LA 2015: 2016 Honda Civic is designed for a market in which more is more
You might not like it but its target audience almost certainly will
The 2016 Honda Civic – shown here in both sedan and coupe forms – is the company’s attempt to right the wrongs of the outgoing car.
When that was first introduced in the US as a 2012 model, it was heavily criticised for its low-quality feel and general level of cost-cutting. It was so noticable that the hugely influential Consumer Reports dropped it from its ‘recommended’ list. A raft of upgrades were rushed through to appease the issues, but this all-new model represents a thorough re-think.
This time the emphasis is on high value rather than explicit low cost, which starts with its fastback profile that will resonate with potential buyers as something rather more exciting and interesting than the average three-box sedan.
It’s quite easy to spend a few minutes walking around this new Civic and pick holes in its proportions and surfacing and it’s indeed far from perfect. It’s extremely complex and fussy in places with layers and layers of surface changes, feature lines and details. But this added complexity will perhaps register with buyers as simply ‘more’ for the money. In a simple feature-per-Dollar equation it no doubt feels like good value.
Its interior is also packed with features but here they’re presented in a well-ordered and rather stripped-back style compared to the flashy exterior and it’s all the better for it. Yes, details such as the moulded-in fake stitching on the upper IP are as phoney as the ‘outlets’ in the rear bumper, but buyers will notice the refined digital gauge pack and responsive centre touchscreen.
So, the 2016 Honda Civic isn’t a car designer’s car – there’s a surfeit of styling ‘entertainment’ over design refinement – but as a product with which to draw buyers back, it’s probably exactly where it needs to be.
