2019 Honda Civic at a glance

You don’t have to drive very far to cross paths with a Honda Civic. As one of the best-selling cars in North America and the most popular car in Canada for over two decades, the Civic is comfortably settled in at the top of the compact car segment. Nevertheless, Honda has made a few improvements to the 2019 edition Civic Sedan and Coupe.

Honda has always been good at being proactive when it comes to improving its most popular models. They are not about to wait for the Civic to become obsolete before improving it, and that explains in large part why their cars are so successful.

Additions to the 2019 Honda Civic include Honda Sensing active safety technologies now standard on all Honda Civic Coupe and Sedan models, a refreshed exterior, interior upgrades that include the addition of a volume knob for the audio system (thank heavens) and a new Sport trim.

Starting at $17,790, the Civic gets a standard 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that delivers 158 horsepower and 138 pound-feet of torque while top-of-the-line Touring models get a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that delivers 174 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque.

The Civic Coupe starts at $21,190 and offers the same engine options. A six-speed manual is standard on both the Sedan and Coupe, but the CVT automatic gearbox is the clear fuel-economy winner.

What the 2019 Honda Civic does well

1. We’ve said this about basically every Honda vehicle, but the Civic is incredibly balanced. The 2019 Honda Civic won’t be any different. It’s easy to drive, feels perfectly solid and stable at all times, and reacts the way you expect to in every situation.

2. One of the major faults of the 2018 model was the infotainment system’s lack of a physical volume knob. Honda has continually said it wasn’t a big deal, but they’ve been replacing the touch interface in every new product including the 2019 Civic. It’s a wise decision.

3. There’s a ton of storage space in the sedan, and the trunk is surprisingly one of the most spacious in the segment.

4. Fuel economy is very, very impressive. With the six-speed manual it will average around 8.0 liters per 100 kilometers and 7.1 liters per 100 kilometers. Fuel economy isn’t really different with the turbo engine.

5. Honda Sensing is now standard. That means you get a wide range of active safety tech at no extra cost.

What the 2019 Honda Civic doesn’t do so well

1. The sedan has a lot of space, but the Coupe is a different sporty. A small trunk and a useless rear seat make this a bachelor’s car through and through.

2. There have been some oil issues reported with the 1.5-liter turbo, and at this point the word’s still out on the new Honda engine’s reliability.

3. The Honda Civic sedan has a surprisingly large turning radius. You’ll notice it when driving in the city or parking.

What we tell our friends

The 2019 Honda Civic is nothing but a good buy. It’s the total package in terms of safety, comfort, fuel economy, and interior space when talking about the sedan. We would however advise against opting for the 1.5-liter turbo until some of the issues that have plagued it get straightened out. As for the Coupe, well it’s not at all practical but it’s certainly one of the best remaining compact coupes on sale today.

2019 Honda Civic Images

2019 Honda Civic

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