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.)

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.