What Is the 2021 Honda Civic?
The Honda Civic is a front-wheel-drive compact car available in sedan and four-door hatchback body styles. It competes with the Hyundai Elantra, Nissan Sentra and Toyota Corolla.
The sedan has a standard 158-horsepower, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and an optional 174-hp, turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder. The hatchback comes only with the 1.5-liter engine. Both cars have a standard continuously variable automatic transmission, but the hatchback also has an available six-speed manual.
For performance-minded drivers, Honda has the Civic Type R. It comes only as a four-seat hatchback and is powered by a 306-hp, turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder. A six-speed manual is the only transmission offered in the Type R.
What’s New on the 2021 Honda Civic?
The coupe body style and Si trim level have been dropped from the Civic lineup. A new Limited Edition version of the mighty Type R features lightweight BBS wheels, Michelin Sport Cup 2 tires, updated steering and suspension tuning, and less sound-deadening material for further weight savings. Limited Edition production is limited to 600 units, and it’s only available in Phoenix Yellow paint.
What Features in the 2021 Honda Civic Are Most Important?
Standard features include:
- Automatic air conditioning
- Bluetooth streaming audio
- Automatic emergency braking
- Lane-keeping assist
- Adaptive cruise control
Available features include:
- LED headlights
- Remote start
- Power moonroof
- Heated front and rear seats
- Leather-trimmed seats
- 7-inch touchscreen multimedia system
- Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity
- Navigation
2021 Honda Civic Vs. 2021 Toyota Corolla: How Do They Compare?
Both of these compact cars offer room for up to five people, but the Civic and Corolla have different strengths. Each offers a lot of standard safety features and excellent fuel economy, but the Civic is more fun to drive, with better performance and sharper handling — though the gap isn’t as wide as it used to be.
If you’re looking for ultimate efficiency, the Corolla is available in hybrid form, with an impressive EPA-estimated 52 mpg combined. However, nothing in the Corolla range comes close to matching the high-performance Civic Type R.
Should I Buy the 2021 Honda Civic?
Lower trim levels of the Civic deliver an engaging driving experience, and the high-output Type R ratchets up the fun quotient considerably. It’s worth looking at the turbo 1.5-liter engine over the base 2.0-liter, as it offers better performance and gas mileage.
A new generation of the Civic is on the horizon, but the current model remains a strong choice in the compact class; it even won a recent comparison test of ours with the Corolla and Sentra.
