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Consumers Union, the publisher of Consumer Reports, sends out a news release each month summarizing the automotive evaluations of the coming month's issue. Rarely does the release generate significant attention, ...
Consumers Union, the publisher of Consumer Reports, sends out a news release each month summarizing the automotive evaluations of the coming month’s issue. Rarely does the release generate significant attention, let alone a media scrum, but on Monday a preview of the magazine’s September issue contained a bombshell: the 2012 Honda Civic LX sedan scored so poorly during testing that the car did not make the magazine’s Recommended list.
Previous versions of the Civic were Consumer Reports’ highest rated small sedans and were named Top Picks in five of the last 10 years. Under the magazine’
The 2012 Civic LX dropped down to “a mediocre 61,” finishing next-to-last in a test of 12 small sedans. Only the redesigned Volkswagen Jetta scored lower.
While failing to earn a Recommended nod is notable, it is not unprecedented. Last year, the magazine quietly dropped the Civic from its Recommended list because Honda offered electronic stability control only on the three most expensive versions of the Civic: the EX-L with leather upholstery, the Hybrid and the performance-oriented Si. Stability control wasn’t available on more keenly priced DX, LX, GX and EX models, which comprised the bulk of Civic sales.
“Why they didn’t put such a wonderful safety feature on all those cars is beyond me,” said David Champion, senior director of Consumer Reports’ auto test center in East Haddam, Conn. Federal regulations require all 2012 model year new cars be equipped with electronic stability control, and all 2012 Honda Civics are so equipped.
Consumer Reports does not borrow vehicles from manufacturers’ press fleets for its testing, but buys new cars from dealers. The testing staff, however, does drive some press fleet vehicles for context and familiarization.
The testers criticized the updated Civic LX for losing its once-prized agility and having a “choppy ride.” The newest Civic was also knocked for substandard braking performance and “pronounced road noise.” More pointedly, the magazine took Honda to task for the car’s poor interior quality relative to its predecessor.
Mr. Champion confirmed, however, that the magazine bought a cheaper, less lavishly equipped LX model rather than another big-ticket EX, the model tested in 2006 when the magazine gave the Civic its Top Pick ranking. The ‘06 EX was equipped with four-wheel disc brakes and wore 205/55R16 tires on alloy wheels, a combination shared by the 2012 Civic EX — a detail withheld from Monday’s release. The 2012 LX, on the other hand, has disc brakes in front and drum brakes at the rear, and it rolls on narrower 195/65R15 tires wrapped around steel wheels.
“When we looked at small sedans, they were all priced under the $20,000 mark,” he said. “The Civic EX is around $21,000. At that price you can buy a Hyundai Sonata.” The Sonata is a midsize entry from Hyundai that competes more directly with Honda’s more upmarket Accord.
“In a broad sense we disagree with Consumer Reports’ findings,” American Honda responded Monday in a statement. “Without question, the small sedan segment is more competitive than ever. In virtually every way, the completely redesigned 2012 Civic is a step forward. The new Civic excels in areas that matter to small-car customers, including fuel efficiency, safety and reliability.”
9:53 pmI had a conversation with a dealer friend years back and we both came to the conclusion that the best value automobile of any make is in their top tier. If you want a Civic, you buy the Si. Can't drive a stick? Too much money? Then, don't buy a Civic. Buy a top-of-the-line Kia instead.
9:54 pmMy beloved Accord bit the dust last October. I literally drove it into the ground. I wanted a smaller car so I looked at a Civic. It was mind-blowingly bad. The interior of the EX was all flimsy plastic. The cheap seats were uncomfortable. The ride was terrible. I couldn't believe I was in a Honda. The car reminded me of the cheap American garbage that Americans have shunned for so many years.
We ended up buying another Accord which has all the hallmarks of Honda quality. The car is solid, well-made, great finishes, great ergonomics, rides well, etc.
I can't believe these two cars were made by the same company. I still would have liked a smaller car but didn't have time to look at other manufacturers' offerings.
9:54 pmRoad noise, road noise, road noise. How many times does Honda have to get slammed for this before they make improvements to their approach to sound intrusion in the cabin?
