2000 Honda Civic

After the usual sleep-deprived schedule that precedes most Hot Import Night events, entrant Joey Touchton slipped into the solace of slumber after his 2000 Civic earned him enough accolades to finally relax. Various modifications such as the Skyline taillights and the custom 19-inch rollers from HRE helped secure a respectable position in the competitive Civic class. He went to bed content, but his sweet slumber was shattered by a bearer of bad news. "Joey, wake up!" came the urgent announcement from his friend. "Something's wrong with your car!"

The previous night Joey had entrusted the keys to the valet. He must not have tipped or something because sure enough the unscrupulous car-parker left the show car open. When Joey opened the door and looked behind the Sparco Flash 5 steering wheel he found the ignition wires spilling from the column like intestines out of a slashed stomach. At this point, Joey wanted to slash the stomach of the valet with a box cutter. But he refrained, choosing instead to take a deep breath and see what good might come out of the situation. "It was a bad thing," said Joey. "But it did have good repercussions."

In an effort to prohibit this sort of fiendish hooliganism from happening again, Joey had the door handles shaved and solenoids installed. While he was at it he had the moldings shaved and a Sparco gas cap molded in. These upgrades, and others following, would bring Joey's Civic to the pinnacle of perfection.

With as much money as there is in the engine, it's probably a good thing that the Civic wasn't stolen. From the AEM cold-air intake to the GReddy turbo kit to the custom three-inch exhaust the spec list to the engine is longer than most other show cars'. The accompanying Spec Chart mentions more than bolt-ons though. Take a look and you'll notice the block has been bored .020 over and the head has been ported and polished. If some engines are massaged or warmed over, this B16 has the temperature of upper Hades. With close to 400 claimed horsepower, this engine isn't making gross, unreliable horsepower from hell, but it's halfway there.

The most appealing part of the Civic's exterior has to be the Skyline taillight conversion. Although this has been done before, it's still looks fresh along with different car/color combinations. In this case, the cobalt blue sets off the red of the taillights and the whiteness of the owner like a flag whipping in the wind. God Bless America. Of course, the Nissan Silvia S15 headlight conversion isn't exactly something to ignore either. With these unique spots and a molded Ground Designs Black Widow kit adorning the body, the once civil Civic looks more than aggressive.

Joey says that the rims are the favorite mod to this car. We can see why. The wicked rollers are special-order HRE whips of the 19x8 variety with a custom offset to fit the Civic's arches. Needless to say the Toyo Proxies P4s that wrap them have the profile of a rubber band.

This rigid rolling stock combination puts a lot of pressure on the suspension. The East Coast is not an easy place to roll a slammed chariot. Nonetheless, Joey cruises his hometown of Delaware fully decked thanks to Skunk2 coil-overs and Tokico blue shocks and struts.

The entire interior is glassed up, even the headliner. Take a look at the interior door panels. Silver ghost flames to match the barely visible flecks of flame on the exterior show fastidious attention to detail that any autistic with obsessive compulsive disorder would be proud of.

The icing on the cake is always in the form of, well ICE. What's the fun of having a sorted engine if you can't bump the Beasties or rock the Rolling Stones while you're cruising down Delaware's main thoroughfare. As you can see from the spec sheet Joey has this avenue covered properly.

This right coast Civic illustrates that you can have show and go in one complete package. Just don't leave your package with an under-tipped valet.

Owner
Joey Touchton

Home Base
Georgetown, Delaware

Ride
2000 Honda Civic Si

Engine
AEM cam gears
AEM cold air intake
AEM fuel filter
AEM fuel pressure regulator
AEM fuel rail
AEM tru-power pulleys
ARP head studs
Edelbrock throttle body
Bored block .020-over and ported and polished had
Clutchmaster stage 3 clutch
Competition Clutch 8-pound flywheel
Custom 3-inch exhaust
Eagle block guard
Eagle rods
FAL blue radiator fan
Ferrea valve train setup
Five-angle valve job
Fluidyne radiator
GReddy oil catch can
GReddy steel-braided radiator hoses
GReddy 99-00 Si turbo kit
GReddy Type 24 front-mount intercooler
GReddy 720cc injectors
GReddy timing belt for B16
GReddy Super Sequential Blow-off valve
Hose Techniques engine dress-up kit
Walboro fuel pump
JE pistons
MSD ignition
Nitrous Express 100-shot direct port setup
Nitrous Express intercooler kit
Nology plug wires
Skunk2 oil cap
Skunk2 plug wire covers
Skunk2 short shifter
STR underhood dress up kit
Unorthodox crank pulley

