“May you live in interesting times,” says the proverb. And indeed, 2014 was an interesting time for Honda’s ubiquitous compact sedan. Honda introduced an all-new version of the Civic for 2012; then, they decided it wasn’t good enough and revamped it for 2013. You’d think they’d take a rest — standard operating procedure for Honda is to wait 3 years before major improvements — but the 2014 Honda Civic saw even more enhancements, including styling updates for the coupe, new features such as Honda’s brilliant LaneWatch blind spot camera and a new continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) to further improve fuel economy.
While the changes make the Civic more appealing, we haven’t changed our overall opinion of the car, which is very favorable. We regard the Civic as the benchmark for compact sedans: It’s roomy enough for family duty, reliable as the sunrise and admirably fuel-efficient. Honda offers a broad variety of choices, including the slick 2-door coupe, extra-thrifty HF and hybrid models, the sporty Si and even a natural-gas-fueled version for alternative-fuel enthusiasts. The Civic was a great buy when new, and it’s a sensible choice as a used car as well. Related: 2013 Honda Civic Review.
What We Like
Spacious interior; great reliability; broad range of models; good fuel economy
What We Don’t
Not as engaging to drive as the competition
Fuel Economy & Engine Specs
Most Civics are powered by a 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine that produces 143 horsepower and 129 lb-ft of torque. Fuel economy comes in at 28 miles per gallon in the city and 36 mpg on the highway with the 5-speed manual transmission and 30 mpg city/39 mpg hwy when equipped with the new CVT automatic (a 2-mpg improvement in city driving compared to the 2013 Civic’s 5-speed automatic). Honda also offered a more fuel-efficient model, the HF, which is rated at 31 mpg city/41 mpg hwy.
The Civic Hybrid couples a 1.5-liter gasoline engine with an electric motor and a CVT, with a total gas/electric system output of 110 hp and 127 lb-ft of torque. The Hybrid is rated at 44 mpg city/44 mpg hwy.
At the other end of the spectrum is the hot-rod Civic Si, powered by a 2.4-liter engine producing 201 hp and 170 lb-ft of torque. This engine comes exclusively with a 6-speed manual and has fuel-economy estimates of 22 mpg city/31 mpg hwy.
Honda also offered a version of the Civic powered by compressed natural gas (CNG), bearing the imaginative name Civic Natural Gas. It has a variant of the 1.8-liter engine that produces 110 hp and 106 lb-ft of torque. CNG is sold by the gasoline gallon equivalent, and the Civic Natural Gas is rated at 27 miles per gasoline gallon equivalent in the city and 38 MPGge on the highway.
Standard Features & Options
The 2014 Civic comes in a staggering seven different models: the mainstream LX, EX and EX-L, along with the more fuel-efficient HF, the CNG-powered Natural Gas, the rocket-ship Si and the Hybrid. Most are offered as a sedan or a coupe; the HF, the Hybrid and the Natural Gas are sedan-only. With Hondas, the trim level determines what equipment the car has — the only factory-installed option is navigation, offered on all but the LX and HF models, and an automatic transmission for the LX and the 2-door EX. (All other Civics are automatic-only, except for the Si, which comes exclusively with a 6-speed manual.)
Honda dropped the bare-bones DX model after 2012, and leaving the nicely equipped LX as the entry-level Civic. It comes with power mirrors and door locks, keyless entry, cruise control, floor mats, air conditioning and a 4-speaker stereo with a CD player, an iPod-compatible USB port and Pandora Internet radio. The HF and Natural Gas models are equipped much like the LX. The HF gets low-rolling-resistance tires, cast-aluminum wheels and a trunk spoiler, while the Natural Gas gets alloy wheels and variable-delay wipers. The Natural Gas model also has an abbreviated trunk; most of the space is reserved for the cylindrical CNG tank.
The EX model comes with everything found on the LX plus alloy wheels, a sunroof, rear disc brakes, automatic headlights, keyless ignition, variable-delay wipers, a split/fold rear seat, an upgraded 6-speaker stereo and Honda’s new LaneWatch system, which mounts a camera on the right-side mirror and shows a wide-angle view on the center screen. The EX-L adds leather upholstery, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, larger wheels and heated front seats; sedans get a power driver’s seat as well.
The Hybrid model offers similar equipment to the EX, with unique alloy wheels and LED taillights, and adds forward collision warning and lane-departure alert. A Leather package adds the same upgrades found on the EX-L.
The Civic Si gets most of the features from the Civic EX, plus equipment designed to enhance performance: 17-inch alloy wheels, a sport-tuned suspension, a limited-slip differential, sport seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, an aluminum shift knob and a unique instrument panel.
Pricing
Hondas have a well-deserved reputation for long-term reliability, particularly in states where rust isn’t an issue — without metal corrosion, a well-cared-for Civic can keep going for hundreds of thousands of miles. Good reliability means high resale value, and even high-mileage examples can command higher prices than other Japanese cars of similar vintage and mileage. We suggest checking KBB.com to see values of used 2014 Honda Civics, and since asking prices can vary with locale, check the Autotrader Classifieds to get a better idea of prices in your area.
Recalls
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued the following recalls for the 2014 Honda Civic:
Some LX models had their factory-installed tires mounted improperly, which could result in leaks.
Faulty transmission software can result in damage to the transmission drive pulley shaft, which can cause the wheels to lock or the car to lose power while driving.
Recall repairs are required by law, even if the vehicle is out of warranty. Your dealer can check to see if the repairs were performed, and if not, they’ll fix the car at no charge to you.
Safety Ratings & Warranties
The 2014 Civic sedan received a perfect 5-star rating from NHTSA, though the coupe achieved only four stars. Both body styles received 4-star ratings for front impacts and five stars for side impacts. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety once again awarded both body styles of the Civic a Top Safety Pick+ rating owing to their best-possible Good scores in all crash tests and the availability of forward collision warning and lane-departure alert (though they only come in hybrid models).
The 2014 Honda Civic was sold with a 3-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and 5 years or 60,000 miles of powertrain protection. These warranties are transferable when the car is sold, but the rust-through warranty (5 years/unlimited mileage) only applies to the original owner. Civics sold under the Honda certified pre-owned program get an additional 1-year/12,000-mile bumper-to bumper warranty (added to the original 3-year/36,000-mile warranty if it’s still in effect), plus powertrain protection for up to 7 years or 100,000 miles from the date the car was purchased new. This additional warranty can also be transferred to subsequent owners.
Other Cars to Consider
2014 Toyota Corolla — The Civic’s arch-nemesis is every bit as reliable as the Honda, though even less engaging to drive. Related: 2014 Toyota Corolla vs. 2014 Honda Civic.
2014 Mazda Mazda3 — The Mazda3 comes up short on back-seat space, but it’s very fuel-efficient in 2.0-liter form. Plus, if you love to drive, no compact will put a bigger smile on your face. Related: 2014 Mazda3 Review.
2014 Nissan Versa — Technically a smaller car than the Civic, the Versa is actually just as roomy inside, and a bargain price when new translates to great buys on the used market. Related: 2014 Nissan Versa Review.
Autotrader’s Advice
They say there’s no such thing as a sure thing, but a used Honda Civic comes pretty darn close. All 2014 Civics are nicely equipped; we like the EX for its broad selection of convenience features and the new LaneWatch camera (one of the most practical safety systems we’ve seen). And for enthusiasts, the Civic Si is a great performance sedan. If you can find a Civic with a complete set of maintenance records, that’s the best choice. You may pay a bit more for a used 2014 Civic than you would for another car, but it should run for decades if you’re diligent about maintenance. That makes it a great long-term investment — and one of our favorite used-car buys. Find a Honda Civic for sale near you.
