2023 Honda Civic

• Overview

  

  Since 1973, Honda has been offering drives across America Civic sedan and hatchback models. They are safe, economical, and really fun to drive. Now in its eleventh generation, the Honda Civic is still going strong in the marketplace. For 2023, Honda offers four different models of the Civic: sedan, hatchback, Si, and Type R. The 2023 Honda Civic Sedan has a base MSRP of $25,050, and the Civic Hatchback starts at an MSRP of $25,850.^[a] The Civic Si is a performance sports car built on the Civic sedan frame with a base MSRP of $28,500, while the Civic Type R is a performance hatchback model that starts at $43,295.^[a] The 2023 Honda Civic Type R has built a real cult following among street racer fans. No matter which 2023 Honda Civic model you choose, you will get one with exceptional engineering and an attention to quality control and detail.

  33/42^[b]

  Fuel Economy (city/hwy MPG)

  158-315

  Horsepower (hp)

  138-310

  Torque (lb-ft)

  Starting at

  $25,050^[a]

• Design

  

  The Different Civics That Are Available

  Honda offers the 2023 Civic in four different styles. The Honda Civic Sedan has a traditional four-door design with an emphasis on providing maximum passenger capacity, and the Civic Si is a sports performance built on the sedan design. The Civic Hatchback also has four doors but adds a convenient hatch to access the trunk. This increases trunk space from 14.8 cubic feet on the Civic Sedan and 14.4 cubic feet on the Civic Si to 24.5 cubic feet in the Civic Hatchback and the Civic Type R. Interestingly enough, no matter which 2023 Civic you choose, you will get at least 96.6 cubic feet of passenger space depending on whether your model has a moonroof. Models without a moonroof provide an impressive 99 cubic feet of space inside the passenger compartment.

  The 2023 Honda Civic Sedan and Hatchback each feature three different trim levels, while the Honda Civic Si and Civic Type R have only one trim, acting as high-performance extensions of their base models. Honda makes the Sport the base model for both the Civic Sedan and Civic Hatchback models. This model features a base model engine, as well as 18-inch gloss black alloy wheels, and a seven-inch color touchscreen for the infotainment system. The seats on the Sport model have cloth fabric trim. The mid-level model of the Civic Sedan is the EX, while the Honda Civic Hatchback has the EX-L model. Both ride on 17-inch alloy wheels with gloss black inserts and feature a more advanced engine. However, the Civic Hatchback EX-L has heated leather seats.

  The top trim of the Civic Sedan is the Touring. This adds heated leather seats, 18-inch alloy wheels with gloss shark gray inserts, a Bose premium audio system, and a nine-inch color touchscreen to the infotainment system. The top Civic Hatchback trim is the Sport Touring, and it also has these features.

  The Honda Civic Si and Honda Civic Type R each add performance features, like specialized seats, a larger engine, and, on the Type R, Brembo four-piston brake calipers. These features give these models the advanced performance that certain drivers crave.

• Performance

  

  Engine Options

  The 2023 Honda Civic Sedan and Civic Hatchback each come with two different engine options. The choice of engine depends on the trim level you choose. The Sport trim for the Civic Sedan and Hatchback comes with a standard 2.0-liter I-4 gas engine. This has a 16-valve dual overhead camshaft (DOHC) i-VTEC design. The i-VTEC is Honda’s version of a variable valve timing mechanism designed to improve efficiency and performance. It utilizes multi-point fuel injection to deliver 158 horsepower and 138 lb-ft of torque.

  The other two trim levels on the Civic Sedan and Civic Hatchback provide a more powerful engine. This is a 1.5-liter turbo I-4 gas engine, and it comes featured on the Civic Sedan EX and Touring and the Civic Hatchback EX-L and Sport Touring. This also has a 16-valve DOHC i-VTEC design. Unlike the engine on the Civic Sport, this uses direct fuel injection to deliver 180 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque. This improved performance is also due in part to the use of a turbocharger to boost engine performance.

  The 2023 Honda Civic Si has a boosted version of the 1.5-liter turbo I-4. This delivers an impressive 200 horsepower and 192 lb-ft of torque. The largest engine is the 2.0-liter turbo I-4 in the Civic Type R. This provides an insane 315 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque.

  Available Transmissions

  Each 2023 Honda Civic Sedan features a continuously variable transmission (CVT) for its engine. You have a set of paddle shifters, so you can emulate manual drive without the hassle of working a clutch. This is in contrast to the 2023 Honda Civic Hatchback. While the Civic Hatchback EX-L has a CVT transmission, the Sport and Sport-Touring models give drives the choice of a CVT or a six-speed manual transmission. The CVT on the Civic Hatchback models features dual-mode paddle shifters like on the Civic Sedan. The Civic Si and Civic Type R pair their engines with a six-speed manual transmission. These feature a specialized rev-match control and a helical limited-slip differential.

