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2019 Honda Civic Touring Sedan Leads Segment In 3 Categories

Red_2019_Civic_Touring — 2019 Honda Civic Sedan Touring

Your Honda News revisits the refreshed 10th generation turbocharged Honda Civic Touring Sedan. A 50 year love story? Almost. For 2019 Honda Civic leads the compact class in 3 important categories. We take a closer look at America’s best selling compact sedan.

Honda historic retrospective

As an automotive journalist I trace my beginnings back to the Honda Civic. Actually my history with America’s original import brand goes back to childhood with memories of mom’s 1970’s Accord sitting in the garage, and before that, a Honda generator and the C600 series.

The first family Honda was white with a red interior, smallish yet perfect for driving through the already congested streets and highways of Los Angeles and Orange Counties. Driving the 2019 Honda Civic Touring for me is like saying hello to an old family friend.

Looking back, that little Honda Accord, and later my Civic, would remain a cherished family member for a decade or two, and lead to other Honda products leading to a lineup of on and off road motorcycles. That’s Honda’s market advantage in the United States. It’s generational.

Thanks to Civic, CR-V and HR-V, the Honda automotive brand continues to lead the automotive market in compact, midsize cars and light truck sales. Our subject Civic remains the best selling retail compact sedan in America. There’s several reasons for that, including standard entry level features and a turbocharged option being but two.

2019 Civic a carry over with a refresh or two

I first drove the 10th generation Honda Civic four years ago on the back roads of Malibu Canyon of Los Angeles along with a pre-production 10th generation Civic Si. That day my impression of Honda Civic would change forever. Gone was the entry-level economy sedan of last century.

Since, i’ve driven every Honda car and light truck in the lineup over the years, so, forgive me for being a bit blurry on the factoids.

Nonetheless, my first drive impression of the reinvented Honda Civic remains valid. As discovered in 2015, the refreshed 2019 Honda Civic Sedan remains the best overall, tech rich, and fun to drive purchase value available in the sub premium sedan and hatchback segment today. Honda goes after the German imports with this Civic, and wins in overall purchase value and road handling.

And, while many Hyundai, Kia, Mazda and Toyota readers and fans may balk at Honda Civic styling, Civic outruns the pack in turbo power and overall ride dynamic — quiet cabin, infotainment, with standard featured driver assist and accident avoidance technologies. Me, I like Civic styling. A bit edgy, yet cool.

Civic is the only entry in the sub premium sedan class claiming 174 turbo charged horsepower while maintaining class leading fuel economy (30 city/38 HWY)

Perfect? Well, not yet, but close

There remains a handful of changes I’d make to Civic beginning with seating position in relation to the cabin floor and side doors. Ingress and egress remains a challenge for taller drivers and passengers. Yet at 6’5” inches tall and large of frame, I’ll hand it to Honda engineering and design for superior value and performance packaging. In short, 2019 Honda Civic Touring is an overall delight to drive and ride in.

With the 10th generation Civic comes the maker’s first fuel injected turbocharged 1.5 Liter 4 cylinder gasoline engine powered compact. This engine is responsive and fuel stingy. Gone for 2019 is the 6 speed transmission, turbocharged engine pair option, * available in the 2.0 L normally aspirated engine only.

However, on first drive, we discover a more conventional transmission-like segmented CVT (constant variable transmission) little to no front-wheel-drive torque steer, a quieter cabin, very decent fit and finish, with driver and front passenger seating now power adjusted — although limited on the passenger side.

A welcome change for those challenged by touchscreen command and volume control is the addition of analog nobs where you need them. Ride quality remains stunningly good for a compact, assuring very descent handling while pacing through a high speed country two-lane.

During our week long road trial we experienced a combined 31 MPG — better on the highway of course. Read more about Honda Civic here. I find very little to no fault in Honda Civic and recommend a test drive to anyone considering the purchase of a new or used compact sedan.

For comparison test drives, look to Mazda 3 and Toyota Corolla.

And, go here for full specifications and stated MSRP.

2019 Honda Civic Touring leads the compact car segment in 3 categories: 1. Turbocharged power. 2. Refined road handling. 3, Combined fuel economy rating.

Photo attributions: American Honda Motors 2019.

2018 Honda Accord Sport 1.5L a well equipped performance value

This week Your Honda News drops in on our local Honda dealership to revisit the new from the tires up 10th generation Honda Accord. Now exclusively turbo engine powered, several key features make 2018 Accord Sport a well equipped performance value.

With the majority of new car buyers opting for compact crossovers and SUVs these days, Honda, Toyota, and other mainstream auto brands, present the most evolved, user friendly, and safe compact and midsize sedans to ever come to market. In the spotlight is Honda’s award winning 10th generation 2018 Honda Accord; but it has some competition, all of it good.

