Honda Civic Photo Gallery

New wheels and face help. But front side window area remains a mess.

2012 Civic front quarter view

New face with chrome highlights much classier.

Steeply raked windshield. Hot wheels?

Chrome trim also added to the tail as well. More elegant tail lights.

2012 Civic rear quarter view.

Thoroughly revised interior much cleaner and coherent, plus upscale details.

2012 Civic interior, cheap gray plastic with many cut lines.

Basic bi-level layout remains the same, but finished much more nicely.

2012 Civic instrument panel.

Tiny buttons flank easily washed out screen.

Gathered leather upholstery. Fairly comfortable and supportive, though few adjustments and no power.

Leg room among the best, but somewhat low cushion and limited hip room.

Competitive. Seat folds, with a 60/40 split in upper trim levels.

Adequate power and refinement, very good fuel economy.

A classier face through chrome this year.

Last year's face much more plain.

Steeply raked windshield has a few negative side effects, including black plastic trim triangles.

Perhaps the car's best angle. Upgraded tail lamps this year.

Dramatic upgrade to the interior this year.

A lot of ugly, cheap-looking gray plastic last year.

More chrome inside as well this year.

Distinctive bi-level instrument cluster. I'd prefer the tach up with the speedometer.

Attractive cloth and effective bolsters. But few adjustments.

Roomy rear seat, and virtually no hump in the floor.

About average. Jetta's is more spacious (15.5 vs. 12.5 cubic feet).

A-pillar nearly lines up with the hood.

Doesn't rev as high as before, but much stronger mid-range.

I continue to find the previous-generation Civic Si much more attractive. You?

Plenty of chrome in Honda's latest face.

The new Honda Civic coupe. The author's 1987 Honda Civic CRX Si, convertible conversion by Straman.

The latest Civic makes a much stronger impression. The car's best angle.

New Elantra. Attractive, and arguably more tasteful than the Civic, but not distinctive.

Layering disguises the height of the Civic's fenders, makes it seem longer and lower than it is.

Too much going in the rear quarters, but the new Civic certainly gets noticed.

The new Civic's interior appears upscale and sophisticated even in EX trim with black cloth seats.

Hyundai's latest interiors are very conservatively styled compared to the previous generation.

Appears stylish and hi-tech, but the Civic's infotainment interface requires too much tapping.

New Elantra instrument panel. Bland, with dated, cheap-looking trim plates. But easier to use.

New Civic's instruments. Highly styled but easy to read. Don't wash out like the Mazda's tach.

Instrument panel styled to appear wide yet compact. Artfully tapers towards the doors.

My least favorite part of the new Civic. The lumbar bulge and headrest jut too far forward for me.

Civic Touring leather seat. This one felt better to me, but maybe I needed more time in it.

Plenty of rear seat room, but could be more comfortable.

Among the largest trunks in the class.

The 2.0-liter engine delivers very good performance and fuel economy.

The turbocharged 1.5-liter engine feels stronger and smoother than the 2.0, but it's not a must.