The best car is one that comes more than one way.
Honda's Civic comes three ways — two doors, four doors or five doors — and with your pick of four different engines, paired with your choice of two different transmissions.
Which makes it hard to find a Civic that doesn't fit almost anyone's needs.
What It Is
The Civic is Honda's entry-level compact coupe/sedan/hatchback. It comes in more ways than others in its class — and with more drivetrain options than others in its class.
Prices begin at $19,750 for the LX sedan — with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, no turbo and a six-speed manual transmission. You can swap the manual for a continuously variable transmission automatic; so equipped, the LX sedan's price is $20,550.
Or, you can swap the engine out.
EX trims come standard with a smaller but stronger 1.5-liter turbocharged engine — $23,700 with the continuously variable transmission. If you'd like that engine with a manual, there's the Si trim — which also gets a more powerful version of the 1.5-liter engine.
Or split the difference with the Sport trim. It comes with the Si's more aggressive 18-inch-wheel/tire package plus suspension upgrades, including a larger-diameter front stabilizer bar — but with the nonturbocharged 2.0-liter engine and your pick of the manual or automatic continuously variable transmission.
Base price with the six-speed is $21,450; with the continuously variable transmission, it's $22,250.
Hatchback sedans — which start at $21,650 with the continuously variable transmission — all come standard with the turbocharged 1.5-liter engine, but you can go with the manual transmission if you prefer. The Si version with the uprated 1.5-liter engine isn't offered with the five-door, but you can get a Type-R version that comes with an uprated — turbocharged — high-performance version of the 2.0-liter engine exclusive to this model and only with a six-speed manual transmission.
This one stickers for $36,995.
Or stick with the coupe — which comes in base LX, Sport, Touring and Si trims — with either the nonturbocharged 2.0-liter engine that's standard in the sedan or the optional 1.5-liter engine that's optional in the sedan and standard in the hatch. Either one is available with continuously variable transmission or six-speed manual transmission.
However you end up going, one-size-fits-all isn't optional.
What's New
Five-door Civics and all Si trims get restyled front and rear clips; sedans and coupes come standard with a digital gauge cluster and secondary controls for the audio system mounted on the steering wheel.
Touring trims come standard with heated rear seats.
What's Good
Honda offers mix-and-match body styles, engines and transmissions.
It has exceptionally well-thought-out interior design, including a cavernous center console storage cubby with configurable shelving that can take a 2-liter soda bottle.
It has sensible standard features, including steel 16-inch wheels (but you can choose 17- or 18-inch aluminum wheels).
What's Not So Good
It has an extremely peremptory auto-locking system (this can be turned off).
All Civics come standard with "driver assists" such as Lane Keeping Assist and Brake Assist, which some drivers may not want.
The optional automatic is a continuously variable transmission automatic.
Under the Hood
The Civic sedan's standard 2.0-liter, 158-horsepower engine is a conservative engine. It's the engine for buyers who are leery about the long-term durability of a turbocharged engine — or just don't want to pay extra for it.
The next-up 1.5-liter engine makes either 174 horsepower or 205 horsepower (in the Si), and once again, Honda gives you the option to go manual or automatic.
Gas mileage is excellent with either engine — ranging from 25 mpg city, 36 mpg highway with the 2.0-liter engine and six-speed manual transmission to 32 mpg city, 42 mpg highway with the 1.5-liter engine and automatic continuously variable transmission.
The five-door Civic Type-R's miles per gallon — 22 city, 28 highway — aren't as high, but its performance is extremely high. This one comes standard with a 306-horsepower, 2.0-liter turbocharged engine and a close-ratio six-speed manual transmission.
It is capable of 170 mph.
On the Road
The Civic has always been one of the sportier choices in the segment, and not just because it is available with a manual transmission and a variety of engines. The ride is firmer and the steering sharper than most — both of which appeal to people who like to drive, contrasted with those who just need to drive.
At the Curb
Many in this class have roomy back seats, generous cargo capacity or some other useful attribute. The Civic offers these in more ways — with other things.
The sedan has roomy back seats (37.4 inches of legroom), but if you need more cargo room, the five-door offers 46.2 cubic feet of that. And if you don't need either — including the extra doors — there's the coupe.
And you can get whichever engine you prefer without having to accept the body style you don't.
The Rest
One of the few things you can't get in a new Civic is a conventional automatic transmission — with gears rather than ranges.
While Honda's continuously variable automatic is one of the best on the market, being quiet and reliable, some people still prefer the feel of a transmission that shifts from gear to gear.
The Bottom Line
Perfection is never an attainable goal. But the Civic comes awfully close!
Eric's new book, "Don't Get Taken for a Ride!" is available now. To find out more about Eric and read his past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate webpage at www.creators.com.
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