2021 Honda Civic Review

　　

2021 Honda Civic Review

byCameron RogersManager, News

　　Cameron Rogers has worked in the automotive industry since 2013. He has tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Today, he leads the news team in developing cutting-edge news articles, opinion pieces and sneak peeks at upcoming vehicles. Favorite cars that he's driven during his tenure at zzdcar include the 991-era Porsche 911 Turbo S, Rolls-Royce Ghost and several generations of Honda Odyssey (really).

　　New small sedans come out every year, but none has been able to unseat the Honda Civic as our favorite model car since it was introduced back for the 2016 model year. Things aren't much different for this year's model — not surprising since Honda vehicles change very little year over year. The 2021 Honda Civic continues to offer a compelling mix of performance, comfort and practicality at a price point that is in line with the rest of the class.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 Honda Civic LX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl CVT) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.04 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$113/mo  for Civic LX

　　Civic LX

　　LX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl CVT) - $21,050 MSRPLX 4dr Hatchback (1.5L 4cyl Turbo CVT) - $22,000 MSRPSport 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl CVT) (Most Popular) - $22,850 MSRPSport 4dr Hatchback (1.5L 4cyl Turbo 6M) - $23,100 MSRPSport 4dr Hatchback (1.5L 4cyl Turbo CVT) - $23,900 MSRPEX 4dr Sedan (1.5L 4cyl Turbo CVT) - $24,200 MSRPEX 4dr Hatchback (1.5L 4cyl Turbo CVT) - $24,500 MSRPEX-L 4dr Sedan (1.5L 4cyl Turbo CVT) - $25,400 MSRPTouring 4dr Sedan (1.5L 4cyl Turbo CVT) - $28,100 MSRPSport Touring 4dr Hatchback (1.5L 4cyl Turbo 6M) - $28,400 MSRPSport Touring 4dr Hatchback (1.5L 4cyl Turbo CVT) - $29,200 MSRPType R 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M) - $37,495 MSRPType R Limited Edition 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M) - $43,995 MSRP

　　vs

　　$164/mo

　　Avg. Midsize Car

　　The mix outside the core Civic lineup, however, does see a shakeup. The coupe body style and sporty Si have been axed for 2021, while the high-performance Civic Type R hatch adds a new Limited Edition model. The Type R Limited Edition enjoys revised steering and suspension tuning, BBS wheels with more aggressive performance tires, and reduced sound deadening to save weight.

　　Check out our Expert Rating to get our in-depth review of this year's Civic. We anticipate a new Civic for 2022, so if you're enthralled with the current model, pick one up now before it's gone.

　　

What's it like to live with?

The Honda Civic has long been one of the better compact cars, but its 2016 redesign was nothing short of game-changing. Not only did it help revitalize the Civic nameplate, but it also shifted our expectations of what a compact car could be. This generation Civic is well regarded for its spacious cabin, excellent ride quality, upscale interior materials and superb handling. We're also smitten with its powerful and efficient turbocharged engine. We liked it so much, in fact, that we plunked down our own money to buy one. To read about our experiences with a top-of-the-line Touring sedan, read our long-term Civic test. Note that while we tested a 2016 Civic, all of our observations still apply to the 2021 model.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Great

　　8.4

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

8.5/10

　　How does the Civic drive? The optional turbocharged 1.5-liter engine delivers quick performance and excellent fuel economy. You have to upgrade to at least the EX trim to get it, but it's worth the cost. The 0-60 mph sprint took 6.7 seconds in zzdcar testing, which is remarkable for a non-performance car in this class.

　　The rest of the Civic's abilities are also standouts. The brake pedal is pleasantly firm and easy to control, and it brings the car to a halt quickly when you need it to. Steering and handling are also precise, which means the Civic is relatively fun to drive around turns.

　　

Comfort

8.5/10

　　How comfortable is the Civic? The Civic has a lot of the midsize Accord's strengths but in a smaller package. Impacts from rough roads are very well damped, and overall the ride is smooth and controlled without being too floaty. The seats are similarly pleasant, and even the rear seats are well cushioned.

　　Another comfort-enhancing element is the dual-zone automatic climate control. It does a great job of regulating the temperature and provides even coverage from the air vents. The Civic sedan is also fairly quiet overall, though it lets in a little too much road noise when you're driving on coarse road surfaces.

　　

Interior

8.0/10

　　How’s the interior? The Civic's interior is cavernous. The sleek roofline reduces rear headroom somewhat, but otherwise the cabin is so spacious that four adults will have no problem fitting comfortably for long road trips. Up front, the Civic offers easy access through the light doors with large openings. The rear doors open wide, making entry easy, but the sloped roof might require tall people to duck in.

　　The rest of the cabin is user-friendly as well. For the most part, the controls are clearly labeled and within reach. It's easy to find a good seating position thanks to the generous range of the steering wheel and driver's seat adjustments. Doing so also provides you with a clear view out of the windshield and to the sides.

