Motor Trend First Drive: 2012 Honda Civic

From Motor Trend:

Honda wanted the new model to be instantly recognizable as a Civic. Inside, Gen 8's twin-tier dash was kept, albeit significantly revised, to carry on the well-liked and well-established design theme. A large analog tachometer remains the focal point of the lower tier, while a digital speedometer flanked by fuel and engine-temp displays sits up top. New for 2012 is a 5-inch intelligent media info display, or i-MID, that resides in the right corner of the upper tier. Controlled via a steering wheel-mounted keypad, i-MID shows information for audio, Bluetooth phone/audio, fuel economy, clock, and upcoming navigation turns.

Much of the 2012's resemblance to its predecessor stems from the exterior dimensions, which have changed not a tenth of an inch. Length (177.3 inches), width (69.0), and height (56.5) for the sedan are all the same as before; only the wheelbase, at 105.1, has shrunk 1.2 inches. The 2012 coupe's dimensions - LxWxH of 175.5 x 69.0 x 55.0 and wheelbase of 103.2 - are nearly identical to '11's, which differ only in width (-0.1) and wheelbase (-1.1).

You might think interior size has remained status quo, too. You'd be wrong. Sedan passenger volume is up 3.7 cubic feet, from 90.9 to 94.6, with big jumps in rear legroom (+1.6 inches) and shoulder room (+2.9 front, +0.9 rear). Even cargo volume, at 12.5 cubic feet, is up 0.5. Apparently, Honda's approach of "man maximum, machine minimum" paid dividends. And the coupe? It actually shrunk a bit in passenger volume, from 83.7 to 83.2, but cargo volume swells from 11.5 to 11.7 and front shoulder room and rear legroom both see small increases.

By using 5 percent more high-strength steel, Honda claims the Civic's body is 7 percent lighter, 10 percent stiffer in static rigidity, and 11 percent stronger in dynamic rigidity. Further, a new electric power steering (EPS) system, a redesigned front subframe, and a thin-walled fuel tank all combine to shave more lbs. With standard safety equipment including six airbags, Honda's ACE body structure, stability control, and "motion adaptive" EPS, which applies steering assist to prevent loss of control, the 2012 is billed as the safest Civic ever

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Learn more about the 2012 Honda Civic at Tyrrell-Doyle Honda.