Honda Civic Refresh Happening Before 2013

Derek Kreindler
by Derek Kreindler

The Honda Civic is moving up its planned refresh of the 2013 Civic to fall of 2012, after just over a year on the market. The confirmation came at a Honda dealer meeting, and the refresh will apparently go beyond just cosmetic changes inside and out.

Despite being panned by critics, sales of the Civic remain solid. The Civic was America’s third best selling car in January 2012 even with parts and inventory shortages related to natural disasters in Thailand and Japan, and the best selling compact car. While Honda sold “only” 221,000 Civics in 2011, the Chevrolet Cruze only managed to sell 231,700 cars, and the Corolla/Matrix, lumped together, moved 240,000. Critical favorites, like the Ford Focus, managed 175,000 (and 45 percent of Foci were sold to fleets anyways).

I’ve managed to book both an Si Sedan and an EX sedan for a week each in April. I’ll have a 2000 Civic and my grandma on hand to help evaluate just how good (or bad) the 2012 Civic is. But for Honda to restyle their crown jewel after roughly a year on the market suggests that something is amiss at the Big H, even if consumers don’t seem to care.

Derek Kreindler
Derek Kreindler

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  • JWSimpson JWSimpson on Apr 07, 2012

    Stupid things, like giving you a Speedo in the line-of-sight, but not putting in a High-Beam indicator, Turn Signals or a Master Caution Light up there. All things you need to know, like, you're not Blinding the other drivers, you're not cruising down the highway with your Turn Signal blinking, or you're in traffic and you didn't notice the Engine is overheating. Then there's their stupid decision to eliminate the sliding Center Armrest for the shorter drivers. And, don't forget Honda's notorious A/C and HVAC problems. Blower Motor Noise and failures. Condenser or Radiator Fan Motor failures. Thermostat failures. Cracked Plastic Radiator Housings Inaccessible under dash Mixer Door failures. A/C Compressor failures. Exploding Plastic Fender Panels. Granted, we run our Cars to death, but the Warranties on newer Korean Brands put Honda to shame. Oh, and don't forget their Styling Foppas! The CRZ Concept that turned into a poor redesign of the CRX. Plus their inability to realize that older drivers or those with bad knees and wrists would like the Si Trim in a car with an Automatic Transmission. Or give us the Black, not Grey, Interior Options with our choice of Exterior Color. We've bought only Hondas, every couple of years, since the '76 Accord (120'000 miles with body rust and Factory Head Gasket Problems). Also '80 Cvic Hatchback (about 200,000 miles with rust and Engine Electrical Problems), '85 CRX (about 140,00 miles with Carburetor Ice Problems right off the showroom floor and UV Deteriorating Plastic Panels) , '89 Civic Si Hatchback (almost 300,000 miles with Cracked Plastic Radiator Housing just after Warranty Expired and numerous A/C System Leaks), '98 Civic EX Sedan (over 150,000 miles with A/C and Engine Mount and Transmission Problems), '05 Civic EX SE Coupe (almost 140,000 miles with numerous A/C and HVAC Heating and Cooling Problems) and an '08 Civic EX Navi Coupe w/Leather (with over 45,000 miles and A/C and Blower Motor Problems, Bad Engine Mounts and Bad Visors). All of them with A/C had problems or Compressor Failures just outside of Warranty. I 'd like to see better Quality and Guarantee them for a Ten Year Lifetime (@15,000 Miles per year) or 150,000 Miles. We'll still probably buy Hondas, but will have to pick-and-choose the year and options to find one we can live with for a decade or more. I can't vouch for my kids, who see better Styling,Quality, Pricing and Warranties from other manufacturers. I guess what I am saying is that I'd like to see Acura NSX Styling with 2013 Lincoln MKZ Interiors and Hundai/Kia Warranties.

  • Nalia42 Nalia42 on Apr 10, 2012

    What honda did wrong was let this car be made with North American influence... They needed to keep it Japanese to keep drivers happy. The problem they made was in case most of you guys didnt notice was they gave it a higher ground clearence which took away the "sporty" appeal of it made the grill and rear end less agressive and made it less wind resitant... which by no means was stupid cause now you get better fuel economy. But they hurt them selves cause they had the previous generation(06-11) for 5 years and it grew on the public. then they come out with this one and it just shocked every body and the general public came at with pitch forks wanting to burn it. the only thing i hope Honda does it change the back side it is just not as sexy slightly scooped back side of the previous generation(06-11). And for the Si damn they need to revamp it cause the Si's are just sitting for months at a time and cause it's just not as appealing as the previous generation (06-11). thats a girls oppion for you lol

  • Beowulf39565 Beowulf39565 on Jul 05, 2012

    Put the 6 speed Automatic my 2012 LX screams for in order to carry the excellent gas mileage I get past 70 miles an hour, relocate the bright light indicator in the upper array where my steering wheel and hand does not block view of it and extend the telescopic wheel another 2 or 3 inches toward the driver and I will trade my 12 on a 13 as soon as it rolls off the delivery truck.

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