2013 Honda Civic - Drive Time Review with Steve Hammes | TestDriveNow

[@nrborod1]

Thanks for reviewing the updated model--which is likely what I'll end up with for my next car after my 2010 Civic which has real NVH issues. This sounds encouraging for sure. I haven't driven one yet, but I look forward to doing so.

[@DisneyMusicVideos]

I sat in both a 2012 & 2013 Civic & I have to say that the 2013 is a major improvement! Great job Honda! I feel really sorry for the people that bought the 2012.

[@stevehammes]

I've just tested 3 popular compacts in a row and the Civic's noise levels were not quite as quiet as the Jetta's but far better than the Sentra's.

[@stevehammes]

Thanks for your story. I often bring this subject up to the auto execs and they always dismiss it, saying they're not worried about the customer of the previous car feeling alienated. I hope they see your post.

[@TonyTube407]

Base Honda Civic is $18,955. The fully-loaded as-tested Civic was $24,555. The BRZ/FR-S (no such thing as an FRZ) aren't really comparable with the Civic Sedan, different category. Only choice on your list that is close to the Civic's price was the Madaspeed3, which if you add the tech package gets the cost up to $27,000. The GTI, Turbo Beetle, and Focus ST are quite more expensive than the Civic if you start adding options and packages to get similar features as the Civic.

[@stevehammes]

I'm not going to argue that the GTI isn't a fun little car...it certainly is. But the differences between these 2 cars are large enough that I'd venture a guess they're never cross-shopped. Maybe a Civic Si Sedan, maybe. Not to mention a comperable GTI is almost $6,000 more, it's a hatchback, requires premium gas and gets 6mpg less on the highway. Apples and oranges if you aske me.

[@liddlebopeep]

You're absolutely correct. VW is in it's own stratospheric league and is a money pit when it comes to maintenance, repair costs and (un)reliability. People who buy Hondas don't want the hassles of VW ownership.

[@stevehammes]

I hear what you're saying, but the reality is that the majority of people going to their Honda dealer to shop Civics wouldn't even consider heading over to VW to check out a GTI. Just doesn't happen.

[@hondaftw1234]

I completely agree, very quiet for this type of car. The quietest I've seen.

[@KingCarl77]

The '12 was a decent, merely adequate c-segmend car, well above the Corolla but no match for the Focus or Elantra. This new one looks fantastic, and is much better inside. We have a winner, Honda!

[@jimster46]

Enjoyed your review. Now it's a choice between the Civic and the Accord. Which would you choose?

[@stevehammes]

Love how you chose not 1 car in the Civic SEDAN EX-L competitive set...a mashup of coupes and subcompacts, many of which when equipped with the same features climb thousands above my tester's sticker price.

[@coolerdude44]

i don't know steve, for that price one can have a GTI with a DSG give or take maybe a grand or so. sure the gti won't have the navigation system or the leather, but it feels so much better put together and efficient from behind the wheel, especially with the DSG. not only that but there's the obvious benefits of significantly more power, and a more practical hatchback design.

[@NotoriousR30]

It's very comfortable car, I bought honda civic exl 2013 today. feels so goood and special how Honda congraluate me. :D

[@ehcivicracer]

I've owned the 8th generation civic. Mine was an SI and my brother owned an EX. We both agree that the 2013 is far superior in everyway. The 8th gen was a great jump from the 7th. Now with the refresh of the 9th, its leaps over the 8th. Ride quality has been dramatically improve. Road noise is similar to a mid sized sedan and engine noise has been lower. The styling is not so plain as the 2012 and 8th gen. Ive never thought civics could be so quiet but it is.

