2014 Honda Civic

While the base Civic LX offers plenty of standard features now after the discontinuation of the lower DX model last year, we would still prefer the 2014 Honda Civic EX model. It sees a price hike of $1,900 but adds plenty of creature comforts and driver aids to the mix, thereby adding more value to the car which shall also return good value in the resale market. 

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The 2014 Honda Civic sedan is available for sale in 4 trim configurations which include LX, HF, EX, and EX-L. Prices for the same start from an MSRP of $19,210 for the base LX manual sedan, and go all the way up to $25,060 for the top-end EX-L trim with the Navigation package. The manual transmission is only available with the LX trim while all other models get a CVT automatic as standard. 

There's also a Honda Civic CNG model on offer which starts at an MSRP of $27,460 while the sportier Civic Si sedan starts at $23,810. The standard features of the sedan include DRLs, cruise control, a 5-inch infotainment system, Pandora radio, and much more. The Civic HF trim is essentially the LX trim with the added body kit, lightweight wheels, and low resistance tires to maximize fuel efficiency. 

The 2013 Honda Civic EX adds plenty of features like keyless entry, sunroof, rear disc brakes, 16-inch alloy wheels, leather upholstery, larger 7-inch infotainment screen, and driver aids like lane departure warning & right-side blind-spot camera. The EX-L trim on the other hand gets you a power driver seat, heated front seat, leather upholstery, and larger 17-inch wheels. The Navigation package costs $1,500 and adds HD & Satellite radio along with navigation to the EX-L trim. 

The 2014 Honda Civic Sedan is powered by a 1.8L inline-4 engine mated with either a 5-speed manual or CVT, that powers the front wheels. The engine generates 143 horsepower and 129 foot-pounds of torque. The Civic Si on the other hand gets a 2.4L turbo-4 engine with an output rated at 205 hp and 174 lb-ft which is mated to only a 6-speed manual transmission. The Civic Natural Gas model on the other hand produces just 110 hp and 106 lb-ft and continues with the older 5-speed automatic. 

The base engine provides the sedan with a requisite amount of power that just feels right and helps to glide through daily life with ease. Overall, the performance is delivered in a linear fashion and the Civic can handle the city traffic as well as highway runs. The ride is composed and comfortable for most parts, and the updates from last year have improved the cabin refinement as well. The confident handling and well-weighted steering add to the driving experience of the car, but the steering still lacks a bit of feel. 

The base 2014 Honda Civic LX 0 60 is achieved in just 8.9 seconds with the manual transmission, can cover a quarter-mile within 17.1 seconds, and has a top speed of 110 MPH. The Civic Si is much faster in the 0-60 MPH run, achieving it in 6.8 seconds while the Natural Gas model is lethargic, to say the least. The braking performance is pretty strong as well, especially on higher models with the rear disc brakes, and hence stops in a braking distance of 113 feet in the 60-0 MPH braking test. 

Talking about the pricing, the Cruze is on the higher side which happens to pack the smallest capacity engine, while the Focus is the least costly which happens to come with the biggest engine. In terms of performance, the Focus leads as it has a bigger engine than the others. While on the contrary, the Civic lags back in performance with the slowest acceleration figures.

The 2014 Honda Civic comes packed with an engine that produces just a satisfactory power but lacks behind the others, however, it has an advantage when it comes to fuel economy. The Honda Civic is rated for 30 MPG in the city, 39 MPG on the highways, and 33 MPG combined with the CVT transmission, which together with the 13.2-gallon fuel tank offers a combined range of 436 miles.

The Honda Civic 2014 with manual transmission gets you marginally less fuel efficiency but the Civic HF pushes the MPG ratings even further. While the HF gets an EPA rated 31/41/35 MPG in city/highway/combined conditions, the Civic Natural Gas is rated for 27/38/31 MPG in the same conditions. 

In terms of fuel economy figures the Hyundai Elantra manages to match up with the Civic with the manual transmission, but the Civic 2014 takes the cake with its frugal CVT transmission. The Chevy Cruze is the least efficient of the lot, but employs a massive gas tank and offers the longest range in the segment. The Focus gets marginally lower MPG ratings and also has a small fuel tank capacity, which compromises the driving range. 

One of the reasons, why the 2014 Honda Civic enjoys a dominant position in the market is because of the cabin that is fitted under the appealing shell. The cabin features a 5-seater accommodation with satisfactory head and legroom, even for tall passengers. The cabin is mostly composed of plastics, but it doesn’t feel cheap because of the usage of good-quality polymers. The seats are well-cushioned, upright, and wrapped with quality fabrics and leather, depending on the trim you put your money on.

As the rear seats come in a 60/40 split, you can fold them to get extra space, which can be used according to one’s needs. There are 3 interior upholstery color options on offer and the cabin is practically designed with abundant storage pockets and cup holders for a typical American family. The Honda Civic LX 2014 interior also comes with a standard cargo that has 12.5 cubic feet of space and is adequate for a fair amount of luggage.

