Sporty Honda Civic EX-L offers long list of safety, comfort features

2015 Honda Civic

MPG: Up to 30 city, 39 highway

MSRP: From $24,140

Horsepower: 143 HP

Fuel tank capacity: 13.2 gal

Curb weight: 2,916 to 2,930 lbs

Fuel type: Gasoline

The Honda Civic lineup was upgraded for 2014, with the upgrades carrying over to 2015 models. The Coupe exterior was redesigned, new wheel designs were introduced, the interior was refined, a new continuously variable transmission (CVT) was added, along with numerous available premium features.

A long list of high-value standard features includes an expanded-view driver’s mirror, rearview camera with guidelines, and Bluetooth HandsFreeLink. A seven-inch capacitive touch-screen Display Audio/LaneWatch display, HondaLink next-generation connected-car technology, and Smart Entry with pushbutton start are available to upgrade some models.

Four basic models are available; LX, SE, EX, and EX-L. Prices range from $18,490-$24,340. The SE (Special Edition) model is new for 2015, and adds $1,100 worth of upgrades for only a $700 increase in price. Telematics, convenience, audio, comfort and style upgrades give customers a higher-value option over the LX Sedan.

The new SE comes with 15-inch alloy wheels with black painted inserts, Honda LaneWatch, HondaLink, additional tweeter speakers, automatic climate control, and the CVT, priced at $19,900. Civic Coupe LX and EX, and Civic Sedan LX have a standard manual transmission and offer the CVT, which is standard on all other trims. The CVT enhances the responsiveness of Civic’s 1.8-liter in-line four cylinder engine and helps provide excellent fuel efficiency. With this engine and the CVT, EPA ratings for the Civic Sedan are 30 city/39 highway/33 combined.

Among the sedans, there is also has a hybrid model for $24,735, an HF (high fuel economy) model for $20,040, and a natural gas model for $26,740. The hybrid is highway rated at 47 mpg and the natural gas model at 38 mpg. The HF makes the most of every drop of gas (highway rating 41 mpg) by adding special aerodynamics and unique alloy wheels with low-rolling-resistance tires, while still providing the styling, amenities, and high-tech standard features of the basic Civic Sedan.

For this review, I drove a Crimson Red Civic EX-L with Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System with Voice Recognition, and beige interior, priced at $24,340. My tester came with diamond-cut alloy wheels, an accessory package that added $1,822.

Honda doesn’t offer options, instead adding features to each successive model. But some accessories are available, from a cargo net for $49, remote start for $399, blue interior lighting for $125, to a wing spoiler for $399.

Standard equipment for my EX-L included dual-mode paddle shifters, antilock disc brakes with brake assist, vehicle stability control with traction control, compact spare tire, daytime running lights, fog lights, tire-pressure monitoring, and auto on/off halogen headlights.

Safety features started with Honda’s ACE (Advanced Compatibility Engineering) body structure (distributes collision energy evenly, away from the passenger compartment and reduces damage to other vehicles) and included multi-threshold front air bags, Smart Vent front side air bags, side-curtain air bags with rollover detection, LATCH for child safety seats (lower in the outboard seats and upper in all seating positions), and childproof rear door locks.

My tester was comfortable and attractive, with top-stitched plush leather seating, heated and bolstered in the front with an eight-way power driver’s seat, a power tilt/slide moon roof, and chrome trim on the front and rear fascia.