46% of all new cars sold in 2018 will be sedans. Honda Accord and Toyota Camry lead the segment

Once again Accord leads the midsize sedan segment with several tech-rich features, including Honda SENSING, in my opinion the best working near autonomous active safety suite on the market today. While 2018 Honda Accord won’t drive itself (yet) it can keep you out of harm’s way with driver assist technologies.

2 new turbocharged engine options for 2018 Honda Accord

Featured under the hood of what Honda engineering proudly refers to as the most refined feature-rich Accord ever, Your Honda News finds a manufactured in Ohio. Earth Dreams engine series. Our subject for this article is the 2018 Honda Accord Sport 1.5L turbo. It’s the value ‘Sport’ package in Accord’s lineup. Yet Accord Sport is far from stripped when it comes to standard and optional features.

At the heart of every 10th generation Accord sits a low friction 4-cylinder marvel

We can’t say enough good things about Honda’s 1.5l and 2.0L turbocharged, direct fuel injected four cylinder VTEC engines. They’re both instant-on, no turbo-lag noted, mid-range torque monsters. “Seamless’ is an understatement. After driving the very formidable import and domestic car competition in the mid-car segment, I find Accord to not only be fuel efficient, but responsive and vibration free. The fact that a low displacement 4-cylinder engine motivates this nearly two ton car is inconsequential as to available torque and passing sprint speed.

The honda Accord V6 and Coupe is no more

Every Accord trim offering for 2018 is turbocharged. While there remains more than a bit of skepticism in the car buying public when it comes to small displacement turbo charged engine reliability, turbocharged 4-cylinder gasoline engines are now the engine of choice with all major auto manufacturers. You won’t find a V6 option for Honda Accord in 2018.

2018 Honda Accord turbo presents exceptional low to mid-range torque, sprint speed, and fuel economy

Thanks to quick heat dissipating aluminium heads, integrated exhaust manifold head casting, low friction internal engine components, direct multiple-port fuel injection, and relatively cooler running temperatures — today’s turbocharged engines burn cleaner and live longer. Honda, the biggest gasoline engine manufacturer in the world, builds a darn fine engine.

Honda’s 1.5 Liter single scroll, direct injected turbocharged 4-cylinder gasoline engine claims a stated 192 horsepower at 5500 RPM, and 192 lb-ft torque from 1600 to 5,000 RPM. The reinvented 2018 Honda Accord is the most responsive and powerful Accord presented to date at any trim level. That’s cool. There’s more.

Civic_Type_R_Redwoods — 2017 Civic Type_R takes on Redwood Country

Retrospective: We first experienced the 1.5L engine in the Honda 2016 Civic lineup, and then the 2017 CR-V SUV. We also took a turn or two on the track in Civic Type-R, and then made an epic run to the Redwoods. Yes, you can opt for a down-tuned version of Type-R’s engine in Accord Touring. I’ll get back to that application later in the article.

The closer one scrutinizes 2018 Honda Accord, the greater value they’ll discover

Honda’s uptrim near premium 5-passenger Accord sedan comes to market with a ground-up redesign, and a comprehensive standard feature and options package that rivals sedans sporting premium car price tags. The first thing we notice when sitting behind the wheel of Accord touring is how comfortable the power adjusted leather and fabric driver’s seat is. Infinitely adjustable, heated and cooled (Touring) our drivers claimed Accord’s driving position to be pleasingly spacious.

For greater specification detail: Your Honda News reported on the press reveal of the reinvented 2018 Accord from New Hampshire. So, let’s cut the chase. How does Honda’s 10th generation Accord compare to 2018 Toyota Camry? 3 weeks ago, Your Honda News spent some quality seat time behind the wheel of 2018 Toyota Camry XLE V6, a good car by any measure. However, when weighing the sometimes subtle differences of two segment front runners, the Devil is often lost in the details.

Visually, both Accord and Camry present a pleasing body architecture, run close to the pavement, are wide-tracked and sweeping of roof to trunk line. Truthfully, Camry may lead the segment in interior design appeal. Yet 2018 Honda Accord nails it in functionality, an exceptional tablet-like command touch screen size and placement. And yes, from what I could see, Accord’s 2nd row is just a tad roomier and seat-comfortable than Camry. However, neither sedan offers copious amounts of headroom in the second row — tall rider beware.

Regardless: The majority of daily commuters in the U.S. and beyond drive solo to work. So for me, what truly measures a good commuter car is seat comfort, ride refinement, maneuverability, and over all drive dynamics. 2018 Honda Accord thanks to a redesigned suspension, improved frame rigidity, active noise cancellation, and stabilitrak, is mind-blowingly float-like-smooth when transitioning on and off of traffic worn surface streets and highways. 2018 Honda Accord Sport is absolutely the best car for the money in its segment — bar none.

