NCFHEJBD: 2010 Honda Civic Sedan LX

2010 Honda Civic Sedan

While Honda’s smaller Fit is only offered in a hatchback body style, with a single engine available, the larger Honda Civic has one of the most extensive model lineups among small cars. In addition to base and mid-level models, there’s a sports-oriented Si version, along with a natural-gas version in the form of the Honda Civic GX. And all but the GX are offered in a choice of coupe or sedan. There’s also a high-mileage Hybrid model, but that’s only offered as a sedan and it’s covered by TheCarConnection.com in a separate review.

As the 2010 model year arrives, the Honda Civic has now gone four years since its last major redesign, yet it still manages to look fresh. That’s because at the time of its introduction, the Civic was a little far out design-wise, with a swoopier, more ached roofline; a stubbier, yet more aerodynamic front end; and a bold, two-tiered video-game-like instrument panel that made other small-car dashes look plain. Now, several years later, several other small-car models have emulated some of the Civic’s cues so that it still looks quite fresh.

The 140-horsepower, 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine that comes in base DX, mid-level EX, and the best-equipped LX models is no penalty box. It’s smooth, quick-revving, and refined, and pairs well with either the five-speed manual or five-speed automatic. The manual gearbox is light and quick-shifting in the Civic and a step better than the linkages in most other small cars. Either transmission delivers exceptional fuel economy, with EPA estimates for the manual of 26 mpg city, 34 highway for the manual gearbox and 25/36 mpg for the automatic.