The 2016 Honda Civic has officially debuted for the North American market, bringing with it a new set of powertrain options. At the unveiling, details on the engines and the accompanying transmissions were lightly touched on but now, Honda US has divulged quite a lot more information about the powertrain combinations offered for the new C-segment sedan, accompanying its detailing of the safety systems and accessory options for it.
Two in-line four-cylinder engines with dual overhead cams (DOHC) and VTC (Variable Valve Timing Control) are available: a base 2.0 litre naturally-aspirated motor and a 1.5 litre turbocharged unit. The former displaces the previous SOHC 1.8 litre engine and has relations to the 2.4 litre unit found in the US-market Accord, as well as the European Civic Type-R’s turbocharged 2.0 litre mill.
2016 Honda Civic Sedan
Common features shared by both engines include the usage of aluminium in the construction of the die-cast block and DOHC cylinder head. With exhaust-port passages cast directly into the cylinder head, the need for a traditional separate exhaust manifold is eliminated, resulting in a more compact unit. A timing chain drives the DOHC along with its four valves per cylinder – making it maintenance free, like the 1.8 litre SOHC preceding it – and a drive-by-wire system handles throttle input.
Both engines also adopt pistons with a “cavity-shaped” and optimised skirt design to minimise vibration and increase operating efficiency. Lightweight steel connecting rods are heat-forged in one piece for higher strength as well. A new grinding process known as plateau honing further lowers the friction level between the pistons and cylinders, along with the use of low viscosity 0W-20 oil. Additionally, regular (US-grade) unleaded 87 octane petrol can be used on both engines.
However, the 2.0 litre engine differs from the turbocharged unit as it comes with Honda’s patented i-VTEC (intelligent Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control) to aid the VTC. The engine also features port injection with a Programmed Fuel Injection (PGM-FI) system to handle fuel delivery. Compression ratio for the engine is also bumped up to 10.8:1 compared to the 1.8 litre unit’s 10.6:1.
The more powerful 1.5 litre turbocharged engine gets its fair degree of separation from the base engine, with the obvious being the inclusion of a turbocharger – in this case, a Mono scroll turbo system with an electric wastegate and intercooler. This allows for turbo boost to be built up with relatively small throttle openings and low rpm. Direct injection is also part of the turbo unit’s specifications, featuring a computer-controlled system with multi-hold fuel injectors, which allow for a compression ratio of 10.6:1. Smaller M12 spark plugs are installed instead of the common M14 ones as well.
Power output for the 2.0 litre naturally-aspirated engine is rated at 158 hp at 6,500 rpm and 187 Nm of torque at 4,200 rpm. The 1.5 litre turbocharged unit, meanwhile, puts out 174 hp at 5,500 rpm and 220 Nm of torque from 1,800 to 5,000 rpm.
As for the transmission options, the 2.0 litre and 1.5 litre turbo engines can be paired with an updated CVT automatic in the US-market Accord. Honda says it now features a new-generation G-Design shift logic that offers a better driving feel, reducing the “rubber-band” feel of other CVT transmissions. For the 1.5 litre turbo unit, the CVT is tweaked to include a turbine twin-damper design to help reduce turbocharger lag as the vehicle accelerates.
Honda says when abrupt acceleration is applied, the CVT sends power to drive the wheels while simultaneously adjusting the gear ratio smoothly to bring the engine to its horsepower peak in a linear fashion. There’s also a ‘Sport’ mode if the driver chooses to delay upshifting if needed.
A six-speed manual transmission is available as well, but only for Civics fitted with the 2.0 litre engine. The gearbox replaces the five-speed manual fitted on the Civic’s predecessor, and promises a smoother shifting experience for the driver.
On the topic of efficiency, every 2016 Honda Civic comes equipped with an ECON button that alters the car’s characteristics like climate control fan speed and throttle response eagerness.
