Having owned two of this generation of Civic, I'll chime in with some pros and cons: Pros: Fuel economy--you can easily exceed EPA estimates if you drive conservatively. Acceleration with the 1.5T engine is very good. Value for the dollar. Fairly spacious rear seat. Availability of safety tech across the lineup. Handling and braking are above average...Honda does electric power steering better than just about anyone. Availability of manual transmission. CVT is decent as CVTs go, especially when paired with the turbo engine. Low belt line and good outward visibility in most models. Cons: 1.5T engine and oil dilution problem is real. Driver's seat is too low to the floor, poor ergonomics...driver's seat cushion bottom too short, little support, seat tilts forward when raised which exacerbates this. Air conditioning is fairly weak in hot weather, long a Honda small car trait. Sheet metal is incredibly thin, hood and roof "oil can" when hand washing the car. Body panel gaps are less precise then our previous gen Civics, i.e. lower build quality/attention to detail. Paint chips off very easily, low quality.
Guess I will be the odd duck as I like the driving position. My beefs are the non removable headrests in the back, lack of handle inside the car to lower back seats, and the center console is poorly designed.
Alex, I really luv ur reviews! U cover the most important n crucial points 4 people seeking comfort n noise in vehicles. It's crazy how most people reviewing always disregard cabin noise! Thx a million for being extremely thorough and concise.
I have a 2017 civic and I love it! Has a lot of power for passing, great features, great leg room, looks sporty, and I get 42.6 mpg highway, 37 mpg city. Great for long distance travel.
The restyling tweak really do improve the looks. This is my pick of the class especially if you like driving. What's crazy is that with some decent 245 summer tires the performance numbers are even better
I dont know looking at some of these honda civic owners comments seems like the old civics are way better. I think the accord is the real stellar thing in hondas lineup right now even though the controversial styling can make some people opposed I love the interior and exterior styling
Great review as usual; however, you forgot to mention that Jetta has even longer bumper to a bumper warranty than Hyundai - 72 months/72000 miles vs 60 months /60000 miles
Was really hoping the Kia Forte would feature in the list of competitors. The base manual in particular offers a ton of features unseen in other base models of the competition like Android auto/Apple car play, auto headlamps, heated seats etc as standard across all models for a price lower than most of its counterparts and not to mention their new in-house CVT has garnered some very good reviews. Hyundai/Kia have also made great strides in terms of reliability, like for instance a delivery driver having driven a million miles in a span of just five years speaks to its great reliability.
I like the side profile of the civic and cargo practicality along with the power and efficiency of the 1.5T. The new Mazda for me is the most premium looking and feeling in the segment while I like the Jetta only when equipped with the bigger infotainment. Toyota should come up with a performance variant in order to compete wholly with the Civic.
And you can get a 2020 Toyota Corolla LE for $17,335. It has good safety features, and you can use CarPlay. Android Auto is coming as a software update later this year. You would have to upgrade to a higher trim level in order to use CarPlay or AA.
Civic hatchbacks are manufactured in the UK which likely explains why its not refreshed at the same time as the other variants. Sedan and coupe are all manufactured on the same line in the same factory in the US.
I have a 18 civic hatch and like it overall...excellent mpg with 75% city/suburban and 25% rural/interstate and over one year have gotten 35.4 avg. my biggest gripe is the super slow, laggy infotainment system and the laggy cvt from start off. You said you liked the cvt but i find it rubber bandy around town....on the hwy it is fine and responsive.
Not even close. It is weir looking in my opinion cuz I've own a 2015 Mazda 3 2.0L while hopping it will get better MPG but it gets so so gas mileages while the ride not as nice as my 2014 Accord but MPG is similar so I got rid of it. Kept my 14 Accord instead cuz its roomier and more refine then the Mazda 3.
For me I'm ignoring it because I have own a 2015 Mazda3 2.0L Automatic before and got rid off it quick since it wasn't all that great. Ride and handling was okay and the transmission shift as on point as you would shift it yourself but Fuel economy is also not as expect. Only 32-35 MPG Freeway and not as advertised.
I prefer the Sport trim of the Civic. High revving NA engine, 6-speed manual and no feature bloat. It has a leather steering wheel and Apple Carplay/Android Auto which are all the convenience features I need. Plus, obviously, all the standard safety stuff. Price is reasonable at 21,250 USD. Just my opinion...
One comment on the LED headlights: In fact these OEM LEDs on civic touring are rated Poor by IIHS (I agree they look decent). People can easily find after-market LEDs directly replacing OEM halogens. They come with much improved night visibility.
I'd buy the Civic Sedan Sport. It comes with the 2.0L NA engine which should be very reliable in the long run. Compared to the trims with the 1.5L turbo, you likely won't get oil dilution issues or carbon build-up since the 2-Liter engine is using port injection. Also, VTEC! The sport also comes with 18-inch 235 wheels, blacked out front grill (no chrome accents) and a HDMI type exhaust, so looks similar to the Si. I have a feeling that Honda is trying to make the Sport trim a no-brainer to drive shoppers to the reliable NA engine and to keep the number of 1.5s down. In Canada, only the Touring trim now comes with the 1.5L. Maybe they're already thinking about the risks of recalls and bad press, similar to what happened with the CRV?
