The new generation of Honda’s legendary compact car has just arrived and considering all the novelties and improvements, we have no doubt that the second production year will bring no bigger changes. This refers to all models in the lineup, except for the upcoming high-performance Type R. So, the 2023 Honda Civic Sport will continue as the second most-affordable Civic on the offer, which offers a great balance between price and the number of features.
Besides the decent list of standard equipment, this version will offer many other great things that are typical for all other Civic models. We particularly like the handling and overall driving experience, while the company’s iconic K20 engine promises excellent durability and reliability. Furthermore, we like the spacious cargo area, as well as the pretty generous second-row legroom.
As there are no significant changes to come, we presume that the 2023 Honda Civic Sport will hit the market sometime in the last quarter of the year.
2023 Honda Civic Sport Design
Design-wise, the 2023 Honda Civic Sport will continue in the same way. This is the second most-affordable Civic in the lineup and compared to the base model, it comes with a couple of upgrades. The most notable are 18-inch alloy wheels, while the rest of the exterior design looks quite typical. A good thing to know is that you can choose between sedan and hatchback body styles.
In both cases, you may count on typical Civic qualities. This particularly refers to the chassis and suspension setup, which is impressive. The handling is very sporty and the car is very fun to drive. However, such characteristics haven’t been achieved by too stiff suspension only. The actual suspension setup is actually pretty balanced, so the ride quality isn’t firm at all. Moreover, the ride is smooth and comfortable.
Interior
The same thing goes for the interior design – we don’t expect to see bigger changes. The overall layout will remain the same. It combines simplistic aesthetics with the great build quality and pretty fine materials. In this trim level, you also get things like a leather-wrapped steering wheel as standard. What we like most about this cabin is the driving position. It is excellent in every way, whether it’s about the feel behind the steering wheel, ergonomics or visibility.
When it comes to interior space, there is nothing to complain about. This is one of the biggest models in the class, so it’s no wonder that the second row is very generous with legroom. The headroom is also pretty good, no matter if you choose a sedan or a hatchback.
When it comes to the cargo space, the sedan offers around 15 cubic feet, which is a pretty decent rating for the class. On the other hand, the hatchback is really impressive in this aspect, as it offers around 24.5 cubic feet.
Features
Although this is the second-cheapest model in the lineup, it comes with a pretty decent list of standard equipment. You may count on goodies like a 7-inch touchscreen, digital instrument display, automatic climate control, push-button start, proximity keyless entry, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, eight-speaker audio system etc.
Where this compact car really impresses is a very long list of standard safety and driver-assist features. It comes standard with things like forward collision mitigation, lane keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, traffic sign reader, automatic high beams, driver attention monitor, etc.
2023 Honda Civic Sport Engine
Things under the hood definitely won’t change. The 2023 Honda Civic Sport will continue with the good-old 2.0-liter inline-four engine, which puts out 158 horsepower and 138 pound-feet of torque. As we are talking about the naturally-aspirated engine, the max torque and power are available at higher revs. So, driving dynamics aren’t spectacular, especially not with the CVT gearbox. However, a great thing to know is that the hatchback version is also available with a super-slick 6-speed manual transmission, which does a fantastic job.
On the other hand, this engine is a great choice for daily commuting. The average fuel economy goes around 31 mpg in the city and 40 mpg on the highway. More importantly, we are talking about the legendary, well-proven K20 engine, which has been in use for so long and which proved itself as one of the most reliable and most durable four-cylinder engines around.
2023 Honda Civic Sport Release Date and Price
Since there are no significant changes to come, we expect that the 2023 Honda Civic Sport will hit the market sometime in the last quarter of the year, with a starting price of around 23.500 dollars for the sedan and 24.500 for the hatchback. Key competitors will be similarly priced versions of models like Toyota Corolla, Mazda 3 etc.
It’s now Dec. 1st and the 2023 Honda Civic Touring Sedan are not much anywhere in the San Fernando and Valley in LA county. When will they become more available?