10 Cool Things About the 2012 Honda Civic

It’s hard to believe that Honda’s compact Civic has been in production since 1972. Forty years later, the car is still going strong and ranks as one of the best-selling cars of all time. With unrelenting sales in the US, it’s plain to see that the Civic is held dear by many American buyers. The 2012 Civic is the ninth generation of the car, and sees a new body shape, along with a new specification. With this kind of motoring heritage, the Civic boasts more than enough features to make it a really cool car. Here are ten of Honda of El Cerrito’s favorites.

1. The Honda Civic has developed a strong reputation for safety over the last forty years, and the 2012 model is no exception. The 2012 Civic features six airbags, as well as antilock brakes with brake assist (ABS), vehicle stability assist with traction control (VSA), and a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) to help keep occupants safe.

2. The innovative Drive-by-Wire throttle system uses smart electronics to connect the throttle pedal to the throttle butterfly valve in the intake manifold, thus allowing the engine response to be optimized to suit the driving conditions and to better match your expectations.

3. The Civic features an Intelligent Multi-Information Display, abbreviated to i-MID for those that don’t have time to waste on so many syllables. The high-resolution, full-color LCD i-MID screen allows the driver to manage various commands while keeping his or her hands on the wheel, and displays all the information that he or she will need on the road, like gas mileage and air temperature. For extra personalization, can even customize the i-MID’s wallpaper by uploading your own images. How cool is that?

4. With so many things to concentrate on behind the wheel, drivers need all the help that they can get, and Eco Assist is a great ’at-a-glance’ feature, which aids drivers in establishing the best fuel economy. There are blue and green bars on either side of the speedometer display. As long as the bars stay green, you can rest assured that you are optimizing fuel economy. Simple.

5. Conventional cabin space in the compact class is fairly fixed, but with the Civic there is a new element of versatility. The EX features a 60/40 rear seat back, which can be folded down to create much more room for luggage or other cargo. Despite the car’s smaller roots, this gives the 2012 Civic plenty of options for interior configuration and a much bigger feel inside when you need it.

6. Satellite navigation is always a useful tool to have at the driver’s disposal, particularly on long journeys, but it’s also important that the he or she is not distracted. Honda’s Satellite-Linked Navigation System comes with voice recognition and is capable of understanding spoken numbers, street names, and cities, as well as 600 standard voice commands.

7. The Civic Hybrid is powered by the Integrated Motor Assist (IMA), which combines a 1.5-liter gasoline engine with an electric motor. The combination delivers an impressive 44 miles per gallon whether you’re driving in the city or on the highway.

8. The Si model comes with more power, delivering 201 horsepower at 7000 revs – over 60 horsepower more than the basic sedan. That means the driver needs more support to maintain a safe, comfortable driving position. High bolsters on the driver’s seat combine with cool, textured aluminum pedals for maximum grip.

9. For the absolute peak in environmentally-friendly vehicles, the Natural Gas Civic beats them all. Powered by compressed natural gas (CNG) this car produces nearly zero emissions. That gives it such strong credentials that in some US states, it entitles the driver to use a dedicated lane.

10. The HF sedan is the aerodynamic surprise of all the Civic trims. With a lowered ride, special underbody panels that stop the wind causing problems, a unique decklid spoiler, and specially-designed wheels, the HF delivers the best gas mileage of all the gasoline-powered models (41 miles per gallon on the highway.)