2013 Honda Civic

Although the most soul-engaging ride is offered by the performance-focused Honda Civic Si model, we prefer the more composed Civic EX-L. It adds a few desirable features to that of the 2013 Honda Civic EX trim at a price difference of under $3,000. This deal excited us the most and would also be our recommendation for you as you won't regret it after buying one. 

The 2013 Honda Civic comes in over 5 trim levels. The base model DX has been discontinued and the LX no acts as the base trim with the price starting at $18,955. The 2013 Honda Civic LX model will be equipped with the now-standard iPod/USB audio interface, Bluetooth connectivity, and air conditioning. The HF is the next trim inline which carries a price tag of $20,555 and the HF is a fuel-efficient version of the 2013 Civic LX. 

It gets all the standard features available on the LX and adds features like low-rolling-resistance tires, underbody panels, and a rear spoiler. The 2013 Honda Civic EX upgrades a few existing features on the LX with a price tag of $21,605. The EX-L is pretty much the same as the EX but it adds some desirable features like fog lights, heated side-view mirrors, and heated front seats. Navigation is available as a standalone option with both the EX and EX-L trims. 

Coming to the top-tier and the sporty-looking trim, Si. The Honda Civic Si 2013 costs $22,505 which is just around $3,550 more expensive than the base trim LX. For that price, you’ll get 17-inch wheels, a bigger and more powerful engine, a sport-tuned suspension, limited slip-differential, etc. The interior resembles the EX model but the Si unlocks a few more features.

Due to the fact that the 2013 Honda Civic offers different powertrain combinations, a variety of fuel economies are achieved. The figures mentioned in the table below are for the 1.8L engine with the 5-speed manual gearbox. For the same engine with the automatic transmission, the numbers get slightly better. 

The Civic 2013 delivers 28/39/32 MPG in (city/highway/combined) respectively. The most fuel-efficient Civic is the HF trim which gives a fuel economy of 29/41/33MPG (city/highway/combined) respectively. The Honda Civic Si 2013 also returns decent fuel economy figures of 22 MPG in the city, 31 MPG on the highways, and 25 MPG combined. 

As far as the fuel tank capacity is concerned, the 2013 Mazda3 has the biggest capacity of the lot. It can contain up to 14.5 gallons of fuel but the combined range of all 4 cars mentioned above is very similar. Owing to its power orientation, Mazda 3 suffers in the fuel economy section. The Hyundai Elantra on the other hand delivers impressive fuel efficiency figures but compromises a bit in terms of gas tank capacity.  

For 2013 MY, the Honda Civic 2013 interior gets some necessary upgrades. Some more upgrades that the new Civic has received are stiffer front and rear anti-roll bars with new bushings and some technological additions for better ride quality and comfort. The hard plastic with an unpleasant texture has been replaced by much nicer soft-touch plastic materials. The dashboard design is a bit awkward and will take some time to get used to. It involves a two-tier display and a complex layout of knobs, gauges, and buttons while the passenger side remains plain and bland.

The seats are comfortable and the material used is of high quality especially the leather upholstery fitted in the EX-L and Si trims. Also, the 2013 Honda Civic EX adds a sunroof and 60/40 split-folding rear seat to further enhance the practicality of the cabin. Both the front and rear seats have lots of space in terms of headroom, shoulder room, and legroom. However, we would have liked more headroom in the rear row of seats. The 2013 Civic interior gets 3 upholstery color options on offer similar to last year, and the trunk capacity also remains constant at 12.5 cu-ft. 

The Hyundai Elantra offers a larger trunk than the Civic 2013 and also has a more spacious front seat, but the lack of legroom at the rear is a compromise you'll have to make. The Mazda and Toyota sedans both offer similar passenger and cargo space as the Honda Civic 2013 interior. The new infotainment screen offered by Honda is something that enhances the feel of the cabin. 

The basic infotainment system of the 2013 Civic Sedan is a 5-inch Multi-information display (i-MID). The screen itself is fitted high on the dashboard so that the driver can see it comfortably without taking their eyes off the road. An optional navigation system is also available which is comparatively more complicated. This system is paired to a 4-speaker audio system in the lower trims which gets upgraded to a 6-speaker audio system in the higher trims.  

