Best Used Luxury Car 2013: The Car Connection's Picks
Luxury cars offer a little more—of what matters to nearly everyone but the most dedicated... Read More
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At FamilyCarGuide, we give the 2011 Honda Civic an overall score of 6 out of 10. Its perky, nimble driving feel, excellent fuel-efficiency, and strong resale value are all reasons for small families on a tight budget to consider the Civic; however a lackluster feature seat, tight backseat space, and subpar interior materials make this a choice with some obvious compromises.
The Civic remains offered in two different swoopy, drawn-forward body styles—a sedan and a coupe. The Honda Civic quite simply isn't a family car, because of its tighter backseat and difficult entry. Sedans will do just fine provided you have smaller kids and don't plan to carry adults in back; the curvature of the roofline interferes with headroom—as well as parents' ability to lean down and get kids in and out of child seats. Interior materials and trims feel a bit more hollow, hard, and drab compared to most of the competition, and just like most cars in this class the cabin isn't all that quiet.
Standard-version Civic DX, LX, EX, and EX-L models perform perfectly well, while a sporty Si offers a peaky, high-revving engine and bolstered suspension that will appeal to some enthusiasts. Green families should also look into the 2011 Honda Civic Hybrid, which returns an EPA 40/43 mpg, or the special Civic GX natural-gas model.
Compared to nearly any other compact sedan, the 2011 Civic's standard (and optional) equipment list is a disappointment. On lower DX and LX trims, there's no chance to get a Bluetooth hands-free interface. And to get it, you have to opt for the expensive, leather-upholstered EX-L—which also comes with a navigation system that feels sluggish and outdated. Here we'd recommend one of the lower trims, and add a good aftermarket Bluetooth and nav.
See The Car Connection's full review of the 2011 Honda Civic for more in-depth information and insight. Also, keep in mind that an all-new 2012 Honda Civic has arrived by summer 2011.
