Honda has been producing compact and practical cars under the Civic nameplate for over 40 years. We recently got hold of the ninth-generation 2013 Civic, which has been completely redesigned from the previous year model. It was time to explore what makes this car so special. Our test car featured a striking white orchid pearl paint job and stunning 17” wheels wrapped in high-performance Michelin Sport rubber. Chrome accents are a key design element for the 2013 Civic, found on door handles, the boot lid, the honeycomb grille, and the front bumper.

Interior

2013 Honda Civic Interior

Once inside the 2013 Honda Civic, the first thing you'll notice is the comfort of the soft leather seats. After adjusting your seat, the steering wheel offers both tilt and telescopic adjustments, ensuring the perfect driving position. The Civic maintains the tradition of a two-tier dashboard, creating a spacious feel from the driver's seat. Key features include:

Digital speedometer: Lights up green for economic driving.
Multi-information display: Shows average fuel economy and other metrics.
Brushed metallic finish: A redesigned dashboard with additional chrome elements.

However, there are drawbacks. There appears to be excessive hard plastic in the cabin compared to competitors. Rear passengers may find themselves lacking headroom and A/C vents, a feature available in the Nissan Sentra. The boot space is another area where the Civic falls short, offering only 400 liters of cargo area compared to the Nissan Sentra at 510 liters and the Peugeot 301 at 640 liters. Additionally, rear legroom is limited, especially when compared to rivals:

Nissan Sentra: 950mm legroom.
Peugeot 301: 801mm legroom.

Drive

The 2013 Honda Civic is powered by a 1.8-liter i-VTEC engine, producing 139 horsepower and 173 Nm of torque. This performance allows for a 0–100 km/h time of a respectable 10.4 seconds. While the Civic isn't designed for speed, it features excellent brakes and good visibility thanks to the slim A-pillars and extended front windows.

All models come equipped with an ECON mode to enhance fuel economy by adjusting engine performance and air conditioning. However, after driving over 400 kilometers in various conditions, the average fuel economy recorded was relatively high at 9.0 liters / 100 kilometers. The Civic is fuel-efficient at constant speeds, but demanding overtaking maneuvers can diminish its economic performance.

The reverse camera, unfortunately, has a small display, and the absence of parking sensors adds to the challenge. The Civic can reach a top speed of 205 km/h, but at speeds above 120 km/h, it requires significant effort to maintain lane positioning. Notably, a small glitch in the system causes a yellow light to flash at speeds above 115 km/h, indicating you are at 120 km/h, which can be distracting on the highway.