I have a 2017 Honda Civic with 1.5T 2dr EX. Ive been shopping & test driving 2019s & 2020 top models. Just cant beat the honda. The new 2020 Nissan Sentra is great aestheticly, nice but no turbo. Very slow pic up. Honda is definitely higher price. Thanks for your reviews
John Franklin John I think he means that certain cars “Book” stronger than others and the dealer can call in favors for people that need help and the Sentra books strong enuff to carry negative equity or other deficiencies. I worked in finance and we put risky applicants on certain models along with cash down. American cars didn’t book the same. You see lots & lots of folks with bad credit driving in Chevy Impalas & Malibu’s. Seems those models can be seen around town with Paper Tags almost daily! Well they “Get Me Done” cars like the Sentra. So the bank does approve some people on certain cars which is why dealers steer Lower Tier applicants towards those models. Not Honda’s or Volkswagens or Subaru’s or Tesla’s.
@@2004cyrus you must be talking about used cars, and the interest rate must be horrible. My credit is very good. But a friend of mine has outrageously good credit. He recently turned in a leased BMW, and decided to buy this time. He can afford any car, but after testing many cars, some he liked in the 60.000 dollar price range. None really put a smile on his face. He told me he recently saw a car that looked good and kinda cute, he was blown away when he saw it was a Hyundai kona.!! So off we go to Hyundai dealership. After an extensive test drive, about 40 miles each way, He bought a kona sel with tech package. The salesman After taking his information, > came back and stared at my friend and said, WE NEVER SEE THIS, EVER. HIS CREDIT SCORE WAS OVER 860. yeah, he got 0 percent financing, put 10.000 down. Has had the car a month and a half, and really is happy with it.!
Personally I dig the camera system which Honda calls lane watch. When I’m in other cars that have bsm I miss the camera. I guess the little light on the mirror just isn’t prominent enough for me.
@@pedropierre9594 Agreed. Actually I don't need any of the active safety BS. I prefer not texting while driving. Also, body work gets expensive with all the sensors, not to mention all the problems with these systems when they age.
As tempting as the Honda is and because it has a CVT transmission, I would go for the Jetta based on it having a normal 8 speed transmission plus it has a better warranty.
Actually, Honda CVT are performing very nice unlike Nissan CVT. I have own one and it's okay and I don't miss the constant of tranny shit and and down shift of a traditional automatic tranny.
Lease the Jetta for zero down when the sale is on for 3 years. Plus I think some maintenance is included. Buy the Civic for longer term. I also prefer the Jetta looks but I am not in the target youth demographic :)
A Jetta con is the transmission which acts, feels and sounds(shudders, gears grind & transmission slams into drive when driven gently at 30-35mph)like a DCT/DSG. I rented one for two weeks and thought it very much acted like the DCT/DSG in the 2012 to 2019 Ford Focus. I can't be the only one who's experienced that. Comment ppl🤔
@@ScalperMan0 Jean, my 2007 Scion TC definitely didn't have that grinding sensation or rough shifts and it was a 5 speed auto. VW has to do better. Amazes me that reviewers aren't commenting on this.
I just bought a 2019 VW Tiguan, I traded a 2011 Jetta, and I owned 2 Jettas before that. All I’ve ever owned is VW and none of them have had any maintenance nightmares. I don’t drive like an idiot and they are maintained per VW specifications.
@@joelhansen7373 wow, you obviously haven't followed this issue. Its definitely been proven to not been caused by short trips. And if that WAS the case. It wouldn't matter since none of the other brands are having short trip dilution issues. and lots of people who commute long distances at freeway speeds to work 5 days a week have said their oil levels are high and very diluted. A coworker of mine who drives 42 miles one way to work has this issue. Hes changing his oil every 2000 miles trying to protect the engine. And the fix doesn't work. Their STILL trying to figure out how to solve the problem. AND still selling these cars WITH the problem. Unforgivable.
Surprised that you don't call out reliability as a Con for the Jetta, vs. the Honda. Especially after putting reliability in the Pro column for the Corolla; the delta between Toyota and Honda is significantly smaller than Honda and Volkswagen when it comes to reliability. Some ideas for other features to call out when comparing / reviewing models -- adaptive cruise control is now a must for my next vehicle after a number of road trips in a newer Toyota Camry. It may not be "autopilot" or a self driving car, but it really helps improve safety and reduce fatigue on longer trips. Owning a vehicle with automatic climate control has ruined me; fussing with manual climate control in our second car is now a real chore. Wipers should ideally be rain-sensing (at least if implemented well), and at a minimum offer an adjustable intermittent setting to deal with drizzle. Lastly, and this is a big one -- you give a fit/comfort review for yourself and with the passenger seat all the way back in its tracks; how about enlisting a partner to give a seat fit reviews for a petite individual (5'4" is the average height for 50% of the US population, and 5'1" is not unusually short)? This isn't just about seat height and whether the steering column telescopes (though they're both important); seat depth is also a big deal for a smaller person, who may find that the front of the seat cuts into the back of their knees. I'm a foot taller than my wife, and a big part of car shopping for us is testing that the seat adjustments and driving position will work for both of us to drive reasonably comfortably. Automatic seat and mirror memory, ideally activated with individual fobs when the car is unlocked, is a lovely thing for couples with large height differences. Unfortunately, while present at least as an option in entry level luxury cars (3 series) for 20 years, this has yet to trickle down to many non-luxury models.
readyplayer2 You make some excellent suggestions. I just bought a 2019 VW Tiguan, yes it’s a whole other segment of vehicle, but I’m greatly appreciate that its feature set includes custom mirror / seat adjustments for each fob.
Civic's ground clearance is so low that it gives me a feel of sitting on the ground itself all the time. It doesn't feel like sitting in the normal car really much.
i own a 2016 EX-L sedan and i havent had any issues regarding oil dilution. Although I have heard about bad A/C compressors, havent experienced it myself.
Not the Sentra. Not even a consideration. But the ability for it to carry a lot of roller bags is good since it will most likely be seen in rental car fleets, and thus, airport rental cars.
Given the street price of the Civic Si of around $24k at dealers, it’s a no brainer. Also, the Jetta GLI street price is comparable to a fully loaded Civic. That is a no brainer too lol.
The Civic Touring is $2,500 different from the GLI Autobahn. So the GLI is competition to both the regular and SI Civic. And both cars have the same amount of issues.
I can't believe you genuinely feel the Civic handles better than the new generation Corolla. IMO the new generation Corolla, especially in the SE+ trims with the better tires, is one of the best general consumer vehicles when it comes to handling. Btw, I'm not a Toyota fanboy, I'm actually a Civic owner.
As per MotorTrend, 2019 Civic > 2020 Corolla > 2019 Mazda 3. The previous gen Mazda 3 actually makes a more compelling case as the best economy sedan than the newest awkward faux-luxury car.
The one thing that makes the Civic a no-no is the air conditioning system doesn't even last three years. Honda is refusing to admit that they have a faulty system and they not only charge the owner for repair, but Honda "repairs" the air conditioning system with the same faulty parts so that the "fix" won't last three years either.
@@NaijaBull The oil dilution will in theory shorten the life of an engine. I am not aware of a single engine wearing out because of oil dilution. Maybe, these engines will "only" last 200,000 miles. By then the transmission, exhaust, suspension, charging system and electronics will be worn out anyway. I suspect that there are tens of thousands of malfunctioning air conditioning systems in these cars.
Has the oil-dilution situation been successfully swept under the rug or what?? Despite the stellar ratings this car gets in automotive media, I would sort of consider this serious of a problem a HUGE dent to the reliability grade. It's a shame really.
I would worry about VW’s reliability especially of you are buying. I have been going back and forth between the Jetta and the Civic. The Jetta does have a better infotainment system, the Honda’s feels dated.
@@LoveStallion The CR-V doesn't have a better system, we have one. But the insight, Accord, Odyssey, do. (We also own an Insight). It's definitely awful that they're running with this OS versus the one in the Insight, because our CR-V's is a giant pain in the ass (it is the exact same as what you see in the Civic).
Between the Civic and the Jetta, there's no doubt I'd go with the Honda. However, in this segment as a whole, I'd probably get either a Hyundai Ioniq or a Honda Insight. It's impressive to me that the Civic still holds its own against the competition after all these years. I would have liked a comparison between the Civic and the new Kia Forte, though I realize this comparison is covered in your Forte review.
Alex - don't you think this version is less comfortable than the 16' Civic because of larger wheels ? There were barely any camera vibrations in your touring 16' review.
How does it ride with 17" wheels ? I personally feel they made a blunder by sticking 18" for 2019 Touring - must make for a harsh ride. I have the 2017 EX (16" wheels) in UAE and it rides superbly comfortable.
If you enjoy replacing the battery pack every few years for $2,000+ then by all means, buy an Insight. I'll be sticking with non-hybrid cars that are affordable both in the short-term AND the long-term.
@@nodak81 "If you enjoy replacing the battery pack every few years for $2,000+ then by all means, buy an Insight." Do you have evidence to support that claim?
@@TheGerm24 no hes just someone who hates electrification. My mechanic drives a hybrid Prius that has 140,000 miles on it and the battery was only replaced once at like 110,000 miles
The one and only problem I have with the manual Civic is the electric parking brake. I could live without a brake lever in an RWD car, but unfortunately not in Civic.
Hi Alex! Fantastic review! Question: would you please consider covering the left side of the dashboard and driver's door panel in your reviews? I'm curious to know about such things as the safety features and/or express up and down windows, etc. Thanks!
I'm still debating about what car should I get next. I'm between a Civic Coupe, Mazda 3 HB or a Vitara Turbo. What I like about the Mazda 3 is its refinement but its handling isn't the best, what I like about the Vitara is how fun to drive is and its handling but it isn't as refined as even the Civic, and what I like about the Civic is that it's in the middle of the two. Soooo yeah 🤷🏻♂️
Jer Bear, because the Sentra suck when it comes to their CVT performance, motor and tranny. Handling is also not on par with the competiion. Yes, they looks nice and roomy in all but that's where it end.
Cause the Sentra is like the oldest in the class rn. The current gen dates back to 2013, while all its competitors have redesigned within the past couple years. It's not a bad car, it's just dated, hence the reason why it gets ignored.
Datsun was good had many in 70’s & 80’s Nissan hardbody truck in 95’ maxima in 2005 and wife’s murano 2018 ; I got 2015 Titan SV 4x4 hat had a/c replaced right after warranty left & trans slipping mixing coolant and trans fluid so traded it this week for certified 2019 Civic EX-T!#Civic❤️🔥🤘🏻
@@rattlehead999 I feel like he either was talking about the fastest civic model which is the hatchback sport when he was referring to the times or this new 2019 model does it in 6.5 and im not aware.
2017 civic ex owner. except for the sunroof not much standard feature =( . No lumbar support in the EX model... very disappointed. fit and finish issue with light noise comes from somewhere on the handle on top of the windows. Very annoying but dealer keep saying that I have to duplicate it while the test drive . =( Some interior materials are too cheap! Honda is not economical car anymore. Hoping that honda would remove the econ function that really doesn't do much saving fuel, just get dull excel. Overall good car but nothing really excites you.
