keys for primary controls, as well as customizable feature settings; the system is easy to get used to and quite user-friendly. Mid-range models, including the Sport, EX, and EX-L, have an eight-speaker audio system installed, while the Touring boasts a premium 450-watt ten-speaker sound system instead. Both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay functionality are standard as of the Sport model, as is a Bluetooth SMS text message function. The EX model and upward receive SiriusXM and HD satellite radio connectivity, but the Touring alone gets a satellite-linked navigation system with voice recognition and Honda HD digital traffic.

Civic Sedan Problems and Reliability

The Civic has developed a reputation for reliability, and has not been recalled for 2020, escaping 2019 without a single recall either. It softens the blow of a slightly sub-standard warranty plan; every new Civic in the USA is covered by a three-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and a five-year/50,000-mile powertrain warranty.

Warranty

Honda Civic Sedan Safety

Honda vehicles are known for their impeccable safety, and the Civic holds true to that. The NHTSA gave the 2020 Civic Sedan a top overall safety rating of five out of five. In the IIHS' review of the Honda Civic, a top scoring of Good for six crash tests was awarded, with front crash prevention rated as Superior. Every model is equipped with six standard airbags, the essentials such as ABS, EBD, and the Honda Sensing suite of advanced driver assists as standard. This includes adaptive cruise control with low-speed follow, a collision mitigation braking system, lane departure warning, forward collision warning, a road departure mitigation system, and a lane keep assist system. While the LX is fitted with a basic rearview camera, all others get a multi-angle rearview camera with dynamic guidelines, with both the LX and Sport omitting the Honda LaneWatch assists.

Verdict: Is the 2020 Honda Civic Sedan A Good car?

Honda has set the benchmark in years gone by, with the tenth-generation Civic proving to be the mightiest jack of all trades in the compact sedan segment. It's spacious, efficient, safe, and compelling to drive, which makes it a winner in anyone's eyes, particularly ours. But being the best means you wear a target on your back, and in the last year, rival manufacturers have taken aim with every weapon they have. The new Corolla, Mazda 3, and Nissan Sentra have all come to the party to create a wealth of competition for the Civic, building nicer interiors, better infotainment systems, and enjoyable chassis. But while they've each improved the segment standard, the Honda Civic is a car that successfully combines all these areas into one cohesive package. Our only real gripe is the lack of a manual gearbox with the turbocharged engine, but if that's what you're looking for then the Civic Si Sedan is ready and waiting.

What's the Price of the 2020 Honda Civic Sedan?

At the base of the Civic lineup, the LX is the cheapest model for sale with an MSRP of $20,550. It's followed by the Sport, which is priced at $21,450 with the manual gearbox and at $22,250 with the CVT. Next in the lineup is the EX which carries an MSRP of $23,700, the EX-L gets an MSRP of 24,900, and finally, the Touring with a sticker price of $27,600. All Honda Civic prices mentioned are exclusive of any tax, registration, or licensing fees, as well as of Honda's destination and delivery charge of $930. The Civic has a price that's attractive to budget shoppers, giving it a notable advantage.

What 2020 Honda Civic Sedan Model Should I Buy?

In an ideal world, we'd spec a Civic Sedan with the six-speed manual gearbox of the Sport and the turbo engine of the EX, but since you can only get that combination in the Si Sedan, we'd have to recommend the EX from the regular Civic Sedan lineup. Packed with features, it gets the turbocharged engine, heated front seats with power adjustment, a top-rate infotainment system, and all the safety features Honda can throw into a compact. You miss out on the luxuries of an auto-dimming rearview mirror from the EX-L and the manual gearbox from the Sport, but it's the best compromise and a value-for-money package if ever there was one.

2020 Honda Civic Sedan Comparisons

2020 Honda Civic Sedan vs Honda Accord

The cost of the Honda Civic is a few thousand dollars lower than that of the Accord. And, as it is larger and more commodious, the Accord offers slightly more passenger and trunk space. Still, the top-spec models of the Civic come with much better specification, meaning you can have a well-specced Civic for the same price as a base Accord - and you get the same 1.5T engine, too. However, the Accord also has the option of a Type-R derived 2.0T engine, and there's broader availability of the manual gearbox. However, the Accord is bigger, and despite being athletic, it's a little more cumbersome than the lithe Civic. At the upper reaches of the Accord range, there's greater luxury and quality to be found, but if you don't need the extra space afforded by the Accord, then a well-equipped Civic Sedan is better value for your money.

2020 Honda Civic Sedan vs Toyota Corolla Sedan

The Toyota Corolla is a long-time rival of the Honda Civic and has recently undergone a full redesign for the 2020 model year, stoking the flames of competition. The Corolla now has a more contemporary exterior and a premium interior to rival the Civic's. It also has the benefit of a lower base price and an improved infotainment system that's easier to use than the Civic's, even if it lacks Android Auto compatibility. However, the Civic is more spacious, has a larger trunk, and it's more fun to drive. It's also more efficient and has the benefit of a lively turbocharged engine which makes the best use of the Civic's playful chassis. The Toyota fights back with a plusher ride and better reliability, but ultimately it's the Civic we'd rather have.