First Drive Road Test: The 2012 Honda Civic EX-L Coupe

Without question this version of the 2012 Honda Civic is bound to be the variant most people are interested in buying although the sporty Si, fuel efficient HF, lithium ion battery powered Hybrid and Natural Gas variants are bound to have their fans too. But let's be honest, Honda just sells a lot more LX, EX and EX-L versions of the Civic in both coupe and sedan form.

In this test I drove a lavishly equipped 2012 Civic Coupe EX-L model with navigation (more on why that's important later) with a 5-speed automatic transmission and the 1.8 liter 140 horsepower/128 lb. feet of torque 4-cylinder engine. EPA estimates for fuel economy are 28 city/39 highway but those readings were done without putting the vehicle in ECON Mode or the aid of the Eco-Assist system. The fuel tank remains the same size at 13.2 gallons and takes regular unleaded.

ECON mode on models with the 1.8 liter 4-cylinder and automatic transmission alters the function of the air conditioning system, alters the function of the drive-by-wire throttle response and changes the shift patterns to improve fuel efficiency. The Eco-Assist system is two bars at the top of the dashboard by the speedometer that glow green when you are driving efficiently and blue when you are being naughty.

Unfortunately for me the 2012 Civic encourages my inner hooligan so I was mostly in a blue mood when behind the wheel. But for hypermilers this system could be very helpful. Some at the press event questioned why Honda stuck with a 5-speed automatic instead of upgrading to a six-speed like in the 2011 Hyundai Elantra and their response was that designing a new gearbox would have raised the price of the car substantially and that they could get the desired economy with the existing unit.

My thinking on this is that the Elantra only gets 1 mile per gallon better on the highway according to the EPA (whose estimates are rarely accurate) and that no one who is shopping for a car like this is going to say, "Gee I just have to have a six-speed." If you think of it in actual real world terms the value of a six-speed automatic is a non-issue to buyers more interested in bottom line sticker price.

My fully equipped EX-L coupe tester stickered at $23,455 and came with in-dash navigation, Bluetooth, USB/i-Pod integration, the nicest leather seats I have seen in the compact car class, power windows, power door locks, 16-inch aluminum alloy wheels, 4-wheel disc brakes, a power moonroof, keyless entry, climate control with expensive feeling chrome ringed dials, XM satellite radio and a 160-watt 6-speaker AM/FM/CD audio system.

The navigation, Bluetooth and all of the audio controls can be operated via the clever new i-MID screen on the dashboard next to the speedometer and right in your line of sight as you are driving. The system is operated via a circular knob on the leather wrapped steering wheel and without checking any owner's guide I had the system figured out within a minute and a half. I even synced my Bluetooth phone in a parking lot in just a little over a minute. The system is amazing and really cuts down on driver distraction.

Unlike most competitor's compact cars, the 2012 Honda Civic remains the same size as the last version but remains a true marvel of interior space efficiency. The coupe has a slightly larger trunk now at 11.6 cubic feet and the sedan's trunk grows to 12.5 cubic feet. The sedan saw its overall interior volume go up with additional space for rear legroom the biggest news here.

The coupe felt airier than the previous generation model to this 6 foot tall tester thanks to added elbow room. Can't have enough elbow room in a coupe. I really hate feeling like I am riding in my passenger's lap unless I really, really like the person.

Now, on to the important question? What is the 2012 Honda Civic EX-L coupe like to drive? First off, I was amazed by the level of responsiveness from the 1.8 liter 4-cylinder from a stop as the 5-speed automatic really is perfectly geared to get the most performance out of the engine. Honda also knows how to make the best 4-cylinder noises in the world and when you really push this engine it emits a very sporty growl.

During more sedate driving maneuvers the Civic was very quiet inside and the suspension was extremely well damped over the pothole ridden streets around Washington D.C. In fact, what was supposed to be a short drive loop in this EX-L coupe turned into a 20 mile adventure thanks to D.C.'s poorly marked streets and my very guy-like refusal to use the navigator to get back to the Civic press event headquarters.

But after nearly 20 minutes of sight-seeing I decided it was time to admit directional defeat and use the navigation system to get me home. Not only did it get me back to the press event headquarters but all of my turns and directions would pop up in my line of sight on the i-MID screen right as I needed them. This really is now a class leader in terms of navigator user-friendliness and I highly recommend it when you buy your next 2012 Civic. Aftermarket units just don't cut it. And they usually get me lost. Or more lost.

During my time behind the wheel of the 2012 Civic EX-L I was reminded of why this car is so central to the Honda brand. There is real engineering brilliance to be found in the calibration of the suspension, steering, handling and the interior remains a lovely place to spend time. The Civic is quick, nimble and sporty when you want it to be and a refined cruiser when you need it to operate that way. With gas prices going up, this car just really makes a whole lot of sense.