9:55 pmCR hasn't been relevant in years. Having said that, I doubt their staff can feel the difference between a steel 195/65 and an alloy 205/55, or the difference between disk and drum brake on the rear. It's probably subjective feature bias. Did they publish any measurables? Like braking distance comparisons? Or slalom run comparisons? Those might have objectively shown a difference in wheels and brakes. from the 2006 EX model.
9:55 pmI have been an extremely loyal Honda customer since 1983, purchasing numerous motorcycles, ATVs, lawnmowers, generators, and power equipment in addition to nearly a dozen Hondas and Acuras. I've been 'responsible' for dozens more purchases of Hondas through recommendations legitimized by my own passion. But I have to agree with Consumer Reports and other automotive publications that the company has lost something. I recently bought a brand new 2011 Odyssey and the paint quality (!) reminds me of '70s-era Detroit -- it's at the dealer being repaired right now. Styling of Hondas/Acuras has been a bad joke lately, testing loyalty at a time when others, particularly Hyundai, are nailing it. And what's with the road noise?! This has been a known issue with Hondas since at least the early 1990s! Fix it! I could go on.
Honda hasn't lost me yet, but they're dangerously close. I sense they're putting Finance in charge of major decisions, a recipe for disaster at a company whose passion for engineering has historically been at the forefront -- and evident to its customers.
9:55 pmI never understood the appeal of the previous Civic, which, when I test drove one a year ago, was loud, had a terrible ride, an interior that shouted "cheap, really cheap", a bizarre dashboard, and a confusing radio/climate control setup. I finally came to my senses and bought a good used car. If this new one is worse, then it must be truly awful.
Instead of concentrating on building a really reliable, simple, utilitarian, and inexpensive automobile (as they used to), Honda has decided to be 'stylish' and cheap at the same time.
9:56 pmHad a 20120, dumped it. A good car, not a great car. Honda definitely has lost it's way in this market. Traded for a Subaru Forester and we are NOT looking back. Amazingly, with the 5 speed we are getting 35-40 MPG on the highway, and 23-25 around town. Did the same or less with Honda, so the Subaru surprised us as that is NOT waht is advertised.PLUS PZEV engine... winning combination. Not bad for a 4 wheeler I would say! And not bad for a 2010 Subie at the same price as the Civic LX was. Hmmmm..
9:56 pmI think Honda needs to get back to the basics that made it so successful. I am in the market for a new car, and I think the Hondas are overpriced compared to their competitors. And they don't offer any features that I find compelling. This is from someone who has been a very happy Honda owner for 5+ years. Sorry, guys. I am looking at Hyundais and Fords now.
9:56 pmThe Civic needs to go back to being a cheap but well-built car. If Honda does this, young people will buy Civics again and then stay with the brand as they age.
9:56 pmI use Zipcar and Civics are one of the choices. They are the last choice. First pick goes to the Mazda 3, then VW Golf, then Toyota Prius, and then tied for last are the Sentra and Civic.. Sounds like they tried to make the Civic more like the 'new' Sentra.
11:38 pmWe have had periodic problems with the engine on our 2010 Civic stalling when trying to reverse on an incline. Recently, this resulted in a minor collision with a parked car in our driveway. I would be very interested to learn if anyone else has suffered this problem. Recently, some early Civics and Accords were recalled for similar problems, but not the 2010 Civic - at least not yet!
11:39 pmOn the other hand, the less expensive Honda Fit gets great marks from owners and Consumer Reports. I happen to own one and have been very happy with it.
11:39 pmI've owned Honda cars, outboards, motorcycles and an Acura. All have been excellent, low cost of ownership and long lasting. If the Civic has lost its way, so be it. Move on to other Honda/Acura products with A+ ratings and call it a day. The Japanese car companies are the best but they occasionally put out a dog. I'm waiting for the Mazda Demio to roll ashore.
11:39 pmI am very suprised that cars are still being built with rear drum brakes. I can't imagine anyone buying one. I have owned only cars with four wheel disk brakes for over thirty years and would never consider a vehicle with drum brakes.