2018_Honda_Accord_North_American_Car_of_The_Year — Henio Arcangeli, Senior Vice President of the Automobile Division of American Honda Motor Co., accepts the award for 2018 North American Car of the Year at the 2018 North American International Auto Show on 1/15/18.

Featuring 2 new engines and transmissions, including the only 10-speed automatic in the segment, Honda takes Accord to aclass topping level of sophisticated ride refinement and ease of operation. 2018 Honda Accord Sport 1.5L Turbo is a perfect daily commuter.

I was reminded while driving on the streets of Eugene, Oregon in the rain how good Honda’s not so entry-level 1.5L Accord Sport tully is. It just goes to show that one needn’t spend upwards of $40K to purchase an impressive ride. * priced from MSRP $23,570 plus delivery, dealership prep, taxes, etc.. Price as tested: Sport CVT $26,580.. MPG realized in mixed driving: 26.9 MPG.

What we like: Price point, new styling, toque-rich, fuel efficient engines, ride dynamics

What we’d change: More headroom in row two, a little less “cooler” plastic trim on the interior.

All or part of this article was first published in Honda-Torque News

Photo and content attributions: Parks R.. McCants 2018. Thanks for reading.

Honda’s most fuel efficient 2018 Civic Hatchback not available in the U.S.

2018_Honda_Civic_Hatchback_Diesel — 2018 Honda Civic Deisel Hatchback presented in Britian.

Honda Motors is a world-brand, and as such, caters to the unique market conditions dictated by regional specificities. One critical consideration when designing a mass-marketed car or light truck is fueling infrastructure, and more specifically, the fuel of choice within a specific geological region. Unlike the United States, when driving in the European Union, one encounters diesel engine powered cars and trucks with regularity, many of them manually shifted.

As a side note, 55% of all on-road-grade Diesel fuel refined in the United States is exported to Great Britain, Europe, and beyond; where nearly half of all passenger cars roll on Diesel power.

As announced Monday by Honda U.K. Introducing the 2018 Honda Civic Hatchback 1-DVTEC

The latest and final variant of the 10th generation world-platform Honda Civic will be Diesel engine powered, and initially, manually shifted. 2 years prior we reported on a Diesel engine powered Civic Touring Hatchback that broke the Guinness Book of Record’s “most miles driven on one gallon of fuel,” where a team of Honda associates hyper-miled their way to a world record. At that time I read from our European Honda fans of real-world fuel efficiency approaching 70 MPG, adjusted. While I haven’t personally confirmed the claim, it’s impressive, just the same.

Today I expound on Honda’s most fuel-efficient Civic Hatchback variant in Torque News. Check it out, and let me know what you think. Would you buy a diesel-powered Civic Hatchback if it was available in the U.S.? Honda’s EarthDream i-DVTEC turbocharged 4-cylinder diesel engine rolls worldwide. Why not in the United States?

In other Honda News: Yet another accolade for 2018 Honda CR-V

Earlier in January, our Honda News was dominated by C.E.S. Las Vegas. Honda attended the world’s premier Consumer Electronics Show and presented cutting-edge Robotics, some rolling some stationary. Me, I like Honda’s Autonomous work-horse 4-wheeler. Pre-programmed and controlled remotely through an app, this 4-wheel quad-like platform can be modified for work, and homesite labor saving tasks.

As to human mobility and mental health, yes, Honda has that covered too. On the Automotive side of C.E.S., Edmunds Auto, in conjunction with C.E.S., award 2018 Honda CR-V its inaugural ” Most Innovative SUV” award. Read how and why 2018 Honda CR-V beats all comers in the compact SUV segment with superior standard features, available Honda SENSING, and superior ride dynamics.

Chevy Cruze presents fun, economical driving basics

It’s that ‘crap-shoot’ that is the online pick of an “intermediate” rental car. Much like a stripper jumping out of a birthday cake, Chevy Cruze proves to be a bit surprising for this unabashed Honda fan.

True enough, I was raised in and behind the wheel of Detroit iron.

My first project car was a 1949 Chevrolet sedan, rusted, derelict, and not running. But that didn’t stop me and my younger brother Pat from cutting our auto-loving teeth on it. I, like many Americans, fell away from the Chevrolet brand during the T.A.R.P. funded transition years of the great recession. It’s not so much that I disliked the mark, I no longer trusted its assumed life-time longevity in the auto market.

Much like a long forgotten lover, Chevrolet came to mind from time to time, but I kept my distance, perhaps missing an affordable opportunity to renew my past life Chevy love fest.

Sure, I’ve caught the new Corvette or occasional Malibu SS blowing down the hardtop out of the corner of my eye, or, in the rear-view mirror of my transportation of choice. But truthfully, I lost track of the evolution of the brand, while dedicating my auto-writer intent on mostly import brands — although mostly “Made in America” at this stage of the game. The compact Chevy Cruz would prove to be noteworthy. “

In-fact, the more I drove Cruze on a recent 8 hour, 375 road trip to Eureka, California, more value I found in it.