Economy-wise, there is a disparity depending on the powertrain combination chosen. The 2.0 litre engine-six-speed manual combination will obtain an estimated city/highway combined EPA fuel economy rating of 13 km per litre, whereas the CVT-fitted 2.0 litre and 1.5 litre turbo engines will obtain an estimated 15 km per litre following the same cycle. Both engines also meet the EPA LEV3-ULEV125/LEV3-SULEV30 emissions standards.
Other minor details include a Maintenance Minder system that continuously monitors the vehicle’s operating condition and if needed, alerts the driver via a message displayed on the car’s multi-info display screen.
-
- 2016 Honda Civic Sedan
-
- 2016 Honda Civic Sedan
-
- 2016 Honda Civic Sedan
-
- 2016 Honda Civic Sedan
-
- 2016 Honda Civic Sedan
-
- 2016 Honda Civic Sedan
-
- 2016 Honda Civic Sedan
Looking to sell your car? Sell it with Carro.
wow!
i wan the turbocharge de!
Come on Honda, please workout the “look”
This is the US version, I wonder what the JDM version of civic gonna looks like.
Hope its better looking
They will never bring the 1.5 Civic cause then, taxes will be lower and the car will be RM80k. MITI will say NO cause it will affect Proton sales of their Perdana.
It is amazing how, even like Ford Focus, they only bring the 2.0 and then whack us at RM120k saying tax for 2.0 is higher.
Come on la Malaysia, don’t cheat your own rakyat. Rm80k is so much cheaper than RM120k
Rubbish statement,
Golf 1.4 got through very well here,
still the price 140k+
The tax on car based on the car base price, not on the displacement.
Roadtax yes, its cheaper.
wait till the Coupe, Hatchback & Wagon comes in.
Me too me too
Good luck with breakdown and RON97 fuel
Old minded Sam Loo,
in US this car already tested with even lower RON. passed.
Toyota tech on daily very2 slow, except the Prius.
SOHC turbo or what? why mate the turbocharged engine with CVT ???
Efficiency, less CO2 , reduce turbolag , more comfort
Its a brand new CVT by Honda.
Wait till it comes here and have a test drive,
Hope it does not bored us.
please maintain this – #EnjoyHonda
DOHC for both turbo 1.5 & NA 2.0. CVT is obviously for fuel efficiency. Toyota, Nissan & Subaru are all using CVTs in a major way already.
subaru’s CVT is unique bcoz utilizing chain link(like timing chain) not the conventional belt link which has the rubbery feeling while driving
Enough for the ugly rear view, enough for the failure CVT gearbox, enough for no more digital display speedometer and enough for the Nissan GTR patented side signal attached to the mudguard.
Honda, do your own job properly!
Its beautiful! some fd owners says oh fd look better come on your car is old and date!
hot hot hot hot cake !!!!
However, the 2.0 litre engine differs from the turbocharged unit as it comes with Honda’s patented i-VTEC (intelligent Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control) to aid the VTC.
Meaning 1.5 turbo no ivtec?? Confused
I think the Vtec open up earlier RPM like the Type R to build up boost from the lower RPM,
differ that the NA Vtec that opens up at the top end RPM
Before or after the vtec will be ON??confused.at what rpm?
CiVilians got bad taste..
So confusing.. i wonder how honda malaysia gonna market this.. 1.5 turbo on premium grade? Since it has more pwer and torque than NA 2.0
just like 1.0 Ecoboost 3 cylinder is more expensive than 1.5L NA engine for Ford Fiesta.
joking, isnt?
The Ford rising the price up as they won the
‘Engine of the Year’ award.
Just like how Peugeot 408 1.6t is more expensive than 2.0 NA la.. So y not..
Just like how VW sell Polo 1.2Tsi at higher price than its Polo 1.6MPI.. So many examples
nak yg mane nie Civic 1.5 T, Mazda3 2.0 ker atau Altis 2.0V
Altis?? wait, you are joking here rite? Now the big boys only Honda Civic and Mazda 3. Unless you are 40 years above
current m’sia’s civic 2.0 got 190nm of torque, new engine have 187nm a slight decrease, but +3hp
they only did this:
Compression ratio for the engine is also bumped up to
10.8:1 compared to the 1.8 litre unit’s 10.6:1.
is the same old N.A engine.
come on…..