11:40 pm"Mr. Champion confirmed, however, that the magazine bought a cheaper, less lavishly equipped LX model rather than another big-ticket EX, the model tested in 2006 when the magazine gave the Civic its Top Pick ranking."
It's true, CR did report on the cheapest Civic, the LX, and I agree that the Civic's hard plastic interior looks cheap. For a balanced, objective comparison report on a class of cars, such as compact economy sedans, the magazine should show a comparison among models of a similar price level; instead, CR rates the higher-priced Hyundai GLS, a model which has a leather interior, sunroof, alloy wheels, and a variety of other relatively luxurious features, number one in its ratings (there is a low-priced Elantra model with steel wheels). CR said nothing about the fact that the Elantra doesn't have a spare tire (to save weight), nor do they complain that the Elantra's EPA highway rating appears to be significantly overstated. But CR says their Civic achieved an actual 47 mpg in their driving test, about 10 mpg higher than the Elantra GLS. And potential buyers of a Sonata should be aware that the factory repair books, which some do-it-yourselfers depend on for doing repairs and maintenance on their out-of-warranty cars, are a 2-volume set which costs over $500 (for all Genesis models, it's a 4-volume set for over $1000). For comparison, the factory repair book for an Accord or Civic costs under $200.
11:40 pmIt's not that the Civic is so bad, it's just that the competition in the small car space is so much keener than 10 years ago. The Civic team at Honda got a little complacent perhaps. Nothing wrong with Honda generally -- the Fit is generally acknowledged to be the best econobox hatchback on the planet. We love our Fit. But it is not designed to be a touring car.
11:41 pmOops. My previous post is partly incorrect. CR's test car, the Elantra GLS, is lower-priced than the Civic LX and has alloy wheels but no sunroof, so CR is correct that the Elantra does appear to be a much better buy than the Civic LX. However, the Elantra I drove at a dealer costs several thousand dollars more than the prices shown in CR and the salesman said there's no problem about the lack of a spare tire because Hyundai's roadside service is free with the car and includes fixing a flat (but maybe not replacement of a damaged tire). Locally, new Hondas are being offered at attractive discounts but there is no indication locally of discounts for any new Hyundai Elantras.
11:41 pmI own a 2007 Honda Fit and absolutely adore the car! It's so easy to drive, responsive and comfortable. I've also driven a Honda Pilot and Accord, which I also liked. Over New Years I rented a 2011 Honda Civic with only 2,000 miles on it. I expected a nice driving car, and it was HORRIBLE! The cabin was cramped, the ride bouncy, way noisier than any other Honda I've driven, acceleration was poor... I rent several times a year, including Hyundai, Toyota, Mazda, Ford... I once had to rent an econo-box Hyundai Accent with manual everything, including hand crank windows, except the transmission. That Accent was 10 times better than the Civic. Honda has lost their way on the Civic; they need to get back on track, fast.
11:41 pmInterior design? Road noise? Choppy ride? Good lord, how frivolous can we get? I buy a car based on reliability, safety, fuel economy, and price. How did CR rate these factors of the new Civic?
12:32 am@Rashid (#17)--The Demio is here already; it's the Mazda2. Re the Civic, it's a darn shame. I'm further sad about the dealer arrogance displayed by Toyota, Honda and even Mazda, which does as much to send me to other makes (hey there Ford, Hyundai) as quality issues.
1:43 amCheck out Motor Trend's comparison of best-selling compact sedans. They rated the Elantra Limited first and the Civic EX second in a comparison of 8 compact sedans. Both models are higher-level models than the lower-priced ones in the CR report. MT reports actual overall mpg of 25.7 (disappointing for a compact) for the Elantra and 29.4 for the Civic. MT's Elantra Limited overall 25.7 mpg is considerably lower than the figures indicated by Consumer Reports (29 overall for the Elantra and 30 overall for the Civic LX). MT likes the Elantra's styling and relatively luxurious interior especially, and, like CR, they don't say anything about the Elantra's lack of a spare tire, which is evidence of cost-cutting in one area in order to spend more on the nice interior and styling.
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