What is it
The two door version of the 2016 Honda Civic was the first version to be revealed – sort of. In customised form it was the concept-car teaser Honda sprang on us at the New York show last spring. Now we see the production version.
Signature feature
The sporty coupe shape speaks for itself, but perhaps the stand-out take-away is a dramatic increase in rear-seat room compared with the outgoing two-door.
While the old coupe had a shorter wheelbase than its sedan sibling, the 2016’s is almost identical to the latest sedan’s, which itself was stretched for 2016. The result, says Honda, is a substantial 8.4 cu. Ft. more interior volume, most of that created by almost 5 inches (75 mm) more rear legroom.
Yet overall, the coupe is more compact than its predecessor, with shorter front and (especially) rear overhangs. It is also 25 mm lower than the new sedan, and has its own unique styling forward of the A-posts.
What else is new
Like on the ’16 sedan, everything. New structure, new suspension, new steering and new powertrains. Like the 10th-generation sedan, this is probably the most comprehensively new Civic since the original in the early 1970s. Still to come are Si and even hotter Type-R variants – though the latter may, like in other markets, be based on the still-to-be-revealed 5-door hatchback.
Under the hood
Like on the ’16 sedan, a new 2.0-litre, 158-hp base engine can be paired with a 6-speed manual transmission or a CVT automatic, while a 1.5-litre, 174-hp turbo comes only with the CVT.
When can I buy one
The Civic Coupe should hit Canadian showrooms in the early spring.
Cool quotient
3.5 stars (out of 5)
You gotta like the basic proposition -- affordable coupe style with a useable back seat --but we reserve full approval until we see a stick-shift on the Turbo, as well as the hotter versions still to come.
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