The 2012 Honda Civic

At Honda of El Cerrito, we take pride in the excellence of our Honda vehicles. So it is with great excitement that we introduce you to the redesigned Honda Civic, coming to you for 2012.

The 2012 Honda Civic continues to show strength among growing competition in the compact car category. Completely redesigned for the current model year, the Civic shows no signs of yielding its preeminence. Highlighted by fuel economy and a roomy interior, this car continues to attract value conscious shoppers.

Several different Civic models are available, beginning with the economical Civic coupe and sedan models which start at $15,605 and $15,805 respectively. Honda also offers coupe and sedan models of the Civic Si which start just above $20,000. A specially designed fuel-efficient model that is new for 2012, the Civic HF, begins at just under $20,000. Honda is embracing eco-friendly motoring through the Civic brand by offering a hybrid model and the Civic NGV which draws its power from natural gas.

The Civic family tree includes more than a dozen trim levels spread across each product. For example, the DX takes the entry-level spot for the Civic Sedan and Coupe, followed by the mid-tier LX and EX and by the top-of-the-line EX-L.

An impressive array awaits drivers who might expect austerity from the DX. For example, the car comes with 15-inch wheels, a tilt and telescoping steering wheel, headlights that automatically turn off, and a folding rear seat. The LX adds door handles that match the body color, power locks and mirrors, audio controls on steering wheel, keyless entry, and more.

The all new HF parallels the LX model sedan’s features and adds low-resistance tires, under-body panels, aluminum wheels, and a spoiler.

The EX model upgrades the wheels to 16-inches in diameter, and adds rear disc brakes, fully automatic headlights, split-folding rear seats, a sunroof, upgraded audio, and Bluetooth. Customers moving up to the EX-L model get to enjoy heated leather seats up front and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. On-board navigation with traffic and satellite radio is available as a separate upgrade.

The hybrid model comes in two trim levels. The base model is similar to the EX trim, only it comes with 15-inch alloy wheels with the same low resistance tires as the HF enjoys. It also comes outfitted with turn signals embedded in the out door mirrors, special taillights, and six-speaker audio. A leather trim level is similar to the Sedan EX-L and adds heated mirrors.

The Si comes as both a coupe and sedan and features 17-inch alloy wheels plus several support options for its handling and suspension. It has a rear spoiler, chrome tipped exhaust, and fog lights. Its interior is similar to the EX, but adds sport seats, a custom shift knob, sport gauges, Bluetooth integration, seven-speaker sound, and a power monitor display.

Civic Coupes and Sedans feature a four-cylinder, 1.8-liter engine paired with either a five-speed manual or a five-speed automatic transmission. These powertrains yield 140 horsepower and combined fuel efficiency ratings between 31 and 32 mpg. A 1.5-liter engine in the hybrid is paired with an electric motor and a continuously variable transmission to produce 44 mpg combined. Finally, the Si boasts a 2.4-liter engine which churns out 201 horsepower and is only paired with a six-speed manual transmission. That powertrain yields a combined fuel economy rating of 25 miles per gallon.

Honda Civic safety comes from its famous active systems including Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA), anti-lock brakes, and a tire pressure monitor. Passive safety features include airbags and a body design that evenly spreads the energy from head-on collisions.

With decades of of fine-tuning and improvements, the 2012 Honda Civic is without a doubt the ideal motoring icon. Perfection might be nearly impossible to obtain, but the Civic is the perfect companion for a variety of people.

*Fuel estimates based on 2012 EPA mileage estimates, reflecting new EPA fuel-economy methods beginning with 2008 models. Use for comparison purposes only. Do not compare to models before 2008. Your actual mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle.