2014 Honda Civic Coupe: Little Details That Go a Long Way

Honda is very proud of the Civic’s success on the Canadian market. Not only is this compact revered for its overall value, it’s Canada’s top-selling vehicle for the 16th consecutive year. It goes without saying that Honda is doing whatever it can to hold onto this title.

When the new 2012 Civic was criticized for having an overly conservative exterior and inelegant dashboard, the automaker made quick work in producing a 2013 sedan that was up to par. This year, it’s the coupe’s turn for a makeover, including style updates, a revamped interior and evolved mechanics (namely a CVT transmission).  The list of changes is quite long, but it’s still just a mid-cycle revision designed to keep the model competitive without having to resort to a major overhaul.

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More sophisticated

The modifications made to the exterior may not be spectacular, but they are nonetheless significant. The 2014 Civic Coupe’s front and rear bumpers have been redesigned and are now less anonymous than in the past. The Si now has a more prominent rear spoiler, in addition to a tiny air extractor in the bumper’s lower midsection. Both the regular and Si versions have new wheels.

Inside, the most noticeable change is with the seats, which are now covered in new fabrics and generally look more refined, as the fabric hugs the seat better . On the Si’s seats, the centre panel is in a contrasting shade.

The dashboard is nearly identical to the one in the 2013 version. The biggest change is that you can now order the radio with a display screen that allows you to connect to the HondaLink system and its multiple functions, including an automatic alert sent to the emergency response centre as soon as one or several of the air bags are deployed. This high-tech radio’s screen is very similar to a smartphone interface. Exclusive Honda applications can be installed on it; there’s even one that connects to your smartphone so that you can make use of its navigation system. Obviously, the more well-equipped trims come with a traditional onboard navigation system.

Another advancement for the Civic is the LaneWatch system. It uses a camera on the right rearview mirror to see what’s coming up in the passing lane and displays the image on the screen.  This system is available on the EX, LX and Si.

Mechanical changes: A CVT!

While the mechanics have been updated to a certain extent, the changes aren’t earth-shattering. In most cases, we’re talking about minor tweaks. The manual transmissions haven’t been touched at all, for that matter. The regular versions of the coupe still come with a five-speed manual gearbox, even though most rival models come with an additional gear. And the Si versions can only be equipped with a six-speed manual.

There have, however, been a few improvements that increase engine output ever so slightly. The 1.8-litre engine now offers three more ponies (for a total of 143 horsepower), while the Si’s 2.4-litre four-cylinder mill gains four horses (for a total of 205).

The most notable change is the all-new CVT, which replaces the automatic transmission offered on the 2013 models. This system is 12.5% lighter than the automatic, and thus helps cut the vehicle’s fuel consumption. As for its performance, Honda claims that this gearbox’s accelerations are less strained and more linear. On the EX and EX-L models, gear changes are managed via paddles behind the steering wheel. When the gear shifter is set to S, the transmission simulates seven speeds.

I should also mention that the front and rear suspension have been optimized for improved road handling and reaction speed when cornering or passing. The shock absorption has also been modified to better temper any bumps in the road.

Smooth and progressive

Readers should know that I only had the chance to test drive “regular” versions of the coupe, as the Si won’t be available until March 2014. The two versions I tested were fairly similar, but one was equipped with a manual gearbox and the other featured the new CVT. The enhanced horsepower is not noticeable, but I did find that the soundproofing was better, meaning that the groans from the engine were less perceptible. Also, the steering is not as light as it was, probably a result of the improvements made last year. And even though the roads near Orlando, Florida, are in significantly better condition than the ones at home in Quebec, I did come across the occasional pothole. This allowed me to confirm that the shocks do a better job than in the past.  The road handling was unsurprising. The steering is precise and receives a good amount of assistance to suit most drivers. What’s more, the car proved stable on corners and weight transfer was well managed during quick lane changes.

The version equipped with the new CVT stood out with progressive and linear accelerations, just as Honda had promised it would. Added bonus: you don’t feel like you’re driving a car powered by an electric shaver.

To sum it up, with this year’s improvements, the Honda Civic Coupe is more homogenous, refined and comfortable. This model generally accounts for 15% of all Civic sales in Canada, and thanks to these modifications, it should hold onto its market share or even make gains that are in proportion with the updates.