Brakes
Front/Rear HP Racing Stage-2 big brake kit

Suspension
Skunk2 coil-overs
Tanabe front and rear strut brace
Tokico blue shocks and struts

Wheels And Tires
Custom-made HRE 446R 19x8
Toyo Proxies P4 tires

Exterior
APR Formula 3 side mirrors
Catz HID kit high and low beam
Custom ghost flames in violet pearl
Ground Designs Black Widow 2 body kit
Nissan Silvia S-15 headlights
Nissan Skyline R-34 taillights
Shaved door handles, moldings, antenna
Sparco motorcycle gas cap
Street Glow neon white under car kit

Interior
AC Mats black carpet
APEX'i rev/speed meter
APEX'i V-Tech controller
Custom back seat and trunk
Fiberglass headliner
Full fiberglass interior
Silver flames on interior door panels
GReddy E-01
GReddy electronic warning gauge
GReddy turbo timer
Nitrous Express bottles (2)
Sparco 4-point harnesses
Sparco Flash 5 steering wheel
Sparco Pro2000 racing seats
Street Glow white neons
Team Prototype
fiberglass door panels

ICE
JL Audio 13w7
JL Audio 300/4
JL Audio 1000/1
JL Audio 2-way speakers
JL Audio 3-way components
Pioneer AVIC-N1 TV with built-in DVD player
Pioneer navigation system
Pioneer XM radio

Honda Civic Hatchback

My car
Own this car for 2 months now and i enjoy everytime i drive, The 2.2 diesel engine is superb and awesome. Economy is brilliant average 46mpg around town and 64mpg at motorways. The ride is firm on uneven road surface that is my only gripe on my civic.

My car

I have owned the CTR for over a year now and have never looked back.

I believe the overall package is rather a unique proposition. I settled for this car after test driving the usual subjects. It offered an intoxicating blend of sharp looks, great manual gear-change, fine performance and a stonking soundtrack.

Positives: Although not the fastest, it's no slouch and a joy to work the engine hard, it certainly feels like it could keep going past its 8,200 RPM limiter. The mechanical but smooth gearshift is of excellent quality. The six ratios are well judged to give good acceleration, however this not a point and squirt toy - you will have gearchange on overtake. But this only adds to the enjoyment when you've mastered extracting the best from this machine. I relish the sound this car makes beyond 6,000 RPM, truly addictive with the windows down (or up). The interior always felt great to me, rendering most other marks bland in comparison. The storage this car offers is barge like and yet appears deceptively small from the outside. Handling is good but can be improved upon by aftermarket adjustment to alignment and/or springs however this is by not means a requirement. Runs great on 95 RON unlike its turbo rivals (Mixed =~34mpg ). Negatives:The rear view is obscured by the spoiler & no wiper. Hard ride on British roads. The front seats have no memory - honestly Honda!? Low amounts of torque vs diesel/turbo petrol. Expensive road fund. Need to work it for performance.

My car
Having owned Hondas for over ten years I had absolutely no fear in buying this Civic. I've driven just over 3,000 miles since i bought it a few months ago and it hasnt missed a beat. Fuel economy is fantastic which in todays economy is a god send. I find it extremely comfortable and the little gadgets like climate control and the digital speedo make it stand out from the crowd. I have no doubt that i will have another 10 years of hassle free diving with this latest gem from Honda.

U.S. Honda fans have been in despair ever since Honda decided to keep its super sexy Civic hatchback off these shores. Now it drives the spike further into our hearts with this rendering of the new hot hatch. Honda will unveil a new generation Civic in 2010 and according to AutoExpress will be inspired by the OSM concept seen at the British Motor Show.

The future Civic hatchback will carry over from the current one, most notably the trademark single strip light cluster at the rear. Euro Honda fans will also see a that the split rear screen has been dropped to improve visibility. Shallow glass areas, broad shoulders and a nose-down stance give this three-door model a sporty and purposeful look.

It will also get a new 1.5-liter IMA hybrid engine with more than 150bhp and sub-CO2 120g/km emissions. Could this also then be a preview of the new CRX?

