The Japanese Sedan That Still Believes In Simplicity
Even with the risk of sounding like a geezer, I’ll ask you: remember when sedans were simpler? Fewer (and smaller) touchscreens, physical buttons, and a straightforward you-get-what-you-get engine under the hood? Family-hauling sedans like that are in ever-shortening supply these days. Okay, definitely sounding old now. I digress, sometimes simple is better. Especially when that simplicity arrives in the form of a familiar, dependable face.
That’s where one perennially popular Japanese sedan comes in. For decades now, that sedan has proven that you can have your cake and eat it too. And that cake need not be a three-tiered cake with fondant warriors reenacting a battle scene from a blockbuster action film. It can just be a damned good cake. It’s just that simple. Don’t let me lose you; we’re still talking sedans here. One go-to sedan, to be more precise.
The Ever-Complicated Vehicle
It’s 2026. The sort of technology you’ll find in a modern car is much, much more advanced than it was 10 or 20 years ago. Remember the days when navigation was a substantial upcharge? Today, your smartphone can project itself directly onto your touchscreen using functions like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. That includes turn-by-turn navigation powered by your own device, without the upcharge.
Speaking of touchscreens, huge TFTs are straight-up ubiquitous in today’s new car market. You can get a Mercedes-Benz EQS with a monstrous 56-inch screen array. That, or a Cadillac Celestiq with a 55-inch wall of screens stretching from pillar to pillar. Heck, some new cars are equipped with varying levels of autonomous driving. That was science fiction 15 years ago. Not to mention garish, complex interior layouts. But not every sedan leans so heavily into being quite so complicated.
Simplify The Sedan Approach
That’s sort of the thing, though, isn’t it? Life is complicated enough without adding complexity to your daily drive. Sometimes, it’s best to go with the dependable family car with an understated interior, a drama-free four-cylinder engine under the hood, and enough tech to be useful. Fortunately, there are options for a less-than-tricky, straightforward compact sedan to handle your everyday needs. This option from Japanese automaker giant Honda skips the needlessly complicated and keeps things simple. Although there’s no shortage of options in its extended lineup.
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2026 Honda Civic: Simply A Sedan Benchmark, Decades On
Starting At $24,695
For 2026, the Honda Civic doesn’t get much of an update. Though it really might not need one. The Civic is in its 11th generation (yes, you read that right), having received a thorough refresh for the 2022 model year. Gone were the gaudy styling cues of the 10th-generation model in favor of a much more grown-up aesthetic, inside and out. Under the hood, the standard engine option is a 150-horsepower naturally aspirated 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder mill that shrugs off the complications of forced induction or hybrid electric architecture. There’s only one gearbox option: a continuously variable automatic transmission. The same goes for drivetrain options. From the entry-level Civic LX to the proper hot hatch that is the Civic Type R, power goes to the front wheels exclusively.
No Shortage Of Options
The base Civic keeps things boiled down to the basics. Its front-wheel drive, a free-breathing naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine, seating for up to five, and an elegantly simple interior layout. Here’s the thing, though: the rest of the lineup looks a bit like an automotive choose-your-own-adventure.
2026 Honda Civic LX Specs
|
Engine |
Naturally Aspirated 2.0-Liter I4 |
|
Transmission |
Continuously Variable Automatic Transmission |
|
Horsepower, Torque |
150 HP At 6,400 RPM, 133 At 4,000 RPM |
|
Drivetrain |
Front-Wheel Drive |
|
Curb Weight |
2,875 LBS |
Don’t like the sedan? It’s available as a hatchback. Think the base model isn’t fuel-efficient enough? The 2026 Honda Civic Hybrid dials up the efficiency and the performance factor. Want to take the simple, straightforward approach to a driver’s car? The 2026 Honda Civic Si offers a notchy six-speed manual gearbox instead of the base Civic’s CVT. But unlike the Toyota GR86 and Subaru BRZ and their naturally aspirated, rear-wheel drive approach to a driver’s car, the Civic Si employs a 200-horsepower, turbocharged 1.5-liter four-pot engine and front-wheel drive.
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Straightforward And Cleanly Simple
The 10th generation, FC-body Honda Civic took, let’s call it, a different approach to styling. It relied on a squinted front fascia and aggressive lines. To some, it was a bit much. Too juvenile. Fast-forward to the 11th-generation FE and FL Civics, and Honda changed things up. The current Civic cleaned up the previous generation’s looks, giving it a welcome aesthetic update from every angle. Honda ditched the polarizing exterior styling in favor of a new, clean look.
On the inside, the 2026 Honda Civic is all about function. Interior storage space is generous, as is cabin space for four — five in a pinch. A seven-inch touchscreen is standard equipment. While that’s a bit on the smaller side, it’s not as intrusive as some larger, more imposing TFTs. That said, a nine-inch touchscreen is an option above the base model.
Commendable Fuel Economy
Fast is good. But in your no-nonsense family sedan, you likely care more about fuel economy than outright speed. Even with the less-than-mighty naturally aspirated 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, the base Civic LX returns an EPA-estimated 32 MPG in the city and 41 MPG at highway speeds. Not only is that commendable, but it’s also enough to best rivals like the Volkswagen Jetta, which gets 29 MPG city and 40 MPG highway. Of course, opting for the Honda Civic Hybrid and its dual-motor hybrid electric platform increases fuel economy with its dainty thirst for gasoline. The EPA estimates the Civic Hybrid, specifically the sedan, will manage 50 MPG in the city and 47 MPG on the highway.
No Need For Speed
As you might imagine, the base 150-horsepower 2.0-liter engine isn’t exactly a drag strip weapon. In testing, the non-hybrid Honda Civic sedan managed a languid 8.9-second run to 60 mph. Now, that does put the all-business base Civic behind some of its segment competition. However, if you want a faster, more eager Civic, the Si and the properly spicy Type R are available.
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So, Should You Buy One?
The Honda Civic has been a presence on American roads for over 50 years. In that time, it’s transformed into one of the best-selling sedans to ever reach star-spangled shores. Now, with its clean, reimagined 11th-generation platform, it’s one of the few unapologetically simple, straightforward compact sedans to survive the American consumers’ gluttonous appetite for SUVs. In short, if you’re looking for a sedan with a reputation for getting things done, Honda’s resident compact sedan might just have you covered.
Sources: EPA, Honda, Edmunds
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