![I.N "HALLUCINATION" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/n5B5q1Hwt_U/mqdefault.jpg)
Having owned two of this generation of Civic, I'll chime in with some pros and cons:
Pros: Fuel economy--you can easily exceed EPA estimates if you drive conservatively. Acceleration with the 1.5T engine is very good. Value for the dollar. Fairly spacious rear seat. Availability of safety tech across the lineup. Handling and braking are above average...Honda does electric power steering better than just about anyone. Availability of manual transmission. CVT is decent as CVTs go, especially when paired with the turbo engine. Low belt line and good outward visibility in most models.
Cons: 1.5T engine and oil dilution problem is real. Driver's seat is too low to the floor, poor ergonomics...driver's seat cushion bottom too short, little support, seat tilts forward when raised which exacerbates this. Air conditioning is fairly weak in hot weather, long a Honda small car trait. Sheet metal is incredibly thin, hood and roof "oil can" when hand washing the car. Body panel gaps are less precise then our previous gen Civics, i.e. lower build quality/attention to detail. Paint chips off very easily, low quality.
I totally agree with you on the pro and con for these civic since I have own one myself.
They need to have a recall or class action lawsuit on the oil dilution, thats not acceptable.
Spot on with your pros and cons. I will also add that the suspension struggles to soak up anything more than small imperfections on the road.
Totally agree about how low the Civic sits. It makes for an uncomfortable drive and makes me borderline sick.
Guess I will be the odd duck as I like the driving position. My beefs are the non removable headrests in the back, lack of handle inside the car to lower back seats, and the center console is poorly designed.
Alex, I really luv ur reviews! U cover the most important n crucial points 4 people seeking comfort n noise in vehicles.
It's crazy how most people reviewing always disregard cabin noise!
Thx a million for being extremely thorough and concise.
I have a 2017 civic and I love it! Has a lot of power for passing, great features, great leg room, looks sporty, and I get 42.6 mpg highway, 37 mpg city. Great for long distance travel.
Ditto for my 2016 Civic Touring sedan.
The restyling tweak really do improve the looks. This is my pick of the class especially if you like driving. What's crazy is that with some decent 245 summer tires the performance numbers are even better
Blake Swan wow a positive comment !
Alex, I can’t wait for your channel to blow up with subscribers. You deserve it and it will happen. Amazing work.
Honda knocked this generation of Civics out the park. It will go down as the greatest generation of Civics of all time.
I dont know looking at some of these honda civic owners comments seems like the old civics are way better. I think the accord is the real stellar thing in hondas lineup right now even though the controversial styling can make some people opposed I love the interior and exterior styling
Even though the Civic is dominating the game, they still have an ace up their sleeve which is the 2.0L 6MT combo.
You saved me hours and hours of research. I respect your opinion a lot!
A VOLUME KNOB!!!!?!?!? Wow -- no way!!! Now, HOW MANY YEARS DID THAT TAKE TO ADD BACK IN?!
No Volkswagen Jetta cons? Lemme help.
Cons: Reliability.
@James
Surprise, late model VW Jetta is a very reliable vehicle overall.
watershed44 only because they got caught cheating
Plus, it's a Volkswagen, which is just a con in general.
@Herp McDerp
You guys are viral marketing agents for Honda...surprise.
@Lol
Work for a marketing agent for Honda do you? Hahahaaa.
Great review as usual; however, you forgot to mention that Jetta has even longer bumper to a bumper warranty than Hyundai - 72 months/72000 miles vs 60 months /60000 miles
Having owned many VWs, I can tell you that the time to worry about a VW is over 75k miles.
Was really hoping the Kia Forte would feature in the list of competitors. The base manual in particular offers a ton of features unseen in other base models of the competition like Android auto/Apple car play, auto headlamps, heated seats etc as standard across all models for a price lower than most of its counterparts and not to mention their new in-house CVT has garnered some very good reviews. Hyundai/Kia have also made great strides in terms of reliability, like for instance a delivery driver having driven a million miles in a span of just five years speaks to its great reliability.
I love that Honda moved the chrome to the lower facia and only a little and took it off from above the headlights and grille. Looks much better.
Alex, what are your thoughts on the Honda oil dilution issue on their recent turbo engines?
I like the side profile of the civic and cargo practicality along with the power and efficiency of the 1.5T. The new Mazda for me is the most premium looking and feeling in the segment while I like the Jetta only when equipped with the bigger infotainment. Toyota should come up with a performance variant in order to compete wholly with the Civic.
Sport Trim is also available on the 2019 Sedan with the 2.0L with a MT or CVT.
Unlike the hatchback sport, it also includes Smart Key Access and the uplevel infotainment system, and a naturally aspirated engine.
@@jaanfo3874 It's also port injected.
Recently bought a new 2019 Honda Civic LX. Almost all the bells and whistles, all of the safety stuff, getting 39 mpg.
Paid $20,000 out the door. 😊👍
And you can get a 2020 Toyota Corolla LE for $17,335. It has good safety features, and you can use CarPlay. Android Auto is coming as a software update later this year. You would have to upgrade to a higher trim level in order to use CarPlay or AA.
@@thundergato84 You can't go wrong either one. I'm a Honda guy; this is my 5th Civic, 9th Honda. Last Civic, almost 300,000 miles.
You r right i do not car they cheated. Gm and others have over the years, as well and no one made a big hooey about it.
@@thundergato84 and the Corolla is a decent amount smaller overall as far as spaciousness goes.