Standard features across the line-up include:
A six-speed manual transmission or optional five-speed automatic with Grade Logic Control
Four wheel disc brakes with four-channel ABS, EBD and Brake-Assist
Electric Power Steering and Cruise control
Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body structure
Duel front, side and full length curtain airbags
Vehicles Stability Assist (VSA) with Traction Control
Seatbelt reminders for all passengers
MacPherson strut front and torsion beam rear suspension
Flat-folding 'Magic seats'
Multi-information display
Climate controlled glovebox
Security alarm
Dual exhaust
Fog lights and Auto on/off headlights with beam height adjustment
Rain sensing two-speed variable intermittent front wipers
Auto up/down driver and front passenger windows
Dual zone climate control air conditioning with rear passenger vents
Six speaker stereo with CD player, USB and auxiliary jack and iPod and MP3 compatibility
17-inch five-spoke alloy wheels with 225/45 R17 tyres
Rear parking sensors
Deflation warning system

While development of the 2012 Honda Civic five-door, spied testing in Europe earlier this year, is clearly well underway, the current generation of the stylish hatch has come in for one last subtle update.

The Honda Civic is a line of subcompact and subsequently compact cars made and manufactured by Honda. The Civic, along with the Accord and Prelude, comprised Honda's vehicles sold in North America until the 1990s, when the model lineup was expanded. Having gone through several generational changes, the Civic has become larger and more upmarket, and it currently slots between the Fit and Accord.

Despite being a front wheel drive economy car, the Civic is popular as a platform for modification and customization by an enthusiast community. Starting with the fourth generation and continuing through the 2000 model year, Civics had front double wishbone suspension, something common in midsize and larger cars but rarely found in compacts. This advanced four-wheel independent suspension was inspired by Honda's racing research and allowed class-leading handling.[citation needed] Also, because of parts interchangeability, many Civics which were originally equipped with lower-power engines can later be equipped with a newer Honda engine (a process called engine swap), or many other upgrades. The most common swaps are B16A(Civic SI), B18C(Acura Integra GSR), or the new powerful K20(06-present Civic SI/RSX Type-S).

Most recent seventh and eighth generations, now rated as compacts rather than subcompacts, are still competitive as tuner projects. However, they have succumbed to added weight, and higher centers of gravity which has significantly reduced their appeal amongst passionate drivers. Particularly unwelcome among the tuner community was the replacement of the front double-wishbone suspension with MacPherson struts, which provide inferior handling and do not allow dynamic camber angle control. Styling of the seventh generation was more mainstream but the eight generation returned to a more aggressive look.

Honda Civic Type R

The Honda Civic Type R is the highest performance version of the Honda Civic made by Honda Motor Company of Japan. It features a lightened and stiffened body, specially tuned engine and upgraded brakes and chassis. Red is also used in the interior to give it a special sporting distinction and to separate it from other Honda models. In Japan, a one-make series of Honda Type R cars where privateers can purchase an off-road Type R and compete in a series championship is a stepping stone for many aspiring racing drivers.

Love it or hate it, even the standard Honda Civic turns heads wherever it goes. And the Type-R version has even more appeal. It might not look like it, but the lower panels – including the doors, rear wings and front and rear bumpers are unique to the three-door Civic. Specifying a Type-R version adds sculpted side skirts and deeper front and rear bumpers, while a black ‘honeycomb’ grille replaces the glass panel which runs across the front of standard Civics. A set of 18-inch alloys and a larger rear wing finish the look, although the latter seriously compromises rear visibility.

The concept car look carries on in the cabin, where there are no fewer than three display screens – a digital readout for the speedo, a huge analogue rev counter with digital readouts for some of the ancillary functions and a digital display for the radio. It takes a bit of getting used to, but seemed natural after a few hundred miles behind the wheel. After the unique dash, the seats need to be something special – and they are. Supremely comfortable and supportive, they are finished in red cloth with black suede-like bolsters with Type-R livery.

The Civic should be commended for the huge amount of interior space. It’s got a huge 485-litre boot – 100 litres more than a Ford Focus – which increases to more than 1,350 litres with the seats folded There’s plenty of storage space around the cabin too, including a refrigerated glovebox in the GT version we tested. It’s probably the most practical hatchback round in terms of interior room. The bonnet slopes away so steeply there’s very little sense of the length of the car, and the rear spoiler obliterates rear visibility.

Honda says it aimed to produce an experience as near to driving a race car as possible, and it has succeeded. There’s virtually no body roll, and the steering is wonderfully quick to react, meaning the Type-R can change direction in an instant. We think it could be a fantastic track car; and it’s no slouch on the road either. The ride might be too hard for some, but it adds to the experience. The Type-R sits on lowered and stiffened suspension with a rear track (the distance between the wheels) increased in width by 15mm to increase stability.

