Honda Civic update is on the way, here’s our wish list

Nov 1, 2011 12:00 PM

When Honda launches a redesigned car, they typically don’t update it for years. Maybe a refresh will arrive in two or three years with a new taillight and grille design, plus a few new minor features. But recent industry reports reveal that Honda is furiously working toward more extensive mid-cycle changes for the Civic.

We’re happy to hear this. When Consumer Reports tested the Civic LX, EX, and Hybrid sedans, we found that each of these versions scored below our threshold for recommendation. (We are currently testing the sporty Si model.) The redesigned-for-2012 Civic also fell short of garnering the typical across-the-industry praise that the Civic usually garners.

It’s a challenge to make big changes in a relatively short period of time. However, as Chrysler has recently shown, substantial improvements are possible with mid-cycle updates. In that spirit, here’s our wish list for an updated Civic:

Improve tire grip of lower-level Civics, like the LX we tested. Stopping distances and cornering grip should be better.

Improve steering feel. All Honda needs to do is to benchmark one of their own cars from about five years ago, including the previous-generation Civic.

Improve the choppy ride, which gets fatiguing after a short distance.

Suppress the road noise that makes the car feel so insubstantial.

Improve the interior. It’s not just the cheap-looking materials, but also assembling them without gaps or rough edges.

Add some more feature content, or break free of the traditional Honda strict options structure. Having to opt for a high-trim model to get alloy wheels or an outside temperature display, or needing to buy navigation to get satellite radio, just doesn’t match the flexibility offered by competitors.

Simplify the interface with the on-board computer. For example, resetting the fuel economy average shouldn’t be cumbersome and confusing.

While the Civic has a long list of flaws, it gets some basics right. The powertrain is a gem, fuel economy is impressive, the rear seat is spacious for the class, and we predict the car will be reliable. We’ll see what Honda can do by rallying the engineers and addressing the criticisms.

Hopefully, they do more than just spruce up the interior and hope to score a few more points to eke past our threshold for recommendation. In this competitive segment, to attract and hold onto buyers, Honda needs to again aim at being the best rather than being “good-enough.”