U kinda payed alot for an lx ..i got a sport for 21000 and it gives more stuff
Civic hatchbacks are manufactured in the UK which likely explains why its not refreshed at the same time as the other variants. Sedan and coupe are all manufactured on the same line in the same factory in the US.
alliejr they’re closing it down
1- it's also made in Canada.
2- the UK made cars will be made in Japan.
Made in Japan CTR will be nice.
I have a 18 civic hatch and like it overall...excellent mpg with 75% city/suburban and 25% rural/interstate and over one year have gotten 35.4 avg. my biggest gripe is the super slow, laggy infotainment system and the laggy cvt from start off. You said you liked the cvt but i find it rubber bandy around town....on the hwy it is fine and responsive.
Are we just pretending the Mazda 3 is no longer part of this class, given Mazda's recent moves?
What's a mazda 3? is that an SUV?
I think everyone is placing them with the luxury brands.
@Dada They are quite expensive and is more of a enthusiast vehicle like a subaru?
Not even close. It is weir looking in my opinion cuz I've own a 2015 Mazda 3 2.0L while hopping it will get better MPG but it gets so so gas mileages while the ride not as nice as my 2014 Accord but MPG is similar so I got rid of it. Kept my 14 Accord instead cuz its roomier and more refine then the Mazda 3.
For me I'm ignoring it because I have own a 2015 Mazda3 2.0L Automatic before and got rid off it quick since it wasn't all that great. Ride and handling was okay and the transmission shift as on point as you would shift it yourself but Fuel economy is also not as expect. Only 32-35 MPG Freeway and not as advertised.
I prefer the Sport trim of the Civic. High revving NA engine, 6-speed manual and no feature bloat. It has a leather steering wheel and Apple Carplay/Android Auto which are all the convenience features I need. Plus, obviously, all the standard safety stuff. Price is reasonable at 21,250 USD. Just my opinion...
One comment on the LED headlights:
In fact these OEM LEDs on civic touring are rated Poor by IIHS (I agree they look decent).
People can easily find after-market LEDs directly replacing OEM halogens. They come with much improved night visibility.
As always, an excellent and comprehensive review
i very much like the way the new eleantra looks
Excellent song choice, Alex!
If you want to spend a little more and be more ECO get the Insight. We got the EX and really like it!
I'd buy the Civic Sedan Sport. It comes with the 2.0L NA engine which should be very reliable in the long run. Compared to the trims with the 1.5L turbo, you likely won't get oil dilution issues or carbon build-up since the 2-Liter engine is using port injection. Also, VTEC!
The sport also comes with 18-inch 235 wheels, blacked out front grill (no chrome accents) and a HDMI type exhaust, so looks similar to the Si.
I have a feeling that Honda is trying to make the Sport trim a no-brainer to drive shoppers to the reliable NA engine and to keep the number of 1.5s down. In Canada, only the Touring trim now comes with the 1.5L. Maybe they're already thinking about the risks of recalls and bad press, similar to what happened with the CRV?
100% agree with you. Also the 2.0L is a K-Series engine.
Honestly, they should just get rid of 1.5T entirely for the Canada models until the issue has been addressed.
Hey Alex, the Corolla Hybrid competes with the Honda Insight, which is the new "Civic Hybrid"
Even the 11th gen Civic is coming out I will still take this hella style Civic....
I have a 2017 Honda Civic with 1.5T 2dr EX. Ive been shopping & test driving 2019s & 2020 top models. Just cant beat the honda. The new 2020 Nissan Sentra is great aestheticly, nice but no turbo. Very slow pic up. Honda is definitely higher price. Thanks for your reviews
How's the oil dilution problem in the 1.5 L turbo engine? Has Honda fixed it? Or they just simply gave civic owners one measly year of extra warranty?
Alex is much too profressional to say this. The Sentra is the car for people with a 480 credit score and got turned down at the Honda dealer.
earnedmystripes lol yes
Truth
The bank doesn't care what you're buying, if you dont have good credit, you wont get financing. Period. And no, I dont own a Sentra.
John Franklin John I think he means that certain cars “Book” stronger than others and the dealer can call in favors for people that need help and the Sentra books strong enuff to carry negative equity or other deficiencies. I worked in finance and we put risky applicants on certain models along with cash down. American cars didn’t book the same. You see lots & lots of folks with bad credit driving in Chevy Impalas & Malibu’s. Seems those models can be seen around town with Paper Tags almost daily! Well they “Get Me Done” cars like the Sentra. So the bank does approve some people on certain cars which is why dealers steer Lower Tier applicants towards those models. Not Honda’s or Volkswagens or Subaru’s or Tesla’s.
@@2004cyrus you must be talking about used cars, and the interest rate must be horrible. My credit is very good. But a friend of mine has
outrageously good credit. He recently turned in a leased BMW, and decided to buy this time. He can afford any car, but after testing many cars, some he liked in the 60.000 dollar price range. None really put a smile on his face. He told me he recently saw a car that looked good and kinda cute, he was blown away when he saw it was a Hyundai kona.!! So off we go to Hyundai dealership. After an extensive test drive, about 40 miles each way, He bought a kona sel with tech package. The salesman After taking his information, > came back and stared at my friend and said, WE NEVER SEE THIS, EVER. HIS CREDIT SCORE WAS OVER 860. yeah, he got 0 percent financing, put 10.000 down. Has had the car a month and a half, and really is happy with it.!
Sounds like you have a cold. Hope you get well quickly!
