2020 Honda Civic: Something for Everyone

With a coupe, sedan, and hatch on tap, the 2020 Honda Civic covers all bases. Throw in a turbo, 6-speed stick, and leather for an all-around winner.

What’s New for the 2020 Honda Civic?

As the 2020 Honda Civic nears the end of its 10th generation lifecycle, it brings both model updates and model endings. The sedan and coupe body style were both refreshed for 2019, so their design is mostly carried over. However, Honda has indicated this will be the final year for the Civic coupe due to declining sales.

2020 Honda Civic - hondanews.com

2020 Honda Civic – hondanews.com |  Shop 2020 Honda Civic on Carsforsale.com

The hatchback brings forward the latest Civic look with updated front and rear fascias, new wheels, and a refreshed interior. As well, the top-tier Sport Touring trim is available with a 6-speed manual. The sporty Civic Si receives similar design changes plus a revised final drive ratio for more responsive acceleration. As the Type R is effectively a separate model, it will not be reviewed here.

Body Style

Starting Price

MSRP $320,680

Drivetrain

Drivetrain

FWD

Drivetrain

Fuel Economy

30 City / 38 Hwy (MPG)

Number of Seats

Seating

Seats 5

The Breakdown

Latest styling applied across the lineup

Cheers to Honda for continuing to offer a manual

Honda Sensing Suite is standard

Solid fuel-economy regardless of trim

Warranty period could be better

Can’t wait to see the next Civic

2020 Civic Specs

Trims & Pricing

LX - $20,680
Sport - $22,380
EX - $24,430
EX-L - $25,830
Si - $25,930
Touring - $28,080
Sport Touring - $28,980

2020 Honda Civic Powertrain

2020 Honda Civic 2.0L I4 engine - hondanews.com
2020 Honda Civic 2.0L I4 engine - hondanews.com

Driving a 2020 Honda Civic is fun no matter the model thanks to its reputation for agile handling. Much of that is attributed to the MacPherson struts up front and multilink configuration out back. Stabilizer bars front and back are joined by variable ratio steering to complete the picture. Engine-wise, LX and Sport Civics are fitted with a naturally aspirated, 2.0-liter inline-4 making 158 horsepower and 138 lb-ft of torque.

2020 Honda Civic Si - hondanews.com
2020 Honda Civic Si - hondanews.com

Above that trim level, drivers are treated to a turbocharged 4-cylinder with a wee 1.5 liters of displacement. But don’t let the size fool you as it makes a healthy 174 horses. Now, if power is what you’re after, look no further than the Si models. They upgrade the turbo mill to crank out 205 hp and 192 lb-ft of torque. While most models can be had with a CVT and paddle shifters, Honda’s extra smooth manual is an option as well.

2020 Honda Civic Fuel Economy & MPG

2020 Honda Civic - hondanews.com
2020 Honda Civic - hondanews.com

Small motors and small cars combine to make big EPA mileage numbers. The Civic follows suit with a fuel-sipping approach from one model to the next. The miles-per-gallon champ in this lineup is an EX sedan with 32 mpg around town and 42 on the open road. Most of the other models and body styles are in the upper twenties or upper thirties for city/highway estimates. Suggesting the Si has the “worst” fuel efficiency is a bit unfair considering it will hit 26 in the city and 36 on the highway. Those are numbers any driver would be happy with, especially if it’s behind the wheel of this model.

Interior, Comfort, & Cargo Space

From a pure space perspective, the coupe has the least amount while the hatch takes the crown. Its 25.7 cubes of space, with seats raised, balloons to 46.2 when they’re folded. As far as comfort, the Civic has plenty with features like heated – front and back – leather seats, a moonroof, and all manner of storage cubbies throughout. For 2020, the hatchback added sound deadening insulation in the hatch, fenders, and trunk to keep things serene in the cabin.

Entertainment & Technology

2020 Honda Civic infotainment - hondanews.com
2020 Honda Civic infotainment - hondanews.com

Selecting Sport trim or higher yields a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment screen along with a volume knob and physical buttons for core vehicle functions. Apple and Android automotive integrations are featured as well, along with SiriusXM radio. The latter sounds best while blasting through the optional 12-speaker audio system. Satellite navigation and the side-mirror mounted LaneWatch further bolster the Civic’s tech creds.

Safety Features

2020 Honda Civic coupe - hondanews.com
2020 Honda Civic coupe - hondanews.com

Honda Sensing takes the safety headline thanks its standard application across the Civic lineup. This package of driver aids includes collision mitigation braking, lane keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. Dual front and full-length side curtain airbags keep everyone protected and help the Civic earn 5 stars from NHTSA on crash testing. Inherent chassis features like the Advanced Compatibility Engineering body structure further the safety-minded approach.