In comparison, the Chevy Cruze leads the pack with spacious front and rear seating quarters along with a commodious trunk. The Elantra too has a spacious boot and a comfortable front seat, but the rear seat occupants have to make do with its limited legroom. Another positive for Honda is the infotainment of the 2014 Civic with several essential features, which can both take care of infotainment and multimedia needs. 

The standard infotainment unit comes built with a 5-inch driver’s display that shows the information on the vehicle, trips, audio, and backup camera footage. The other standard features include Bluetooth audio streaming, pairing with iPod, and Pandora Internet Radio service. The upper trims, Honda Civic EX and EXL, pack an additional 7-inch touchscreen LCD that shows the footage from the backup camera and navigation, supports further customization, comes programmed with Honda Link Next Generation, and comes with an additional audio interface in the front and rear.

Some of the standout interior features include:

• 8-way power adjusted driver seats
• Heated front seats
• Leather-wrapped steering and gear shifter with illuminated control buttons
• 7” touch LCD with 800p resolution
• Driver’s Multi-information display
• 6-speaker audio system
• Automatic Climate Control with an air filter
• One-touch power sunroof

You can easily spot a Honda 2014 Civic when you see one, even at a distance. The 2013 model of the Civic was a complete re-design and doesn’t come with any significant changes for the 2014 model.The 2014 Honda Civic Sedan in terms of exterior looks remains class-leading, the front halogen lights are wide and ascend from the sides to the middle in an appealing triangular form, with the grill in the middle that gives a mean smirk to the front fascia. 

The front bumper now looks sportier and accommodates the fog lights. There are a few choices when it comes to the wheels. The base trim comes with generic 15-inch steel wheels with covers, however, upper trims feature nicer and larger 16/17-inch alloy wheels which spice up the sedan’s looks. There are 8 exterior paint color options available for sale which perfectly complement the chrome exterior treatment of the 2014 Civic. 

The Cruze is the biggest sedan in the competition and happens to be the heaviest too. As it comes with impressive ground clearance and a wide wheelbase, which merit commanding control of the vehicle in tough situations. On the contrary, the Ford is on the conservative side, which merits it in being a good sedan for cities, that can be parked easily and can move with ease in tighter spaces. 

Some standout exterior features include:

• 17-inch alloy wheels
• Daytime Running Lights (DRL)
• Automatic Multi-reflector headlights
• Front Splash Guards
• Fog Lights
• Expanded View Driver’s Mirror

Honda has outfitted the sedan with all the necessary safety features for the 2014 Honda Civic. The sedan’s body is composed of aluminum, assisted further with side impact beams and pillars for strength, and the chassis is composed of high-grade steel which helps its offer impressive safety ratings. 

The NHTSA has given a 5-star rating to the sedan, while the IIHS rated it “Good” in all the categories supported by the exemplary “Top Safety Pick+” award for Civic 2014. Apart from these, there are several active safety and driver-assist programs for any emergency mitigation, the key features are mentioned below:

• Automatic Multi-reflector headlights with DRLs and Fog lights
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
• Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) with traction control
• Security system with remote entry and trunk release
• Rearview camera with guidelines
• Lane Watch

2014 Honda Civic vs 2014 Ford Focus

The Ford Focus is not only one of the most affordable compact sedans in the market, it offers a strong performance and handling package as well. It returns decent fuel economy figures and has a sizable trunk. The rear seat is a bit cramped when compared to the Civic but Ford offers also plenty of creature comforts and safety aids. If performance and affordability is what matter to you the most, the 2014 Focus seals the deal for you. 

2014 Honda Civic vs 2014 Chevrolet Cruze

While the Chevy Cruze is more affordable than the Civic 2014, the performance and fuel efficiency are lackluster and keep you wanting for more. That said, the Chevrolet sedan offers a spacious & comfortable cabin for all the passengers without compromising at all on the luggage space either. But the superior reliability and safety records of the Honda Civic tilt the scales in the favour of Honda. 

2014 Honda Civic vs 2014 Hyundai Elantra

The 2014 Elantra offers great value to buyers with its long list of standard features and its low starting price. The performance is pretty strong too and it even manages to come very close to the frugality of the Civic. While the cabin isn't as spacious as Honda, the ride comfort and creature comforts are impressive. Add to that the extensive warranty coverage offered by Hyundai, and the Honda Civic finds it difficult to hold its ground. 

Though the Honda 2014 Civic compromises a little in terms of performance, the engine is reliable and economical. The cabin inside is practical, the seats are just made right, offer good space to the passengers, and is assisted by a decent infotainment system. The 2014 Honda Civic Sedan also checks the boxes off with good safety features and incredible ratings from NHTSA and IIHS. It justifies its name and exhibits why it still ranks among the highest-selling vehicles of all time.