36mpg is impressive! Lack of blind spot monitoring is not.
Am I the only one that does not want BSM on my car or am I crazy ?
Personally I dig the camera system which Honda calls lane watch. When I’m in other cars that have bsm I miss the camera. I guess the little light on the mirror just isn’t prominent enough for me.
@@pedropierre9594 Agreed. Actually I don't need any of the active safety BS. I prefer not texting while driving. Also, body work gets expensive with all the sensors, not to mention all the problems with these systems when they age.
Forget the Civic, I have an 2014 Accord CVT LX and I got similar MPG 35-36 as well. It;s roomier, runs and ride much nicer then the Civic.
@@stevenagy88 I prefer cars without turn signals as I insist on using hand signals.
Needs traditional blind spot and the head unit from the insight and accord. And the chrome bar on the grill back. Rear air vents.
How about the Kia Forte? other sites put it as first choice.
guizarbg the new Kia Forte is a solid choice.
Kia Forte is what you buy if you're a smart buyer and don't want to pay the upcharge for having the Honda badge.
you can get an aftermarket add on if you don;t care about the warranty to boost the performance of the jetta
As tempting as the Honda is and because it has a CVT transmission, I would go for the Jetta based on it having a normal 8 speed transmission plus it has a better warranty.
Actually, Honda CVT are performing very nice unlike Nissan CVT. I have own one and it's okay and I don't miss the constant of tranny shit and and down shift of a traditional automatic tranny.
Lease the Jetta for zero down when the sale is on for 3 years. Plus I think some maintenance is included.
Buy the Civic for longer term.
I also prefer the Jetta looks but I am not in the target youth demographic :)
I just leased a Honda Civic ex for three years, pick it up August 8 th after I get back from vacation in England
Any updates to that horrible 1.5 turbo having all these problems and no body want to report.
What horrible problems? Oil dilution wasn't even doing any physical damage, and they already did a recall for an ecu flash to fix it.
A Jetta con is the transmission which acts, feels and sounds(shudders, gears grind & transmission slams into drive when driven gently at 30-35mph)like a DCT/DSG. I rented one for two weeks and thought it very much acted like the DCT/DSG in the 2012 to 2019 Ford Focus. I can't be the only one who's experienced that.
Comment ppl🤔
I've had mine for a year now and it has the grinding noise from the torque converter that most people have
noticed some low speed hiccups as well
@@ScalperMan0 Jean, my 2007 Scion TC definitely didn't have that grinding sensation or rough shifts and it was a 5 speed auto. VW has to do better. Amazes me that reviewers aren't commenting on this.
@@blakelyfantastic Blake reviewers need to address this. Consumers deserve better.
VW can do better.... they have too.
I’ve had a 2019 VW Tiguan since April with the Aison 8-speed transmission and I have not experienced any problems with it.
I like the touring model!
I sincerely want to know why Alex does not acknowledge VW reliability issues.
@LoveStallion
New Jetta is a very reliable car. Surprise.
I have a gti and over five years have never had one issue with it so reliable so far
Never heard about major recalls except for Diesel one. Honda still dealing with a major one
LoveStallion maybe because the Jetta is a new generation and doesn’t have lots of reliability data to suggest its it as reliable as the Civic
I just bought a 2019 VW Tiguan, I traded a 2011 Jetta, and I owned 2 Jettas before that. All I’ve ever owned is VW and none of them have had any maintenance nightmares. I don’t drive like an idiot and they are maintained per VW specifications.
Honda Civic over the Jetta because reliability matters!
Reliability, right? What about "oil dilution" problem?!
It only affected cars driven short distances in very cold weather. And Honda issued a recall to fix the problem.
If you want the best reliability, get a Toyota cuz Honda is no longer considered "reliable" by some reviewers.
@@joelhansen7373 wow, you obviously haven't followed this issue. Its definitely been proven to not been caused by short trips. And if that WAS the case. It wouldn't matter since none of the other brands are having short trip dilution issues. and lots of people who commute long distances at freeway speeds to work 5 days a week have said their oil levels are high and very diluted. A coworker of mine who drives 42 miles one way to work has this issue. Hes changing his oil every 2000 miles trying to protect the engine. And the fix doesn't work.
Their STILL trying to figure out how to solve the problem. AND still selling these cars WITH the problem. Unforgivable.
Honda reliability is garbage compared to most competitors (Hyundai, Kia, Toyota, Mazda, ) get with the times.
Surprised that you don't call out reliability as a Con for the Jetta, vs. the Honda. Especially after putting reliability in the Pro column for the Corolla; the delta between Toyota and Honda is significantly smaller than Honda and Volkswagen when it comes to reliability.
Some ideas for other features to call out when comparing / reviewing models -- adaptive cruise control is now a must for my next vehicle after a number of road trips in a newer Toyota Camry. It may not be "autopilot" or a self driving car, but it really helps improve safety and reduce fatigue on longer trips.
Owning a vehicle with automatic climate control has ruined me; fussing with manual climate control in our second car is now a real chore.
Wipers should ideally be rain-sensing (at least if implemented well), and at a minimum offer an adjustable intermittent setting to deal with drizzle.
Lastly, and this is a big one -- you give a fit/comfort review for yourself and with the passenger seat all the way back in its tracks; how about enlisting a partner to give a seat fit reviews for a petite individual (5'4" is the average height for 50% of the US population, and 5'1" is not unusually short)? This isn't just about seat height and whether the steering column telescopes (though they're both important); seat depth is also a big deal for a smaller person, who may find that the front of the seat cuts into the back of their knees. I'm a foot taller than my wife, and a big part of car shopping for us is testing that the seat adjustments and driving position will work for both of us to drive reasonably comfortably.