Its 200bhp is less than the Ford Focus ST, Seat Leon Cupra and Volvo C30 2.5T, but is quicker to 62mph than most of its rivals. Top speed is 146mph, about the same as the Type-R’s competitors. The Civic remains docile under 5,400rpm, but turns into a motorbike-sounding screamer between 5,400 and its 7,950rpm redline. Keeping the car in the VTEC zone is an incredible feeling as the revs build, the six-speed manual gearbox has a perfect set of ratios to keep the engine spinning between the magic numbers.

Although Honda claim the Type-R can manage an average fuel consumption figure of 31mpg, our road testers struggled to keep it above 27mpg. That’s got a lot to do with the intoxicating blend of sound and acceleration when it’s driven hard. Insurance is about average for a hot hatch, while 215g/km of CO2 place it in a costly band for road tax. Honda offers two trim levels, the standard Type-R and the GT – the former doesn’t have air-con, which is a surprising omission for an expensive car.

It’s a Honda, so a decent level of reliability is guaranteed; although some of the trim on our test car felt flimsy. The exterior door handles didn’t really feel up to the job, while the centre console trim between the front seats could be easily moved from side to side. Used Type-R buyers should watch for crash damage and signs of hard use on road or even on track. Honda claim never to have a single reported failure of a VTEC system; impressive when the driver is encouraged to frequently hit the 7,950rpm redline.

Although the Type-R hasn’t been tested by Euro NCAP’s crash assessment programme, the standard Civic has, scoring four stars for both adult and child occupant protection. That’s less than the Ford Focus, Renault Megane, Volvo C30 and Volkswagen Golf. The standard Type-R only has four airbags while the GT model gets six: front, side and curtain.

Honda expects the higher-spec GT model to make up around 80 per cent of all sales, and the extra cost  is worth spending for the additional airbags alone. Standard models come with 18-inch alloys, a trip computer, ABS, stability control and electronic brakeforce distribution and those fancy racing seats. The GT model adds climate control, curtain airbags, cruise control, automatic headlights and front fog lamps. It seems a shame some of the equipment on the GT isn’t available as standard on all models.

The Civic Type-R is bought for its looks, its reliability and its cracking engine. It’s bristling with technology and fills a gap between the thuggish Focus ST and the refined Golf GTI. In time, it will be regarded as a modern masterpiece.

Best on a budget:
2.0 i-VTEC Type R
The best value Type R lacks some kit, but none of the fun.
Best-seller /Blow the budget:
2.0 i-VTEC Type R GT
The most popular Type R is the enthusiast’s choice.

honda civic coupe

The Honda Civic coupe has evolved greatly over its six generations into the much larger -- and much more refined -- car that it is today. Only marginally less efficient than the first-generation Civic, the current model features massive upgrades in performance, safety and comfort.

Given its most recent major redesign back in 2006, the Civic coupe grew externally and internally to the point where it is almost a midsize car. This year the Civic coupe received its second mild refresh that gave it a mildly revised look both inside and out, accentuated on the exterior by a new set of head and tail lamps, as well as a modified front fascia that incorporates a honeycomb-style grille.

Inside, the Civic Coupe has room for five and a spaceship-inspired two-tier instrument panel, dashboard and center console, which looks and feels nothing like the Civic's conservative predecessors. The long dashboard and steep windshield only add to the unique driving position.

Available with just one engine (Civic Coupe Si has a unique engine), the Civic offers either a five-speed manual or a five-speed automatic transmission. The 1.8-liter single-overhead cam four-cylinder pumps out 140 horsepower at 6,320 rpm and 128 lb-ft. of torque at 4,300 rpm and, in automatic guise, averages up to 25 mpg around town and 36 mpg on the highway.

Safety comes standard on the Civic coupe, including six airbags, standard anti-lock brakes, whiplash-reducing front-seat active head restraints and, on range-topping EX-L models, traction and stability control.

The range starts with the entry-level DX, which doesn't come with air conditioning or an audio system, but does feature a height-adjustable driver's seat, power windows, 15-inch wheels and a rear spoiler.

Moving up to the LX nets buyers air conditioning, power mirrors and locks, remote keyless entry, an AM/FM/CD player and 16-inch steel wheels.

The well-equipped EX adds rear disc brakes (to replace drums), a split-folding rear seat (to replace a non-split unit), a high-power XM Satellite-capable radio, a USB input for the audio system, steering wheel audio controls, a power sunroof, alloy wheels and an outside temperature indicator. It's also available with a navigation system with voice controls and Bluetooth mobile phone connectivity.