2020 Honda Civic Trims & Pricing

2020 Honda Civic LX - carsforsale.com
2020 Honda Civic LX - carsforsale.com

LX – $20,680

Starting at the bottom of Honda’s trim ladder, the Civic LX has plenty of usability considering it’s only around $20,000 for the sedan. The suite of high-tech driver assistance aids known as Honda Sensing is standard across the board, including the LX. A rearview, backup camera, automatic climate settings, and cruise control make day-to-day driving easy on owners.

While you won’t’ find a touchscreen interface, sometimes the simple, “less is more” approach of the 5-inch LCD display isn’t so bad. You can also fold down the rear seat for when you need more space. On LX hatchbacks, cargo volume jumps from 25.7 cubic feet to more than 46 with the seats down. Another LX sedan bright spot is the 6-speed manual availability.

2020 Honda Civic Sport - carsforsale.com
2020 Honda Civic Sport - carsforsale.com

Sport – $22,380

Black exterior trim, red gauges, and aluminum pedals give the 2020 Civic Sport its name. The manual transmission, sport tuned shocks, quicker steering, and stiffened front stabilizer bar give it the substance needed to back up the badge. Sport models improve the interior experience with a leather wrapped steering wheel and shift knob along with synthetic leather and cloth seat material. A 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration is a nice upgrade on the infotainment side of things.

2020 Honda Civic EX - carsforsale.com
2020 Honda Civic EX - carsforsale.com

EX – $24,430

Feeling more upmarket, EX Civics have 17-inch alloys, a moonroof, and hands-free entry with push button start. Honda’s clever LaneWatch consists of side mirror mounted cameras that display a live feed on the touchscreen when a turn signal is activated. The automatic climate control gets an upgrade to dual zones and the driver’s seat picks up power adjustability. Stereo speaker count jumps to eight and both the front seats and exterior mirrors receive heat.

2020 Honda Civic EX-L - carsforsale.com
2020 Honda Civic EX-L - carsforsale.com

EX-L – $25,830

The Civic EX-L dials up the amenities with leather seating, an auto-dim rearview mirror, and remote start functionality. An integrated HomeLink remote system can be programmed to activate radio frequency-controlled devices like garage doors, gates, and locks. There is also HondaLink, which is a suite of services connecting your smartphone with your Civic. It features automatic collision notification and maintenance due dates, among other things.

2020 Honda Civic Si - carsforsale.com
2020 Honda Civic Si - carsforsale.com

Si – $25,930

Only available in coupe or sedan form, the Civic Si bumps up performance thanks to a 205-horse version of the turbocharged 4-cylinder and a 6-speed manual. Honda’s Active Sound Control enhances the music coming from that engine, during aggressive driving, via the audio system. Which should sound great considering its 450-watt, 10-speaker layout. 18-inch alloys, a power moonroof, and body color side mirrors round out the Si.

2020 Honda Civic Touring - carsforsale.com
2020 Honda Civic Touring - carsforsale.com

Touring – $28,080

As the top sedan and coupe variant, Touring trim is fairly loaded. Satellite-guided navigation and the upgraded audio found in the Si, lead the entertainment and tech charge. LED headlights, rain sensing wipers, and side mirrors integrated with turn signals improve what’s happening outside. Meanwhile, a power adjustable, front passenger seat, and heated rear outboard cushions keep all occupants happy.

2020 Honda Civic Sport Touring - carsforsale.com
2020 Honda Civic Sport Touring - carsforsale.com

Sport Touring – $28,890

Exclusively found in hatchback form, the big news for Sport Touring Civics is the available manual transmission. These days, a stick is typically unavailable on fully loaded models. An even more powerful sound system pumps 540-watts of beats through twelve speakers. The underbody spoiler kit smooths airflow with the center mounted, dual exhaust dressing up the rear end.

Warranties

The basic vehicle warranty coverage period is somewhat brief at 3 years or 36,000 miles. Powertrain components are covered for 5 years/60,000 miles. Rust perforations are also taken care of for 5 years but with unlimited mileage. Fortunately, unexpected breakdowns are handled with the 3-year/36,000-mile roadside assistance warranty.

What we think

2020 Honda Civic coupe - hondanews.com

2020 Honda Civic coupe – hondanews.com |  Shop 2020 Honda Civic on Carsforsale.com

There is something for everyone in the 2020 Honda Civic. A zesty Si Coupe with the 6-speed will appeal to younger buyers and make the older cohort feel young-heart. The sedan and hatch offer more space for all the Stuff of Life while still offering a fun driving experience. And no matter the Civic you buy, stacks of safety, tech, and convenience features are on the menu.

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Niel Stender

Niel Stender grew up doing replacement work on his 1990 Cherokee and 1989 Starion, so it’s not surprising that he would put his mechanical engineering degree from the University of New Hampshire to use in the car world as a vehicle dynamics engineer. Now engineering sentence structures, his writing infuses his auto experience with his time in marketing and his sales experience. Writing about cars for close to a decade now, he focuses on some of the more technical mechanical systems that are found under the hood and throughout a vehicle.

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