[@Agent2171]

Having only driven GM's for the past 6 years the lackluster of the quality of their dealerships (and the fact my 2012 sierra with a crew cab Sle had awful gas mileage even for a truck and seemed to be flailing in the quality department) I went to my local Honda dealership and was treated very well and they worked with me to get me the least upside down on my loan as possible, I got a base model with a 5 speed manual (2013 civic dx) and it's a blast to drive and far better equipped than the rest

[@counkev]

I liked the Previous model before the 2012. It looked bigger, roomer, and a lot more stylish in my opinion

[@liddlebopeep]

If anything, the redesign will only solidify Honda's position as a leader in the compact market. The "bad" 2012 model sold like hotcakes - now with the refresh they are poised to do even better! I

[@UltimateCARNUT]

Exactly my point bdub232. You are stepping up to a premium halo type car for the same money as this gussied up civic.

[@Windgrace]

Civic back to class leader. Sure, the Korean twins look nice. But just you see how the cars are holding up in 5-8 years with 100k miles on them, and you'll see why people buy a Honda. Plus, it actually gets its EPA rating.

[@ricardomrp]

Here in Brazil, we have a 2.0 liter Flex with 150 HP, but with the old design.

[@wildcard50]

What about interior noise levels? It's it quiet at highway speeds?

[@Ottaro]

Every time I buy a car there is always a new model that pops a few months later that inevitably makes me wish I had waited. Your feeling towards Honda are odd at best. No one places a gun to your head, you went out, shopped, test drove and decided that for the asking price that civic was a good buy. Now that they revised it its no longer a good buy??

[@Sudzy_realtor]

Hi Mr. Hammes. I enjoy your reviews; short, sweet, and to the point, just how they are supposed to be. You described the back seat as "capable." Just wondering, how tall are you? I'm pretty tall myself and I wouldn't want my passengers uncomfortable. Thanks!

[@henrybrar]

thnkx for the update, gotta check that out.

[@FedorDushkin]

I like your reviews. Keep up the good work

[@UltimateCARNUT]

The competitive set is not always the other vehicles another manufacturer lets you borrow to compare their new golden product. You are telling me, at nearly 25 grand, no matter how loaded in interior niceties, other buyers aren't going to think wait a second I can buy ____________ instead? I am just another car shopper like many of the people here, and that was my first reaction to think of all the other cars that in my opinion are better buys. Not all cars at 25,000 are appliances like this.

[@deepncsu]

Hi Steve, Could you test drive the 2013 Civic Si Sedan? The improved dynamics in the new model should positively affect that car as well! Looking fwd to one :)

[@TonyTube407]

Well, I'm not standing up for Honda, haven't owned one for more than 15 years, but everyone's entitled to their own opinion.

[@rrt08]

I think the problem is design, all the Japanese car companies seem to designing GM plastic chrome clones. I don't want a Buick. If they can't meet MPG then we need to go diesel. Stop with moving backwards in HP. Bring back my fun to drive late 80's Civic CRX hatch.

[@nrborod1]

I'd eschew the navi system and add a portable of my own saving some real money. Plus, I'd expect some price wiggle room--I mean, who is gonna pay near MSRP anyway?

[@cargueone1971]

At a 22.9 average mpg you might as well get the excellent Accord...this According to this video. I enjoy your reviews and have subscribed to your channel

[@mb013962]

consumer reports got better hwy mpg in the 2012 civic than the 2013

[@208230706]

Does the ex civic have navigation?

[@sage11x]

Elantra is more spacious and has better style at a cheaper price. The focus is more advanced and actually LOOKS like a new model. The impreza is all new this year and Nabs you AWD for thousands less. The Mazda 3 is ugly and old but if you order up a cheap one with the manual trans you walk off the lot for less than 17K in one of the most fun compact cars ever made. In short: I fail to see how this civic continues to find buyers...

[@bmwmsport11]

Toyota makes a POS corolla and it sells like a highly rated compact car....and no matter how much hate Toyota got, they still made them.

[@Agent2171]

But I test drove the corolla and Camry beforehand not expecting much and they still disappoint, though having worked at a Lexus dealership I learned Toyota doesn't even really seem to try very hard with their luxury brand but I guess people who don't care much for cars will still buy them for whatever reason

[@coolerdude44]

i disagree steve, i think they are cross shopped by people who are not really too knowledgeable about cars. for example, one of my good friends who is completely clueless about cars is currently debating between a focus titanium, a base gti, and a fusion. i feel that most people simply looking for a car pick a price first, then go from there. of course it's a different story for actual car people, who would never even consider cross-shopping the two.