The EX-L adds to the EX the aforementioned traction and stability control, as well as heated leather seats, leather wrapping for the steering wheel and heated power mirrors.

All models are available with either transmission. All Civic coupes qualify for ULEV-2 CARB emissions standards.

Basic SpecsBase Price     $15,605
Drivetrain     Front Wheel Drive
Curb Weight (lbs)     2588
City (MPG)     26
Hwy (MPG)     34
Horsepower     140@4300
Torque (lb-ft)     128@6300
Wheelbase     104.3
Length (in.)     175.5
Width (in.)     68.9
Height (in.)     55.0

Honda Civic Si

The Honda Civic Si is a sport compact / hot hatch version of the Civic built by the Japanese automaker Honda. The Si trim, which stands for "Sequential Injection" or "Sport Injected," was introduced for the third generation of Honda Civics in both Japan and North America. In Canada the trim became known as the SiR for the sixth and seventh generations, and the Si trim was equivalent to the USDM EX model.


For the Japanese and European markets, the Civic Type R was adopted as the high-performance variant of the Civic, starting with the EK9 hatch for Japan in 1997 and with the EP3 hatch for Europe in 2001. In North America the Type R name has never been used for Civics, and the Si/SiR badge continues to signify the highest performance trim. The Civic Si contrasts with the more track-oriented and spartan Type R, which has less sound deadening and amenities in return for better performance, and has been positioned as more of a full-featured sport trim, featuring luxury options such as a sunroof and a seven speaker audio system.

As to be expected with anxious fans and inquisitive reporters everywhere, a rumor has been started that may answer the question of what Honda plans to stuff under the hood of its next Civic Si, due for the 2012 model year.

If the latest rumors are to be believed, Honda will dip into its Acura parts bin and pull out a 2.4-liter four-cylinder that is good for 201 horsepower and 172 lb-ft of torque with the manual transmission in the TSX, according to fan site VTec, via egmCarTech.

This engine is rumored to be known as the K24, and will be very similar to the K24 in the TSX, but with a slight possibility of a minor bump due to the performance nature of the Civic Si. The fan site claims this engine is a guaranteed lock for the job, but does not have final power numbers at this time.

With the standard issue 2012 Civic set to begin arriving around April or May, expect a later 2011 or early 2012 arrival time for the hotter Si trim.

The good: An impressive gearbox and good handling make the 2009 Honda Civic Si a blast to drive. An intuitive voice-command system makes hands-free use of the navigation system easy, and the new iPod/USB drive connectivity is a good update to the music system.

The bad: We have few problems with the Civic Si, besides the rough look of the navigation system and the cheap steering wheel. A little more torque would also be nice.

The Dynolicious application for iPhone and iPod Touch uses the device's accelerometers to measure vehicle movement on two axes. By calculating movement over time, the app can measure vehicle speed and, subsequently, distance and acceleration. For purposes of our testing, we measured 0 to 60 mph time and skidpad lateral G-forces.

Securing our test iPod Touch to the windshield with a suction cup, we lined up for our 0 to 60 mph test. Previously, we'd tested the 2009 Honda Civic LX-S using the same Dynolicious application, reaching 60 mph in 9.76 seconds, and we wanted to see how much better we could do in the Si. On our first launch, we were a bit overzealous with the revs. The front wheels spun helplessly for grip before the Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) intervened, dampening the acceleration and resulting in an embarrassing time of 14.50 seconds. Subsequent launches were met with equal amounts of wheel spin and equally dismal times, even with the VSA disabled.

Based on an economy model, the 2009 Honda Civic Si doesn't do luxury, but Honda fitted it out with some performance elements. The seats offer all the bolstering and grippy fabric you need to keep from sliding around the cabin as the car demonstrates its cornering. The console lid features fabric similar to the seats', providing a comfortable arm rest for cruising. The shifter's metal construction gives it a solid feel.

Pros: 1) Fun and sporty - likes to be revved (redline at 8500) 2) Reliable 3) Affordable 4) Great factory stereo 5) Nice looking 6) Can add mods 7) Great gas mileage 8) Available as 2 or 4 door

Cons: 1) Road noise/ cabin poorly insulated 2) Seat comfort/sport suspension - make this less amenable to long drives 3) Not really a fast car per se - but feels fast due to high revving engine

Summary: Great car. Definitely recommend it to anyone on a budget.

2012 honda civic

The 2012 Honda Civic ranks 23 out of 33 Affordable Small Cars. This ranking is based on our analysis of 15 published reviews and test drives of the Honda Civic, and our analysis of reliability and safety data.

