A two-door 2012 Honda Civic EX-L or a Kia Forte Koup? Luckily, Hyundai is readying an Elantra coupe that should be totes cute. Other options that might show up include the Kia Forte Koup’s larger fours (a 156-hp 2.0-liter and a 173-hp 2.4-liter are offered), or the 210-hp, 1.6-liter turbo four that’s currently in development forHyundai’s Veloster, but we don’t expect hot performance to be the Elantra coupe’s thing. The Korean company must, after all, protect both the funky-doored Veloster and the rear-drive Genesis coupe.
DIGITAL EDITOR ANDREW STOY: After driving this 2012 Honda Civic EX-L, I'm beginning to understand why Honda delayed the car. As for the Civic's power? Outward visibility was outstanding in the best Honda tradition. I can't imagine anyone except the most die-hard Honda aficionado choosing this car over the competitive offerings.
The small information screen tucked up high on the two-tiered dashboard seems to have no real purpose in a car with a big navigation/audio screen in the center console.
There's an Eco button, which seems to force the car into a fuel-saving, lesser-performance mode, but this seems hardly necessary in a car that already measures up quite well on the fuel-economy scale. Not in a Honda. All would be forgiven if the car still felt as if it was providing that same mechanical-direct link among driver and machine and road.
NEWS EDITOR GREG MIGLIORE: So this is the new 2012 Honda Civic? It looks decent, drives fine and in general sips fuel. There's nothing wrong with the Civic. It's just that other small cars have gotten so impressive with almost premium interiors and better, classier sheetmetal that Honda seems almost stagnant. There's some irony in that, considering that Honda made cars like this matter. Ford and Chevy were late-comers to quality smaller cars, and Hyundai--well, it wasn't even in the discussion earlier in the decade. The Civic looks nice enough. It's a Civic. On the road, the Civic performed well. The brakes were very well mannered. If you happen to enjoy a permanent state of boredom, check out the 2012 Honda Civic.
COPY EDITOR CYNTHIA L. OROSCO-WRIGHT: I came away from an overnight with the 2012 Honda Civic EX-L feeling there was nothing particularly noteworthy about his car. The Hyundai Elantra immediately comes to mind. That car has sporty sheetmetal, good styling inside and out, and it's fun to drive. As for the Civic, not so much.
First, the driver's seat felt as if it was designed with seven-foot-tall people in mind. The Civic held expressway speeds well and there is decent power underhood. And the brakes are strong. 2012 Honda Civic EX-L Navi Sedan Base Price: $24,205 As-Tested Price: $24,205 Drivetrain: 1.8-liter I4; FWD, five-speed automatic Fuel Economy (EPA/AW): 32/33.0 mpg
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