2012 Honda Civic

The 2012 Honda Civic is a little more spacious, comfortable, and economical, but it’s now one of the blandest of the bunch.

The Honda Civic used to be not only the sportiest-driving compact but also arguably the most stylish and desirable. But that car you remember might not bear much semblance to what you’ll find after some cross-shopping. In the years since then the Civic has grown, and Honda has vied for more of the mass-market, but in the process has lost a lot of the appeal that used to charm miserly enthusiasts, as well as affluent households who could afford more, to add a Civic to the garage. That said, the Civic remains a comfortable, spacious, and economical small-car choice.

While the Civic has been fully refreshed for 2012, not much about the lineup itself has changed. The Civic still comes in standard Coupe and Sedan models, a Civic Si two-door coupe, a Civic Hybrid sedan, an eco-minded Civic HF, and a Civic Natural Gas. The newest generation, all new for 2012, builds on the car’s traditional strengths—sporty roadholding, good gas mileage—but faces increasingly stringent competition from new entries like the Hyundai Elantra, Ford Focus, and Chevrolet Cruze.