Plenty of chrome in Honda's latest face. The new Honda Civic coupe. The author's 1987 Honda Civic CRX Si, convertible conversion by Straman.
The latest Civic makes a much stronger impression. The car's best angle. New Elantra. Attractive, and arguably more tasteful than the Civic, but not distinctive.
Layering disguises the height of the Civic's fenders, makes it seem longer and lower than it is. Too much going in the rear quarters, but the new Civic certainly gets noticed.
The new Civic's interior appears upscale and sophisticated even in EX trim with black cloth seats. Hyundai's latest interiors are very conservatively styled compared to the previous generation.
Appears stylish and hi-tech, but the Civic's infotainment interface requires too much tapping. New Elantra instrument panel. Bland, with dated, cheap-looking trim plates. But easier to use.
New Civic's instruments. Highly styled but easy to read. Don't wash out like the Mazda's tach. Instrument panel styled to appear wide yet compact. Artfully tapers towards the doors.
My least favorite part of the new Civic. The lumbar bulge and headrest jut too far forward for me. Civic Touring leather seat. This one felt better to me, but maybe I needed more time in it.
The 2.0-liter engine delivers very good performance and fuel economy. The turbocharged 1.5-liter engine feels stronger and smoother than the 2.0, but it's not a must.