The automotive industry isn’t excited about the redesigned 2012 Honda Civic’s lackadaisical exterior and interior updates. The competition is priced lower and outshines the Civic in almost every way.

In December 2010, Honda released a sketch of the 2012 Honda Civic and nothing else. Now that Honda has released pricing information and available features and journalists have had a chance to drive the 2012 Civic, there’s a lot more information to share.

The first thing most shoppers will notice is the Civic’s slightly refreshed exterior. “Honda opted for the safe route, which could prove unsafe if the Civic doesn't meet expectations,” writes Motor Trend. “Gen 9's exterior design, which is meant to be distinctive, clean, and energetic, per Honda, looks decidedly similar to that of Gen 8, retaining the so-called ‘mono-form body.’ Why? Honda wanted the new model to be instantly recognizable as a Civic.” Other critics agree that the Civic is undoubtedly a Civic, but say its exterior is bland.

The 2012 Honda Civic will be available in seven models: a sedan, a coupe, Si sedan, Si coupe, hybrid, high fuel-efficiency (HF) and a natural gas model. With so many models, the trim levels can start to get confusing. To keep things simple, the base DX coupe and sedan, which start at $15,605, offer next to nothing in terms of standard interior features. There’s no air conditioning and no radio. The 2012 DX gains Eco Assist, a new feature this year, which helps you drive more efficiently. Meanwhile, the $14,495 Hyundai Elantra, which is a competitor reviewers recommend, comes with a six-speaker audio system, a USB input jack and XM Satellite radio. Like the Civic, Bluetooth and air conditioning are optional on the Elantra, but are less expensive to add.

“With an automatic transmission, both the Civic sedan and two-door coupe are rated to get 28 mpg in the city, 39 on the highway, for an average of 32 (up from 29 before),” writes Business Week. “However, that still leaves the Honda a tiny bit behind the 2011 Elantra sedan, which is rated at 29/40/33 whether with an automatic or a stick shift, and versions of the 2012 Ford Focus that are rated at 28/40/33 with an automatic. (The 2011 Toyota Corolla trails behind at 26/34/29.)”

Details: 2012 Honda Civic

Honda redesigned the Honda Civic for the 2012 model year, and now there are a total of seven models available: sedan, coupe, Si sedan, Si coupe, hybrid, high fuel-efficiency (HF) and a natural gas model. The sedan, coupe, HF and natural gas models have a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 140 horsepower. The Si is the most powerful option. It gets a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 200 horsepower and 170 pound feet of torque.

Fuel economy for all models has improved. Honda says ratings will range from 31 mpg for the Civic Si to 44 mpg for the hybrid. The Civic starts at about $15,800 for the base model with a five-speed manual transmission.

If you’re disappointed with the base Honda Civic but want to stick with Honda, try the Honda Fit. The Fit is less expensive than the base Civic and has more cargo space. The Fit also has Honda’s Magic Seat, which allows you to adjust the front passenger seat and rear seats to accommodate a bicycle, surfboard and other large items.

There aren’t many affordable small hybrids to compete with the 2011 Civic Hybrid. The Honda Insight is the Civic Hybrid’s only competitor, and it has lower fuel economy ratings of 40/43 mpg city/highway. If you’re after something super fuel-efficient, try the Toyota Prius. It’s a midsize car, but costs about $23,000, which is about $1,000 less than the Civic Hybrid. It also has much better fuel economy ratings of 51/48 mpg city/highway and according to reviewers, has better performance.

Then there’s the Honda Civic Si, which will appeal to shoppers looking for something practical but fun to drive. If you fall into this category, check out the Volkswagen Golf or Mazda3, two of the most fun-to-drive cars in the class. You’ll have to sacrifice fuel economy for performance, though. The Golf gets up to 24/31 mpg city/highway, and the Mazda3 averages 25/33 mpg city/highway. The Golf is available as a two- or four-door hatchback, and the Mazda3 comes as a sedan or five-door hatchback. For better fuel economy, consider the Golf TDI Clean Diesel, which starts at about $23,300 and gets 30/42 mpg city/highway.

Much of the hubbub surrounding the 2012 Honda Civic’s debut focuses on the exterior. Unfortunately, many automotive journalists are bored with the changes. “We'll start off on a positive note: the 2012 Honda Civic is not ugly,” says AutoblogGreen. “Problem is, it's also not hugely attractive. In fact, *yawn* it's not really anything.”