[@TMS5100]

i pick the ford focus titanium sedan. you seem get a little bit more of everything with the ford.

[@stevehammes]

Very quiet for this class of car

[@cassiocm]

Competent, but not thrilling. Needs more low end torque. Interior is nice. I'd go with the new Kia Forte and its 2.0 Liter engine.

[@DAB1711]

for commuters who wanna a taste of luxury in a spirited not so little car, try the new 2014 Kia Cerato.. Way better than the Civic. A better exterior styling, better interior, better mpg,, and most of all better price.

[@liddlebopeep]

No big loss. Honda can easily replace your business with someone else's and then some. It's funny that one person thinks they can bring a giant corporation like Honda to their knees by threatening to switch brands!

[@liddlebopeep]

"I am now stuck with a 2012 Civic" You freely chose to purchase the 2012 before Honda announced the refresh, so you obviously liked your car or you would have bought one of it's competitors. Why should you be compensated now that the '13 model is out? What about when Honda releases the 10th gen Civic 4-5 years from now? You want to be compensated for that too?

[@davidhalifax]

Not sure why Honda doesn't bring the hatch version to North America.

[@clock959]

the wheels killed it for me...i'd much rather have an si coupe with mt

[@Dankcatvacs]

how about kia Hyundai chevy and subaru?

[@u2atherrr]

"20 ponies shy of where it needs to be"...HAHHA :D

[@DAB1711]

Toyota is quality and reliability, and a fairly priced car... If you want luxury, Lexus.is the choice.

[@henrybrar]

ever heard of Civic Si?

[@UltimateCARNUT]

24455 is an attractive MSRP?!?!? For around that one Price one can have a GTI BRZ FRZ Focus ST VW Beetle Turbo MazdaSpeed 3 And honestly the Civic is not in the league of any of the above.

[@prashanthk9]

Wer was this video filmed??

[@sage11x]

@Ultimatemxcn Yeah, I was about to say: my FR-S was 24,200 and that's including the 'it's a new model so we're fucking you over' surcharge. This car costs as much as a brand new Mazda 6 touring! Hell you could but an accord for this price!

[@CommandoMaster]

Ex-L model for the touchscreen and leather seats.

[@liddlebopeep]

Please. The 2012 Civic is not even nearly as bad as the ancient Corolla. I don't know why suckers continue to buy it when even last year's Civic is miles ahead of the unchanged '13 Corolla. I give credit to Honda that they updated the Civic so fast as opposed to Toyota who keeps peddling the same old crappy Corolla year after year after year......

[@liddlebopeep]

Just trade in the 2012 for the '13 Civic. Problem solved.

[@henrybrar]

good luck with your Dodge Dart

[@danielpark94]

you're comparing a fully loaded model to stripped out models..

[@henrybrar]

what class? my 2012 Accord is horrible. and honda is known for high road noise.

[@TheBEBEJULIE]

I ♥ my HONDA 2013

[@Chrisomega93]

has it ever give you any issues

[@taboot77]

Still Ford focus on top

[@liddlebopeep]

How so? The 2013 is a step up from last year's model. You already bought the "mediocre" model lol.

[@AkioWasRight]

For that price, you can have 2,500 large pizzas!! I mean, come on...You really need a car to get to work, BUT IT'S PIZZA!!!! How could you not want 2,500 Pizzas? Seriously, what's wrong with people making these stupid comparisons?

[@CanadianRifleman]

Firs-Nevermind. Great review!

[@L4TIn0St4NdUp]

Mazda 3 sky walks all over that shitvic

[@Kevsy83]

LOL BRZ FOR 24K HAHAHA

[@Jferrari427]

Great basic car.

[@zarel22]

I would say that this is still nothing compare to 2010 model, Honda totally screwed up with Civic.

[@andrenj1970]

still crap