2013 Honda Civic 2013: Much better this time!

You don’t have to be a serious car buff to know that the 2012 edition of the Honda Civic was off the mark. The public expected more from Canada’s most popular car, but last year’s model offered only the slightest modifications – and not all of which were for the better. The car kept its essential qualities (road handling, driving pleasure and performance) but the body remained largely unchanged. Meanwhile, tweaks to the dashboard and interior garnered mostly negative reactions. 

Sales, however, held their own in Canada, though the same can’t be said for the U.S., where figures took a nosedive. This snapped Honda management to attention and they decided to upgrade the popular compact and bring it up to par with the competition.

• Also: 2014 Honda Civic Si Coupe to Debut at SEMA
• Also: Honda Civic is Most Popular Vehicle in Canada 16 Years Running

So, what’s new?

This year, we finally get the changes we would have liked last year. The roof has been raised, the grille now features the honeycomb motif, and the bumper is beefier, much like on the new Accord. Fog lamps at either extremity are now factory-standard on most trims. The overall effect is good, as the design philosophy of past generations has been preserved, while some similarities with the new Accord have been added.

The rear section has also been modified to be more harmonious with the front. The all-new tail-lights are narrower and extend onto the trunk hood. Meanwhile the bumper has been rounded at the edges. A chrome strip outlines the trunk hood, adding a little luxury to the model. And finally, the alloy wheels have been redesigned to better complement the body.

The main criticisms about the Civic unveiled in 2011 were about the vehicle’s interior and dashboard. So, that’s where the most striking changes have been made this year. The dash is no longer made of super hard plastics that scream “budget car.” This time, softer and better quality materials have been used. Plus, the entire layout of the dashboard has been revised. The main controls are oriented toward the driver for added convenience. The steering wheel has also been upgraded and it now looks much more exclusive than the previous one.  Chrome accents here and there add a nice touch. And lastly, the quality of the cloth used on the seats has been taken up a notch.

It’s also worth noting that the soundproofing has also been improved in a number of ways. This includes more insulating materials, thicker side windows, and more rigid wheels.

What stays the same 

Last year, what really came under fire was the vehicle’s appearance – no one objected to its mechanics. Thus, the 2013 Civic features the same engines as before: a 140-hp 1.8L 4-cylinder, a 201-hp 2.4L for the Si models, and a 1.5L for the Hybrid. The automatic, manual and CVT transmissions are also unchanged.

The suspension, though, has been modified, with slightly more rigid shocks, larger anti-roll bars and several other revised components. The steering ratio is faster for 2013. All these changes contribute to better handling and, especially, improved feedback from the suspension and steering. Also, the naked eye may not see it, but the engineers made several modifications to the vehicle body to improve safety in the case of front or side impact.

Mission accomplished

If you’re familiar with Honda, you know that they wouldn’t just make esthetic changes to the body and interior. The Civic has also benefitted from a number of modifications to improve driving pleasure and road handling. When Honda presented the new model, I had the chance to take it for a spin on a varied course that included main highways, secondary roads and city traffic. This allowed me to see for myself that the ride was quieter, the handling more homogenous and the steering offered better feedback than before. In fact, it felt like I was driving a much bigger car, even though its dimensions have not changed.

In the past few years, many people had started to wonder whether Honda stylists had lost their touch. But now that they have vastly modified the Accord and reworked the Civic just a few months after its launch, we’re apt to believe that the brand is back on track.