  Handling and Acceleration

  No matter which model you choose, the Honda Civic has earned a well-deserved reputation for exceptional handling. Its power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering is tight to the curb, allowing for exceptional cornering. The Civic Sedan and Hatchback have a turning diameter that ranges from 36.1 feet on the EX and EX-L models to 38.1 feet on the Sport and Touring models. This is the same on the Civic Si, while the Civic Type R has a slightly wider 39.9-foot turning diameter.

  The Civic Hatchback is slightly quicker off the line than the Civic Sedan. The Hatchback can go from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 7.3 seconds, while the Civic Sedan takes about 7.5 seconds. The Hatchback also has a 130 miles per hour top speed, slightly faster than the 126 miles per hour on the Sedan. The Civic Si is slightly faster than either of these two models. It can go from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 6.8 seconds and is able to do the quarter mile in just 15.1 seconds at 94 miles per hour. Still, the fastest Civic model is the Type R. This can go from 0 to 60 miles per hour in a blistering 4.9 seconds with a top speed of 169 miles per hour.

  Fuel Economy

  Honda has also built the Civic’s reputation for exceptional fuel economy. Probably the biggest selling point for the Civic Sedan is the incredible fuel efficiency of this model. For example, the Sedan EX can get an EPA-estimated combined 36 MPG.^[b] The Civic Sedan Sport delivers an equally impressive EPA-estimated 33 MPG combined, while the Sedan Touring provides an EPA-estimated 34 MPG combined.^[b]

  If you choose a 2023 Civic Hatchback and want to get the best fuel economy, then you should consider choosing one with a CVT transmission. For example, the Civic Hatchback Sport gets an EPA-estimated 32 MPG combined with a CVT as compared to the EPA-estimated 29 miles per gallon combined with the six-speed manual transmission.^[c] Still, the EX-L gives you an EPA-estimated 35 MPG combined.^[c]

  While the Civic Si and Civic Type R are designed for performance, they still deliver solid fuel economy numbers. This is why they can be a good choice for a commuter who wants exceptional speed and acceleration. The Civic Si can get an EPA-estimated combined 31 MPG, while the Civic Type R delivers an EPA-estimated 24 MPG combined.^[d][e]

• Technology

  

  Infotainment

  Honda has given every 2023 Civic model a standard infotainment system. This comes with a seven-inch color touchscreen on the Civic Hatchback Sport and EX-L and the Civic Sedan Sport and EX. The Civic Sedan Touring, Civic Hatchback Sport Touring, Civic Type R, and Civic Si each feature a nine-inch color touchscreen. These are easy to see and navigate.

  You can connect your smartphone using Bluetooth connectivity. This allows you to make hands-free phone calls and access text messages with voice-over commands. The system also provides Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, so you can access all of your favorite apps. The Hatchback Sport Touring, Sedan Touring, Civic Si, and Type R provide wireless connectivity, so you can leave the annoying charging cables at home. These models also have a Qi-compatible wireless phone charger, so you and your passengers can stay connected wherever you go. They also include a 12-speaker Bose premium audio system and a Honda satellite-linked navigation system.

  All models of the 2023 Civic come with HondaLink. This allows you to use your infotainment system to request help from first providers in the event of a collision. You can also use HondaLink to start your Civic remotely using your smartphone’s app.

  Safety and Driver Assistance

  Honda has made safety standard on every model of the 2023 Honda Civic. This is because each Civic features the Honda Sensing Suite of driver assistance features, just like all new Honda vehicles. This means that you don’t have to pay a premium to get the kind of technology to keep you and your passengers safe wherever you go.

  The Collision Mitigation Braking System will engage if the system detects a potential collision with a vehicle or a pedestrian in front of your Civic. The system will alert you so you can take evasive action. It will also apply the automatic emergency brakes to bring your Civic to a safe stop or reduce the impact to mitigate damages if the crash is unavoidable.

  There is also a standard Road Departure Mitigation System. This will alert you if your Civic begins to drift out of your lane. It will also use slight steering adjustments to get you back into the lane, so you can avoid having a collision with an oncoming vehicle or one that is riding in the lane next to you.

  One of the features on the Honda Sensing Suite that will help reduce driver fatigue is the standard Adaptive Cruise Control with Low-Speed Follow. Once you set your speed, the system will maintain this speed until traffic in front of you slows. It will then slow your cruise control speed down to that of the vehicle in front of you. Once that vehicle has exited, it will return to the speed you originally pre-set.

Come Check Out the 2023 Honda Civic