Automatic seat and mirror memory, ideally activated with individual fobs when the car is unlocked, is a lovely thing for couples with large height differences. Unfortunately, while present at least as an option in entry level luxury cars (3 series) for 20 years, this has yet to trickle down to many non-luxury models.
readyplayer2 You make some excellent suggestions. I just bought a 2019 VW Tiguan, yes it’s a whole other segment of vehicle, but I’m greatly appreciate that its feature set includes custom mirror / seat adjustments for each fob.
Civic's ground clearance is so low that it gives me a feel of sitting on the ground itself all the time.
It doesn't feel like sitting in the normal car really much.
Big deal breaker. Seating is lower than 9th Gen.
Between the major oil dilution problems and failing ac compressors I think people should avoid the new civics, crvs at all costs.
i own a 2016 EX-L sedan and i havent had any issues regarding oil dilution. Although I have heard about bad A/C compressors, havent experienced it myself.
Only 1.5T engine has that problem
lunisce the EX-L has the 1.5T engine
Albin Biju I wasn’t responding to you
Civic LX and sport are free of oil dilution, as well of LX on CRV.
You forgot to mention the much better and elegant Mazda 3.
Both nice but I think I'd pick the Jetta for a slightly softer ride. Where would you slot the Forte EX in the rating Alex? Love your reviews! Thanks
Not the Sentra. Not even a consideration. But the ability for it to carry a lot of roller bags is good since it will most likely be seen in rental car fleets, and thus, airport rental cars.
Given the street price of the Civic Si of around $24k at dealers, it’s a no brainer. Also, the Jetta GLI street price is comparable to a fully loaded Civic. That is a no brainer too lol.
The Civic Touring is $2,500 different from the GLI Autobahn. So the GLI is competition to both the regular and SI Civic. And both cars have the same amount of issues.
I can't believe you genuinely feel the Civic handles better than the new generation Corolla. IMO the new generation Corolla, especially in the SE+ trims with the better tires, is one of the best general consumer vehicles when it comes to handling. Btw, I'm not a Toyota fanboy, I'm actually a Civic owner.
keeping mazda out of the comparisons again?
grrrr. i noticed that too
As per MotorTrend, 2019 Civic > 2020 Corolla > 2019 Mazda 3.
The previous gen Mazda 3 actually makes a more compelling case as the best economy sedan than the newest awkward faux-luxury car.
Base Jetta and Civic LX with manuals are both great cars VW has the better warranty too.
The one thing that makes the Civic a no-no is the air conditioning system doesn't even last three years. Honda is refusing to admit that they have a faulty system and they not only charge the owner for repair, but Honda "repairs" the air conditioning system with the same faulty parts so that the "fix" won't last three years either.
Jack Black this is being overshadowed by the oil dilution crap, this is the real issue in these Civics
@@NaijaBull
The oil dilution will in theory shorten the life of an engine. I am not aware of a single engine wearing out because of oil dilution. Maybe, these engines will "only" last 200,000 miles. By then the transmission, exhaust, suspension, charging system and electronics will be worn out anyway.
I suspect that there are tens of thousands of malfunctioning air conditioning systems in these cars.
isnt the insight basically a civic hybrid?
Great thorough reviews!!
I would definitely pick a civic, as close in feel as the Jetta is. VW just don’t build things to last anymore.
Has the oil-dilution situation been successfully swept under the rug or what?? Despite the stellar ratings this car gets in automotive media, I would sort of consider this serious of a problem a HUGE dent to the reliability grade. It's a shame really.
I'll pick the Ioniq hybrid for fuel economy, independent rear suspension, non-CVT transmission, and roomy interior.
The Ioniq is such an underrated car. Sold my Civic for the Plug-in and it's quicker off the line.
The LED headlights should be standard.
Agreed
Just curious what the blank buttons above the eco button are? Since your tester was the highest trim it’s a bit surprising.
Auto start-stop?!
Md Ahmed not on any civic platform that I’m aware of
@@caglioso okay
Calisto Riviera in other markets it’s on all civics even Type R
f181234 ah my bad, I stand corrected then.
Thank you, amazing analysis!
just slap awd on a model and im in. Need that for toronto beach areas in the winter, hate suv fuel economy and handling
why is the cabin noise only score B+ for 71 dB when elantra sport have the same measurement and score A?
Oddly enough, Mazda 3 is missing from comparison, Are we not considering it as compact anymore ??
DIPTAM SARKAR it’s more luxury now
Mazda NOT considered at all; we forgot they were still around. I had a 323 that lasted 25 yrs.
I would worry about VW’s reliability especially of you are buying. I have been going back and forth between the Jetta and the Civic. The Jetta does have a better infotainment system, the Honda’s feels dated.
Still can't believe they won't update Honda Link on this thing when the Insight, Accord, CR-V, et al have the better system.
@@LoveStallion The CR-V doesn't have a better system, we have one. But the insight, Accord, Odyssey, do. (We also own an Insight).
It's definitely awful that they're running with this OS versus the one in the Insight, because our CR-V's is a giant pain in the ass (it is the exact same as what you see in the Civic).
Between the Civic and the Jetta, there's no doubt I'd go with the Honda. However, in this segment as a whole, I'd probably get either a Hyundai Ioniq or a Honda Insight. It's impressive to me that the Civic still holds its own against the competition after all these years. I would have liked a comparison between the Civic and the new Kia Forte, though I realize this comparison is covered in your Forte review.
