2014 Honda Civic Coupe a fun, economical drive
Honda’s 2014 Civic coupe presents a sporty image with the heart of an economy car. Comparing the coupe to the Civic sedan is a bit like comparing fraternal twin children. They resemble each other and even have some of the same characteristics, but each are different.
Of course there is the obvious difference between the coupe and sedan: the coupe has only two doors. Less obvious are the different body panels. This isn’t just a sedan body with two doors. The 2014 coupe has a more aggressive grille, fender and hood design, while the rear end gets new tail lights, but the car remains instantly recognizable as a Civic. Sportier front and rear bumpers look good, especially with the optional larger wheels, and an Aero package is available for those who want an even more sporty look.
Issues? The longer doors make it harder to get in and out of the car when parked in tight spots, so park where there is room. Another issue isn’t quite as easily fixed. I did hit my head occasionally on the headliner when the car went over a bigger bump in the road. I am fairly tall so this may not be a concern for other drivers. If there was no sunroof in the car, I would have had ample headroom.
The coupe is also more difficult to get in and out of the rear seat, although the passenger front bucket seat does tilt and slide forward so access is reasonable. Once inside the rear seat, I was surprised by the amount of legroom. I had ample space with the front bucket seats adjusted about midway ahead. The flat floor space does make it seem more roomy in the back. The Civic Coupe is technically a fivepassenger coupe, but only because there are seatbelts for five. In reality, this car is full with four people in it.
The Civic Coupe is available in three models with the 1.8-litre engine, a very sporty Si model with a 2.4-litre engine and a hybrid model. We tested an EX model with the 1.8-litre engine. Pricing starts at $18,840 for the LX model, $20,900 for the EX model and $25,600 for the EX-L model. The optional CVT transmission on our EX model added $1,300.
As one has come to expect from Honda, the coupe’s engine performs flawlessly. It is quiet, smooth, revs easily and responds to throttle inputs quickly. With a displacement of 1.8 litres and 143 horsepower, up three from last year due to a revised exhaust system, this four-cylinder provides a great balance between power output and fuel economy. It is rated at 6.9 L/ 100 km in the city and 5.1L/100 km on the highway. The ECO button on the dash modifies vehicle control systems to provide even better fuel economy at the sacrifice of a little performance. The instrument panel illumination changes colour too between economical driving to sporty driving and provides instant feedback to help you save fuel.
Some of the fuel economy comes from the Continuously Variable Transmission in our test vehicle. This new CVT with paddle shifters works very well and the paddle shifters can be used to select gears at any time when driving but place the console shift lever in S mode and the transmission will hold each of the preset seven gear ratios for a spirited driving feel.
Features such as automatic climate control and pushbutton keyless entry and starting make life easy in the Civic, and I especially like the new LaneWatch system that uses a camera in the passenger side mirror housing to display a view on the dash screen of beside and behind the vehicle whenever the signal light is activated. In addition, a push of the button on the end of the signal lever will turn on the display even without signalling. I love this feature and find it is better than a passenger-side mirror. A new 7-inch audio display uses the familiar swipe, pinch and tap features found on smart phones to access audio, phone and vehicle information, while HondaLink connects the latest iPhones seamlessly to the vehicle. Android apps are coming soon.
The 2014 Civic coupe looks great, is economical and fun to drive and is very affordable. That’s why the Honda Civic sells so well and keeps its value.