Consumer Reports: new Honda Civic sucks

[RoryN]

This is newsworthy.

Consumer Reports pans new Honda Civic
Magazine drops redesigned sedan from 'recommended' list

updated 7 minutes ago
2011-08-01T22:01:01

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — Honda Motor Co.'s redesigned Civic LX small sedan dropped precipitously in Consumer Reports ratings and no longer rates well enough to be on the publication's "recommended" list, the consumer magazine said Monday.

The Civic fell from "very good" in the previous Consumer Reports ratings of small sedans in the U.S. market, and was rated next-to-last of 12 models tested.

Consumer Reports criticized the new Civic for a choppy ride and excessive road noise but on the positive side, said it gets the second-best fuel efficiency among small sedans, behind only the Toyota Motor Corp Corolla.

"While other models like the Hyundai Elantra have gotten better after being redesigned, the Civic has dropped so much that now it ranks near the bottom of its category," said David Champion, senior director of Consumer Reports' Auto Test Center in Connecticut.

The Elantra is made by Hyundai Motor Co. It was on top of the Consumer Reports ratings for small sedans.

American Honda, in a statement, said it disagrees with the Consumer Reports assessment of its small sedan, whose predecessor models have often been top-rated by Consumer Reports.

"In virtually every way, the completely redesigned 2012 Civic is a step forward," Honda said. "The new Civic excels in areas that matter to small-car customers, including fuel efficiency, safety, and reliability."

Consumer Reports said in a statement that competition among small sedans has intensified with redesigned entries this year.

It said redesigned models scoring "very good" included the Ford Motor Co Focus and the Kia Motors Forte.

The new Chevy Cruze from General Motors Co also fared well, but was criticized for its fuel economy.

The Civic scored next-to-last among the dozen small sedans tested, ahead of only the Volkswagen Jetta, which is also redesigned for 2011.

"Some older-design small sedans, like the highly efficient Toyota Corolla, the roomy and quiet Nissan Sentra, and the sporty Mazda3 remain competitive," Consumer Reports said.

The Sentra is made by Nissan Motor Co and the Mazda3 by Mazda Motor Corp.

Copyright 2011 Thomson Reuters. Click for restrictions.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43978197/ns/business-autos/

 

[SuprSalor]

Why do you hate Japan?

 

[Peregrinator]

This is newsworthy.



http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43978197/ns/business-autos/

That is a surprise. The Civic has been a staple since it came out. Silly Honda.

 

[RoryN]

Why do you hate Japan?

I love Hondas.

That is a surprise. The Civic has been a staple since it came out. Silly Honda.

Yes. If you were to pick one car in the entire world currently in production that you wouldn't expect to take a huge dive in quality, it'd be the Civic.

 

[Peregrinator]

I love Hondas.



Yes. If you were to pick one car in the entire world currently in production that you wouldn't expect to take a huge dive in quality, it'd be the Civic.

To be fair, "choppy ride and excessive road noise" aren't really that serious. It may be partly because the competition has upped its game considerably. I don't know, since I don't read the motor press, but that seems more likely than that Honda suddenly imported its design team from Chechnya or something.

 

[dmedic61]

I love Hondas.



Yes. If you were to pick one car in the entire world currently in production that you wouldn't expect to take a huge dive in quality, it'd be the Civic.

Honda has been going down hill for awhile. I did some research after my 2000 Accord needed it's second transmission.

 

[Wrong Element]

To be fair, "choppy ride and excessive road noise" aren't really that serious. It may be partly because the competition has upped its game considerably. I don't know, since I don't read the motor press, but that seems more likely than that Honda suddenly imported its design team from Chechnya or something.

Civics have always been on the noisy side.

I love mine, but it's older. I've heard from others that there's been a bit of a decline over the last 5 years or so. And as said above, Hyundai in particular has improved.

 

[mark_j]

Honda sat on thier laurels way too long or put too much effort into the Acura line.. So it doesn't surprise me that they slipped. Kia and Hyundai have come a long way in the last few years.

Even the domestic manufacturers have upped thier game...

 

[thør]

My '78 was a great little car.

http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu231/briancorig/Cadillac1852.jpg

 

[WolfMann63]

This makes me sad. I have a 2000 Honda that has close to 287,000 miles on it, and it still runs great and still gets 33+ MPG.