To HONDA MALAYSIA, please do not remove the 1.5 Turbo Engine option from the 2016 Civic. If you do, you will be making a big mistake.
CVT? Please noooo!!!!! just improve the dual clutch transmission and pair it..
1.5l turbo sure remove so that government can collect more roadtax
to be honest, i’m quite disappointed with the 1.5l turbo’s torque rated only at 220 nm. i was hoping around 250-280 minimum. probably lower to save fuel consumption..sigh
Well, relax. That’s engine performance only & not whole car. Hp & torque amount are various. Many people says hp determine top speed but it rely on the vehicle weight, gear ratio, aerodynamic & etc. Same goes to torque as well. If you want further, racechip it & you will get what you need. =)
Don’t get too hung up on numbers.
The number simply mean it is a smallish turbo running relatively low boost. So yes, it should be light on fuel and high on reliability.
You also get all that torque from 1800-5000rpm (pretty much to match the characteristics of a CVT). Thats a damn wide torque curve from a single scroll turbocharger.
Go drive a diesel pickup with 300+nm but from only 1500-3000 rpm and tell me how useful it is. Not a very pleasant drive.
sorry bro i know the torque band is wide no complaint on that..i wish max torque could be better so it will be very useful for city driving, more pick up from standstill with full passengers on board etc..220 nm a bit too low just better a bit from mazda 2.0 NA skyactiv
There is the Type R if you needed more shove.
Car & Driver (not Honda’s own claimed figure) managed a 0-60mph time of 6.8 secs for the turbo/CVT combo. Other reviewers got low 7 secs. Those times are pretty brisk for a family sedan that can do slightly over 40MPG highway. That’s the kind of win/win non-enthusiasts will be happy to get, which is Honda’s target demographic. For the enthusiasts, there will be an SI and Type R. Those beasts will probably do way below 6 secs for the 60mph run.
you are right to be disappointed. the golf 1.4 and peugeot 1.6 both produce 240nm of torque.
Here’s some interesting stuff mentioned on the vtec.net forum. The 1.5 turbo shares the same bore & stroke measurements as the Jazz/Fit/City (which uses an NA 1.5). But that is the only similarity. The rest is different as the turbo engine is DOHC, whereas the Jazz/Fit/City is SOHC. The turbo engine does not use VTEC (it doesnt really need for normal daily use, as the max torque comes in real low, and lasting until 5k RPM). But if it did use VTEC (the bonkers Euro Civic Type R 2.0 turbo uses VTEC), i’d make more power and at higher RPMs. So, there is huge tuner potential for that turbo engine.
The NA 2.0 is actually DOHC. Which means its not based on the current R20 (as used in the current Malaysian Civic), which is SOHC. Instead, its based on the K20 (as used in the 8th gen Malaysian Civic). Which explains why it has more power than the R20, but less torque.
Both engines sound good (for a 4 cylinder that does not use specially tuned exhausts like AMG), but are relatively quiet on youtube videos. And if you watch the youtube review by Redline (its very detailed and is recommended viewing), when you WOT, the revs actually drop a bit when the ratios “change”. So it avoids the droning one pitch rev note of other CVTs. This is very good. What’t not good is, there is absolutely no option to manually choose gears (I mean ratios). Subaru fits paddle shifters in their CVTs to allow manual manipulation of gears. But Honda decided against it. Perhaps in a future update, they might add paddle shifters.
Copycat proton. Honda what a shame
i think the civic will cost more than the current honda accord in our market.
to bring the price down, honda malaysia will remove most of its features and the 1.8 and 2.0 will soldier on.
good job Honda! 174bhp against BMW 1.5 turbo 134bhp
but i prefer more usable torque figure than high hp number
Honda