　　

Technology

8.5/10

　　How’s the tech? All but the base LX feature two USB ports and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. Information is beamed to a 7-inch touchscreen. In general, the system is a little sluggish and the graphics dated, but the Touring trim's 10-speaker audio system provides crisp sound, and the navigation system is easy to learn.

　　We like that the Honda Sensing package of safety features is standard. But false alarms from the overly sensitive forward collision system are common and quickly become tiresome. You can adjust the system's sensitivity, but even in its least intrusive mode it's still a problem. We also find the absence of a blind-spot monitor odd, and the LaneWatch camera is an ineffective substitute.

　　

Storage

8.5/10

　　How’s the storage? The Civic sedan features clever interior storage solutions. And at 15.1 cubic feet, its trunk is one of the largest in the class, so you'll have no problem fitting sizable bags inside. The seats don't fold flat all the way, but the opening between the trunk and the cabin is large.

　　Finding a spot for your personal effects in the cabin is also easy. There's a useful two-tiered cubby in the center console that features a cord pass-through for tidy smartphone storage and charging. There's also lots of room under the front armrest. For family duty, it's easier to install a car seat in the Civic's roomy back seat than in many rival small sedans.

　　

Fuel Economy

9.5/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? The Civic sedan with the turbocharged engine and CVT automatic is rated at 36 mpg combined (32 city/42 highway). These are exceptional numbers, especially considering the Civic's class-leading performance. In our own testing, we've found the Civic comes pretty close to matching the EPA estimates in real-world driving.

　　

Value

8.5/10

　　Is the Civic a good value? Apart from an unremarkable warranty, the Civic delivers a good value. For a competitive price, you get a pleasing amount of equipment plus build quality that punches far above the standards for this class. And we can't ignore the Civic's excellent reliability history.

　　Honda offers typical automaker warranties: three-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty, identical coverage for roadside assistance, and a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty.

　　

Wildcard

8.5/10

　　The continuously variable automatic transmission saps some of the fun out of the Civic, but it's hard to argue with the acceleration and above-average handling. The Civic doesn't have the style or refinement of the Mazda 3, but it's close on both fronts.

　　

Which Civic does zzdcar recommend?

Two trims in the Civic sedan lineup stand out. The Sport is a no-brainer upgrade from the LX; if you want a desirable small sedan but need to keep costs low, this is the one to get. Conveniences such as keyless entry and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto will pay dividends for years to come. But if you have some flex in your budget, the EX is undoubtedly the sweetheart in the lineup. It comes with a ton of great features in addition to the superb turbocharged engine.

　　

2021 Honda Civic models

The 2021 Honda Civic sedan is offered in LX, Sport, EX, EX-L and Touring trims. The LX and Sport are driven by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 158 horsepower and 138 lb-ft of torque on tap. EX and above models come with a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder (174 hp, 162 lb-ft) that we think is far superior. Both engines drive the front wheels via a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT).

　　LX

　　The base Civic is lightly equipped with:

　　16-inch steel wheels Automatic climate control Height-adjustable driver's seat 5-inch central display screen Four-speaker audio system Single USB portEvery Civic comes with Honda's suite of advanced safety features, which the automaker calls Honda Sensing. Features include:

　　Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios) Lane departure mitigation (warns you of a lane departure when a turn signal isn't used and can automatically steer to maintain lane position) Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Honda and the car in front)Sport

　　The Civic Sport adds a few appearance-related upgrades including:

　　18-inch alloy wheels Gloss black decklid spoiler Center exhaust Steering wheel-mounted shift paddlesThe Sport also includes additional creature comforts, such as:

　　Remote engine start Foglights Dynamic guidelines for the rearview camera Keyless entry and ignition Leather-wrapped steering wheel 60/40-split folding rear seats 7-inch touchscreen Eight-speaker audio system Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration USB charging portEX

　　The EX includes all of the Sport's comfort upgrades, plus:

　　Turbocharged engine 17-inch alloy wheels Heated mirrors Body-colored decklid spoiler Sunroof Dual-zone automatic climate control Power-adjustable driver's seat Heated front seats Rear armrest and cupholders Satellite and HD radio Blind-spot camera (displays an image of the vehicle's blind spot in the instrument panel when you activate a turn signal)EX-L

　　The Civic's penultimate trim further adds:

　　Auto-dimming rearview mirror Leather upholsteryTouring

　　The most luxurious Civic in the lineup is the Touring. On top of EX-L content, it adds:

　　18-inch wheels LED headlights Automatic windshield wipers Chrome exterior accents Steering wheel-mounted shift paddles Power-adjustable passenger seat Heated rear seats Navigation system 10-speaker audio system

　　

2021 Civic Highlights

Type: HatchbackSedanType R Limited EditionType RSedan

　　Trim: LXSportEXEX-LTouringLX

　　

Base MSRP	$21,050
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	33 MPG
Cost to Drive	$113/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	15.1 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles