The 2010 Honda Civic remains a top choice in the compact sedan/coupe segment due to its enjoyable drive, strong fuel efficiency, comfortable and well-designed cabin, wide choice of powertrains and solid reliability reputation.
In fact, the Honda Civic has simply become iconic due to its decades of faithfully and reliably serving the driving public, worldwide. And while many vehicles have been lulled into resting on their laurels, ultimately only to lose them, Honda has maintained the Civic as a leader in the small car market year after year. Any car buyer in the compact segment would be well-served to at least consider the 2010 Civic.
Having grown over the years, the 2010 Civic is virtually the same size as a 15-year-old Honda Accord, but has maintained its greatest virtures of comfort, driving agility and efficiency.
Trims, Standard Features And Options:
The 2010 Honda Civic is offered in both sedan and coupe versions. Both have five available trims: DX, LX, EX, EX-L and Si. There's also a DX Value Package (VP) and LX-S model for the sedan, as well as the Civic Hybrid and Civic GX natural gas model.
Standard features on the Civic DX are fairly basic and include power windows, a height-adjustable driver seat, a tilt/telescoping steering wheel and 15-inch steel wheels. No, even a stereo isn't included. But the optional Value Package for the DX offers air conditioning, a 4-speaker CD/MP3 audio system and an auxiliary audio jack.
The popular Honda Civic LX model then adds full power accessories, cruise control, keyless entry, 16 inch steel wheels, a center console, a sliding armrest and a folding rear seatback. The LX-S sedan adds alloy wheels, front sport seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a rear spoiler and a chrome exhaust outlet.
Moving up to the Civic EX adds a sunroof, 16 inch alloy wheels, ambient console lighting, a 60/40-split rear seatback with a fold-down armrest and a 6-speaker audio system with steering-wheel-mounted audio controls and a USB input (the coupe also gets an exclusive subwoofer). The EX-L then adds leather upholstery, heated front seats and heated exterior mirrors.
The sport-minded Civic Si is outfitted much like the EX, but also comes with a more powerful engine, a sport-tuned suspension, sport seats, foglights, 17 inch alloy wheels, high-performance tires and special interior trim acents.
And for those interested in the more efficiency-oriented Civic models, features of the GX are similar to the LX, while the Hybrid is equipped like the EX and also adds automatic climate control.
Optional features are quite limited and include a navigation system with Bluetooth connectivity and satellite radio that is only offered on Si, EX, EX-L and Hybrid models. An additional option, heated leather seats, can also be added to the Civic Hybrid.
Engines, Powertrain And Gas Mileage:
A number of different engines can be chosen to power the front-wheel drive 2010 Civic. Powering the DX, LX and EX models is a peppy 1.8 liter four-cylinder engine that generates 140 horsepower and 128 pound-feet of torque. It's mated with a five-speed manual transmission, while a five-speed automatic is optional.
Under the hood of the 2010 Civic Si is a 197 horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder mated with a six-speed manual transmission only. Also equipped with a limited-slip front differential, the Civic Si goes from a standstill to 60 mph in a very quick 7.1 seconds.
The Civic GX is also powered by a 1.8 liter engine, but is fueled with compressed natural gas and produces 113 horsepower. It has a cruising range of 200 miles and a refueling machine can be installed in your garage. In terms of emissions, it's also America's cleanest internal-combustion engine car (that is mass-produced).
The Civic Hybrid employs a gasoline/electric hybrid powertrain to optimize fuel efficiency. It uses a 1.3 liter four-cylinder engine that produces 110 horsepower and is coupled with a continuously variable transmission (CVT).
Gas mileage performance is another strength of the Honda Civic. Automatic Civics with the 1.8 liter engine have an EPA gas mileage estimate of 25 mpg city and 36 mpg on the highway, while mileage for the manual comes in at 26 mpg city and 34 mpg highway. Gas mileage ratings for the Honda Si are 21 city and 29 highway, while the GX comes in at 24 mpg city and 36 mpg highway. The Civic Hybrid leads the way with gas mileage of 40 city and 45 on the highway.
Safety:
Standard safety features on all Civic models include antilock brakes (ABS), front-seat side airbags, full-length side curtain airbags and active front head restraints. In addition to ABS, EX and Si models are equipped with four-wheel disc brakes (the others have rear drums). Also, stability control comes on EX-L, Si and Hybrid models.
In government crash tests, the 2010 Honda Civic was awarded perfect five-out-of-five-star ratings for both driver and passenger protection in front impacts. In side-impact testing, the Civic earned five stars for rear passenger protection and four stars for front passenger protection.
Interior:
The Civic's cabin features an unusual mixture of both analog and digital instruments. The overall effect works, resulting in a unique, attractive and easy-to-read display. The build quality is excellent while the materials quality is adequate, not outstanding.
Both front and rear seating is comfortable and the rear floor is conveniently flat all the way across, making for more accommodating rear passenger quarters. Trunk storge capacity for sedans stands at 12 cubic feet, while dropping to 10 cubes for the Hybrid and 6 for the GX.
Drive:
While not engineered for an overly sporty and athletic performance, the drive and handling of the 2010 Civic is capable and confident. Most drivers will be more than satisfied with the Civic's driving performance, while enthusiasts can opt for Civic Si's sport-oriented suspension tuning and high-revving engine. Overall, the ride quality is adequately smooth and acceptably quiet.
Both the Civic Hybrid and natural-gas GX models are quite sluggish, however. While this may be acceptable in the unique GX, the Civic Hybrid has some catching up to do with the Toyota Prius, which is both faster and less expensive.
Update: Weak Economy Leads To Lower Civic Prices:
Honda's sales have been on the weak side historically for close to the past two years now, right along with the other car brands and evidence of a continuing slow economy.
They've recently made some progress in offsetting at least some of the market weakness through strong incentives and easier-to-get discounts. The bottom line? The current combination of a soft market along with intense dealer competition has created the perfect opportunity for nailing down some great deals.
Car dealers will "wheel and deal" bigtime right now if you know how to push their buttons.
How To Buy A New Civic At The Best Price: Before listing MSRP and invoice prices for the 2010 Honda Civic, here's the most successful new car buying tactic for getting the lowest price, especially given the current slow car market.
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