No Mazda3?
Alex - don't you think this version is less comfortable than the 16' Civic because of larger wheels ? There were barely any camera vibrations in your touring 16' review.
Civic over Jetta all day. I like reliable transport, and the Honda is efficient and quick to boot.
How about Corolla Le vs Civic Lx?
Are all the safety features the same as a 2016 touring model? I have a 2016 Honda Civic touring and I think I have all those safe features
Alex, I currently own a 2017 Honda Civic EX-T. It is a phenomenal car. How does the handling of the civic compare to the Standard Range Plus Model 3?
How does it ride with 17" wheels ?
I personally feel they made a blunder by sticking 18" for 2019 Touring - must make for a harsh ride.
I have the 2017 EX (16" wheels) in UAE and it rides superbly comfortable.
I just got 2019 certified Civic EX-T charcoal grey and LOVE it!#HondaFamily
I do not understand how any credible review of a Honda with the 1.5 liter turbo engine not discuss oil dilution.
S.P. Ltd. he doesn’t want to get into speculation about that
More features, more space (especially in the back seat) and more cargo capacity in a Soul Turbo for similar drive-off costs. And no CVT.
Is the infotainment system bad even if you use Android auto?
Unless you're getting a sporty civic, just get an insight and get extra fuel economy
If you enjoy replacing the battery pack every few years for $2,000+ then by all means, buy an Insight. I'll be sticking with non-hybrid cars that are affordable both in the short-term AND the long-term.
The price is the only things that's appealing. At my local dealership, they're offering these civics for $90/mo when leasing.
@@nodak81 "If you enjoy replacing the battery pack every few years for $2,000+ then by all means, buy an Insight." Do you have evidence to support that claim?
@@TheGerm24 no hes just someone who hates electrification. My mechanic drives a hybrid Prius that has 140,000 miles on it and the battery was only replaced once at like 110,000 miles
@@SugarFreeTargets the civic sedan has a 2000 dollar cheaper base price, but the hybrids tax credits could easily make the difference.
Ppl keeps talking about the oil dilution issue but isn’t that fixed already?!
Jimmy Cheng hell no
Why wasn't the sentra included in length comparison?
The one and only problem I have with the manual Civic is the electric parking brake. I could live without a brake lever in an RWD car, but unfortunately not in Civic.
I fail to see the refresh except a volume button
dygardion 91 same here
Why you didn’t mention the sister Insight since you mentioned the Ioniq in the leg room as well as the comparison?
I vote Civic
Hi Alex! Fantastic review! Question: would you please consider covering the left side of the dashboard and driver's door panel in your reviews? I'm curious to know about such things as the safety features and/or express up and down windows, etc. Thanks!
Hi Alex pls can u advise me on which car to buy that will be suitable for my African weather...... Am in Ghana West Africa
Probably a non turbo due to heat isues.
I'm still debating about what car should I get next. I'm between a Civic Coupe, Mazda 3 HB or a Vitara Turbo. What I like about the Mazda 3 is its refinement but its handling isn't the best, what I like about the Vitara is how fun to drive is and its handling but it isn't as refined as even the Civic, and what I like about the Civic is that it's in the middle of the two. Soooo yeah 🤷🏻♂️
Why do all completely ignore the Sentra?
Jer Bear, because the Sentra suck when it comes to their CVT performance, motor and tranny. Handling is also not on par with the competiion. Yes, they looks nice and roomy in all but that's where it end.
Cause the Sentra is like the oldest in the class rn. The current gen dates back to 2013, while all its competitors have redesigned within the past couple years. It's not a bad car, it's just dated, hence the reason why it gets ignored.
It’s not that great a car but he mentioned it
Datsun was good had many in 70’s & 80’s Nissan hardbody truck in 95’ maxima in 2005 and wife’s murano 2018 ; I got 2015 Titan SV 4x4 hat had a/c replaced right after warranty left & trans slipping mixing coolant and trans fluid so traded it this week for certified 2019 Civic EX-T!#Civic❤️🔥🤘🏻
Can you plz do a review on Accord Sport 2.0 manual transmission
I prefer Civic
I will only get a civic if they give us the accord analog speedometer and digital tachometer
Alex between civic touring or VW GlI the price is very little difference
Alex, I thought the Sport trim of the sedan also came with the 2.0, not the 1.5.
Omaha419 he later corrected himself and said you have to go for the EX for the Turbo. So, that’s just a typo at the start.
Great review.
Is the 0-60mph/0-100kph really 6.5 seconds? Isn't it 8 seconds? O_O
The 2.0 liter one does in 8 seconds.
@@jbx_98 and this one does it in 6.5?
@@rattlehead999 I feel like he either was talking about the fastest civic model which is the hatchback sport when he was referring to the times or this new 2019 model does it in 6.5 and im not aware.
civic touring model more expensive than my 2019 honda accord LX
Well that was kind of expected... it's a top trim compared to a base
no Cons on the Jetta??..
2017 civic ex owner. except for the sunroof not much standard feature =( . No lumbar support in the EX model... very disappointed. fit and finish issue with light noise comes from somewhere on the handle on top of the windows. Very annoying but dealer keep saying that I have to duplicate it while the test drive . =( Some interior materials are too cheap! Honda is not economical car anymore. Hoping that honda would remove the econ function that really doesn't do much saving fuel, just get dull excel. Overall good car but nothing really excites you.
nice video recording