Now in the fourth year of its ninth generation, the Honda Civic remains among the most successful automobiles in history. The compact, which debuted in 1972, is available as a coupe and sedan. And it’s offered in nearly a dozen trims and in three fuel choices — gas, hybrid and natural gas.
The 2015 edition gains a trim level, but overall the Civic remains the same as the 2014 model as a coupe and sedan and in LX, EX, SE, EX-L and EX-L Navi (navigation) trims.
The Weekly Driver Test Drive
In its base LX model, the Civic is equipped with 15-inch steel wheels, full power accessories, air-conditioning, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, a one-piece fold-down rear seatback and cruise control. Electronic features include a five-inch display screen, a rearview camera, Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity, SMS text messaging functionality and a four-speaker (six for the coupe) sound system with a CD player, an auxiliary audio jack, an iPod/USB audio interface and Pandora radio functionality.
The mid-range Civic adds nearly a dozen items, and my top-line sedan EX-L Navi added 17-inch alloy wheels, foglights, automatic headlights, heated mirrors, leather upholstery and heated front seats, an eight-way power driver seat, a navigation system as well as HD and satellite radio.
Since its debut in 1972, when it was little more than a box with an engine and four wheels, the Civic has always had a reputation for providing steady, dependable transportation. It’s not the fanciest nor fastest automobile, but it does everything well and keeps doing so — for as long as it’s asked.
The front-wheel-drive Civic is powered by a 1.8-liter, 16-valve four-cylinder engine with 143 horsepower. My weekly driver had an automatic continuously variable transmission (CVT). A five-speed manual transmission is an option.
The CVT powere is seamless and it further adds to one of the Civic’s best attributes. With the leather-trimmed seats providing not only more comfort but a noise buffer, the Civic has a composed, comfortable ride with little road noise at any city or highway speed I drove.
Likes:
Strong gas mileage averages.
Multiple trims and fuel options.
Long list of standard features.
Spacious interior.
Dislikes:
Below average cargo space.
Mediocre acceleration.
Strong competition at the same or lower price points.
Facts & Figures: 2015 Honda Civic
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Engine | 4-cylinder, 1.8L |
| Horsepower | 143 |
| Transmission | Automatic (AV-S7) |
| Drivetrain | Front-Wheel Drive |
| Fuel Economy | 29 city / 37 hwy / 32 combined mpg |
| Fuel Type | Regular Gasoline |
| Airbags | 6 |
| Warranty | Bumper to bumper, 3 years/36,000 miles; Powertrain, 5 years/60,000 miles; Corrosion, 5 years/unlimited miles |
| Acceleration | 0-60 mph, 9.0 seconds |
| Fuel economy | 30 mpg (city), 39 mpg (highway), 33 mpg (combined) continuously variable transmission |
| Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price | $24,300.00 |
| Price As Tested | $25,130.00 |
Article Last Updated: March 31, 2026.
- About the Author
- Latest Posts
A sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The Weekly Driver since 2004.
In addition to founding this site in 2004, James writes a Sunday automotive column for The San Jose Mercury and East Bay Times in Walnut Creek, Calif., and monthly auto review and wellness columns for Gulfshore Business, a magazine in Southwest Florida.
An author and contributor to many newspapers, magazines and online publications, co-hosted The Weekly Driver Podcast from 2017 to 2024.