Civic Coupe

Make
Honda
Segment
Coupe

Although the North American-spec 2012 Honda Civic is proving to be less impressive than its predecessor, the European five-door model is once again something we're truly missing out on. And now Honda has released more performance specifications for the 2012 Civic five-door and it's clear that this version is the better car. For starters, its overall exterior design is more appealing, with its more aerodynamic shape and lower front fascia, streamlined mirrors, and drag-optimized taillights.

It comes with standard 16-inch alloys and optional 17-inchers. As usual, soft-touch plastics are used throughout the interior. Also included is a redesigned steering wheel, a touchscreen automaker has also added additional sound deadening materials. The trunk holds up to 14.2 cubic feet of luggage. Power is provided by a choice of three engines: a 1.4-liter i-VTEC with 98hp, a 1.8-liter i-VTEC with 139hp, or a 2.2-liter i-DTEC diesel with 148hp and 258lb-ft of torque. While all of this sounds solid, a new report is claiming that Honda is preparing to move up the North American model's mid-cycle refresh by one year.

Instead of happening in 2014, the 2013 Civic will apparently fix the current car's weak points. Specifically, Consumer Reports wasn't impressed with its overall handling, interior plastics, and overall refinement. Hopefully Honda put more time into the five-door model as the U.S. model's earlier refresh will surely cost the automaker a lot of extra money.