Standout infotainment features include-

• Heated front seats w/leather interior upholstery
• 5-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• AM/FM Radio, CD player, and Bluetooth connectivity
• 4-speaker or 6-speaker audio system
• Navigation system and Satellite radio (optional)

It’s just been a year that the Honda Civic received a new look altogether. The design was not exactly appreciated by the American buyers as the looks aren’t sporty enough. The front profile of the Honda Civic 2013 comprises a sloping hood, a semi-circular shaped grille with chrome headlights, sporty-looking automatic headlights, and fog lights (EX-L and Si). The side profile is characterized by styling 15 or 17-inch wheels (depending on the trim), heated, power, and body-colored side view mirror, a distinctively low ground clearance of 5.3 inches, power tilt moonroof, etc.

Body lines passing through the door handles give it a sporty flair which the overall look lacks. The rear end of the 2013 Honda Civic Sedan is probably the most attractive and the most sporty-looking profile of the car. It is emphasized by curvy body lines that meet into the rear bumper, stylish taillights, and chrome strips. To add more to the persona, a rear decklid spoiler is also present along with 8 paint color options for the buyers to choose from. 

The external dimensions of the cars mentioned above are pretty similar. The 2013 Mazda 3 sits lowest with just 4.7-inch ground clearance and is also the heaviest among all the cars by a small margin. Moreover, other cars in the segment like the 2013 Hyundai Elantra and the 2013 Mazda3 have a much sportier look while the Honda and Mazda sedans employ a more conservative look. 

Some Standout and optional exterior features are listed below:

• 17-inch wheels
• Fog lights
• Multi-reflector Auto On/Off halogen headlights
• heated power side-view mirrors
• Power tilt moonroof (optional)
• Rear decklid spoiler

The 2013 Honda Civic has one of the best performances when it comes to crash tests. The NHTSA has awarded it a perfect 5-star overall safety rating whereas the IIHS has named it as the “Top Safety Pick+” of the segment, which is the highest possible honor that a car can receive. The Honda Civic 2013 also boasts abundant safety and driver features that help it attain this stature.

Standout safety features in the 2013 Honda Civic are:

• Electronic stability control
• Traction control
• Cruise control
• Tire pressure monitor
• ACE II Body structure
• Brake assist
• A multi-angle rearview camera with guidelines

2013 Honda Civic vs 2013 Toyota Corolla

Both the Japanese carmakers have a very similar offering in the compact sedan segment with the Civic and Corolla. Both carry a similar MSRP and offer similar performance and MPG ratings. While the Civic handles a tad bit better, the Toyota is more comfortable over the rough surfaces. Both get a premium interior loaded with features and both are equally safe and reliable in the long run. With updates received this year, we would pick the 2013 Civic. 

2013 Honda Civic vs 2013 Hyundai Elantra

The Elantra offers a complete package to buyers at an affordable price tag. Hyundai not only offers plenty of features as standard, but the Elantra is also a strong performer and equally frugal. It also has a larger boot to carry additional cargo and luggage but Honda offers a more spacious back seat. The superior warranty program offered by Hyundai tilts the scales in its favor against the Civic. 

2013 Honda Civic vs 2013 Mazda 3

The Mazda sedan is a delight to drive as compared to the Honda. It is quicker, more agile, and affordable as well. That said, it does lose out in terms of fuel economy ratings but the larger fuel tank brings its range on par with the segment standards. On the other hand, Honda is more reliable in the long run and is a safer, while the 2013 Civic interior is more spacious as well. With better resale value in the used car market, we prefer the Honda Civic over the Mazda 3. 

Although the exterior styling of the 2013 Honda Civic is not the best, it offers a better overall package than most of the compact sedans available for sale. It has outstanding safety performance, it is versatile in powertrain options, it has good fuel economy and even the interior is now a much better place to be. Honda has really excelled this year to give the Civic a much-needed upgrade. If you’re looking for a small compact sedan, then the 2013 Civic Sedan should definitely be on your test-drive list.