3 Reasons the Honda Civic is North American Car of the Year

When Honda reinvented the Civic for 2016, its designers must have known that they were creating something special. They couldn’t have known, however, that they were building a vehicle that would soon become the 2016 North American Car of the Year. If you haven’t driven the new Civic yet, you’ll want to know about these three reasons it stands out as one of the best cars on today’s market.

A New Turbocharged Engine

For the first time in its history, Honda offers a turbocharged engine in one of its non-performance cars. That’s great news for buyers who can afford to spend a little more money on the EX-T, EX-L, and Touring trims. The turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine churns out 174 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque, giving you enough power to go from zero to 60 mph in just over seven seconds.

Even the base engine offers exceptional performance. The 2.0-liter four-cylinder gives you 158 hp and 138 lb-ft of torque, which is better than what most of its competitors can offer. Interestingly, the turbocharged engine actually gets better gas mileage. Expect it to give you about 31 mpg in the city and 42 mpg on the highway.*

An Impressive Exterior

The Honda Civic is such a popular vehicle that its exterior styling had become a little boring. That isn’t because the older Civics lacked style. They were just so common on the road that they became the norm instead of the exception. That changes with the 2016 Civic.

Honda’s designers clearly spent a lot of time creating an impressive exterior that wouldn’t significantly increase the car’s price. Even the base model comes with:

• LED daytime running lights and tail lights
• Automatic headlights
• Chrome accents

For about $20,000, you can get features that you usually find on considerably more expensive cars.

A Luxurious Interior

Dedication to quality features isn’t limited to the Civic’s exterior. You’ll also find plenty inside the cabin. Some top features that come standard with the 2016 Civic include:

• Upscale building materials
• A capacitive-touch volume button that’s built into the steering wheel
• A compact layout that’s easy to use while driving

Of course, you can get even more features by upgrading to one of the higher trim levels. A seven-inch touchscreen is available in all versions except the base. The touchscreen not only gives you access to navigation and other useful features, but keeps you connected to your smartphone while you drive.

Perhaps the nicest thing about the interior is how much space Honda gives the driver and passengers. Honda extended the Civic’s length by about three inches and its width by two inches. That provides a surprising amount of space for a compact sedan. Even six-foot passengers will feel like they have plenty of room.

Given how competitive automotive companies are in the sedan segment, it really means something when a company wins the North American Car of the Year title. There are a lot of strong options out there, but none of them offer what the Civic gives you at such an affordable price.

*Based on 2016 EPA mileage/highway estimates and driving range ratings. Use for comparison purposes only. Your MPGe/MPG and driving range will vary depending on driving conditions, how you drive and maintain your vehicle, battery age/condition, and other factors. For additional information about EPA ratings, visit http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/label/learn-more-PHEV-label.shtml 

Image via Pixabay

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