2015 Honda Civic
New for 2015
Fresh off several significant 2014-model-year updates, the Civic rolls into 2015 with minor changes including some new features and a value-priced Special Edition sedan model.
The Compact Car
Think “compact car” and it’s hard not to conjure an image of the Honda Civic. The conscientiously-named Civic just fills the role so well, and continues to do so for the 2015 model year. From sporty to efficient, there’s a Civic to suit virtually every buyer, and at a typically compact-car price.
Powertrains and Performance
Few cars offer as many powertrain options as the 2015 Honda Civic. Whether you want to go fast, use less gasoline, or forgo it completely, there’s an option for you.
The bread and butter Civic engine is a 1.8-liter four-cylinder that produces 143 horsepower and 129 pound-feet of torque. It’s available in the standard Civic coupe and sedan with either a five-speed manual transmission or a CVT automatic.
The five-speed brings an EPA fuel-economy rating of 31 mpg combined (28 mpg city, 36 mpg highway),* while the CVT musters 33 mpg combined (30 mpg city, 39 mpg highway).* There’s also an efficiency-focused, CVT-equipped HF sedan model that gets 35 mpg combined (31 mpg city, 41 mpg highway).*
Spicing things up a bit is the Civic Si, which gets a 2.4-liter inline-four producing 205 hp and 174 lb-ft of torque. Befitting a proper performance car, it’s offered exclusively with a six-speed manual transmission in either coupe or sedan body styles. It returns an EPA-rated 25 mpg combined (22 mpg city, 31 mpg highway).*
If fuel efficiency is your priority, there’s also a Civic Hybrid that pairs a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine and CVT with an electric motor, yielding a combined 110 hp and 127 lb-ft of torque. It also comes with the fuel-economy boost you’d expect with added electric power, yielding 45 mpg combined (44 mpg city, 47 mpg highway).*
However, Honda also offers another green powertrain option. The Civic is the only new car available from the factory to non-fleet buyers with a natural-gas powertrain. It uses the same 1.8-liter engine as the standard gasoline Civic models, but mated to a five-speed automatic.
The engine produces 110 hp and 106 lb-ft of torque in this application, and is rated at the equivalent of 31 mpg combined (27 mpg city, 38 mpg highway) on compressed natural gas.*
Features and Trims
Along with a plethora of powertrain options, the 2015 Honda Civic is available in a variety of trim levels in either four-door, five-seat sedan or two-door, five-seat coupe body styles. It all starts at a low base price of $18,290.**
That buys a base LX coupe (corresponding sedan models cost slightly more), with standard steering-wheel mounted audio, phone, and cruise controls, USB audio interface, multi-reflector halogen headlights with auto off, and a rearview camera.
The sedan-only HF model slots in next, with roughly the same features as the LX but with powertrain and other mechanical tweaks designed to increase fuel efficiency.
For 2015, Honda will also offer a Special Edition (SE) sedan, with 15-inch alloy wheels, automatic climate control, and a Display Audio system with HondaLink connectivity as well as the applicable standard features from the LX.
Next up is the EX, which adds pushbutton start, variable intermittent windshield wipers, and a one-touch power moonroof. On top of that, the EX-L adds fog lights, leather seats with front heating and eight-way power adjustment for the driver, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.
Finally, the EX-L Navi adds—you guessed it—navigation. The system also features HD Radio and SiriusXM satellite radio compatibly. A seven-inch central display is also available on the SE, EX, and EX-L models.
Note that the more specialized Si, Hybrid, and Natural Gas models more or less mirror the features available in the standard Civic sedan and coupe, but with some variations and at different prices.
Exterior/Interior
The Civic may be an economy car, but that doesn’t mean it goes without style. The exterior is sleek, with a steeply-raked windshield that makes even a basic sedan model look rakish. Honda’s compact is also one of only a handful of mainstream cars still available as a two-door coupe, a body style that always looks good.
The interior is equally stylish, with a futuristic design theme that mirrors the exterior. Highlights include a nicely-detailed three-spoke steering wheel and two-tier dashboard, with a digital speedometer surrounded by the sweep of a virtual tach.
Buyers looking for a little more tech can upgrade to the seven-inch Display Audio system, which includes crisp digital graphics and voice recognition. The entire display is also canted toward the driver for easier use.
Safety
Standard safety equipment on the 2015 Honda Civic includes anti-lock brakes, stability and traction control systems, and front, front-side, and side-curtain airbags. The Honda LaneWatch® blind-spot monitoring system is optional.
Bottom Line
The 2015 Honda Civic continues to be one of the most comprehensively-equipped compact cars available. With a low price of entry and typical Honda quality, it looks set to maintain its status as the ultimate small car.
*Based on 2015 EPA mileage ratings. Use for comparison purposes only. Your mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle.
**MSRP excluding tax, license, registration, $820.00 destination charge and options.
Image: Honda