Let’s get back to the headline

Last week while my import daily driver resided in a transmission shop, I jumped online and reserved a rental car. Par for the course, Enterprise didn’t disclose the make and model of the car waiting for me at the airport. All I knew was that it would be a rather bare-bones, fuel efficient compact, and afford care-free relatively new car, unlimited mileage driving. That night I’d take delivery of a 2016 black on gray Chevrolet Cruze LT, nothing too fancy, yet eye catching just the same.

Nothing fancy here, but I appreciated the no-nonsense layout of this compact Chevy

Dropping into the cloth covered manual adjusted driver’s seat, I noted the relative comfort of driver to wheel positioning, instrumentation, and center stack convenience feature placement. No, this Cruze did not feature a key-less entrance or ignition fob, self dimming convenience lighting, or a warm welcoming verbal recognition from that electronic girl in the dash. But, what it did present was impressive acceleration, responsive steering wheel to road feel, and reasonable road handling. The suspension is tuned for the highway long haul – a mid-firm controlled float. I like it!

I was caught by surprise as to how quiet and user friendly Chevy’s entry level compact sedan is. While one doesn’t find a plethora of active safety features in the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze LT Sedan, the stereo is decent, climate control and seating more than adequate, with combined fuel efficiency and on tap torque approaching the best in class.

Sure, I’d change a detail or two.

Our 2016 Cruze LT came off the lot for $21,700, a bargain in the sub-premium compact sedan segment. However, the dash mounted back-up cam resolution is sub standard, as is the cloth covered seat construction. Unfortunately Chevy found this price point at the expense of substantial, near premium trim components, and standard feature safety, as demonstrated by Honda Civic Touring and other contenders in the near premium compact sedan segment.

There are few if any active safety features available at this trim level. But for those drivers wishing to up the accident avoidance level, while enjoying power adjusted, heated seats, You’ll find those options available in Cruze for under $25,000. Chevy’s 1.4 Liter turbocharged gasoline 4 cylinder engine produced impressive, on demand torque, while sipping regular gasoline. On this 800 mile run, we averaged 42 MPG combined, outstanding fuel efficiency in any segment.

I found the no-nonsense 6-speed automatic to perform flawlessly in this front-wheel-drive compact, brake pressure and resulting stopping power was dead on, yet not jarring. Cruze, while exhibiting mild torque steer when launched off of the light, proved to be manageable, and down right civilized when driven at lawful speeds, under mixed weather conditions.

In closing, while Chevy Cruze may not be the end all be all…

Cruze LT is a good value as priced. I recommend a test drive to anyone considering the purchase of an economy compact 4 door sedan. Chevy Cruze presents fun, economical driving basics, housed in a class act of a compact sedan. It’s a no ensconce daily commuter, that can be dressed up and taken out on the town. I like that.

Why Honda Civic is Kelley Blue Book’s most awarded car for 2016

2016_Honda_Civic_Touring_McCants

For those of us who have driven the reinvented 10th generation Honda Civic, there remains little mystery as to why Honda’s latest Civic lineup is soon to cross into the books as the best selling Honda Civic of all time.

With no lack of financially affordable, fuel efficient competition rolling within the ranks of America’s compact sedan and coupe segment, Civic continues to buck the crossover/ SUV purchase trend with unprecedented sales — despite cheep and plentiful gasoline, low purchase interest rates and dealer purchase incentives for larger fuel-thirsty vehicles.

I believe Civic’s sales success is due to Honda’s willingness and manufacturing capacity to produce an affordable, quality, fun to drive compact sedan — featuring midsize interior-like ergonomics, elbow room, and measurable drive and ride comfort. Furthermore, Civic ‘bests’ the compact sedan segment with class topping good looks, engine performance, and what has been called the finest working CVT (constant variable transmission) available in the auto industry today. Agreed! Honda_Civic_McCants

But for me, a truck, and SUV owner, the 10th generation Civic effectively takes “tiny” out of the drive and ride equation. Remarkably for me, a 6 foot 5 inch tall driver, I find adequate seat adjustment, Head, leg and shoulder room in Civic sedan and coupe, that wasn’t always the case. Furthermore, Civic’s ride and overall road handling dynamic is best in class — all at a very attainable MSRP ($18,740 LX to $26,600 Touring.) How does 2016 Honda Civic hold up in the long run?

Today in Honda-Torque News

Today in Honda-Torque News we discuss why 2016/2017 Honda Civic is Kelly Blue Book’s most awarded car for 2016. When we were first introduced to the 10th generation Honda Civic back in the fall of 2015, on first look it became very evident that Honda bench-marked BMW 3 Series, Audi 4 and other compact European sedans in designing a new beginning for this made in America iconic brand.