Great enthusiast car, clunky in a few ways
Absolutely love the car. Quicker than any new $30k sedan, DCT transmission is a thousand times better than the competition’s CVTs, and the handling is superb. Small details like the manual hand brake, button/screen layout, and sport seats make it clear it’s built for the young enthusiast. My previous car was a 2022 Civic Sport, which was sporty in name only, but this is much more engaging. The engine braking on downshifts and weight of the steering make it engaging on windy roads and through the city.
That being said, it’s clunky in a few different ways. Getting out of first gear with any amount of throttle (normal acceleration from a stop sign, flooring it, everything in between) is never smooth. It bogs down under initial acceleration and takes a moment to shift into second. Going from second to third, etc, is fine. Just not first to second. That’s my biggest gripe.
The interior build quality is also not great. The passenger grab handle, dashboard, and gauge cluster all creak when touched or going over bumps.
I also hate the wind noise. My old Civic didn’t have this issue, but at speeds above 35-40mph (especially on the freeway), the noise is so bad my music has to be turned to at least 15-20 notches to drown it out.
And for myself, I wish there was more head space in the rear. I’m 6’1” and can’t sit comfortably and instead need to hunch over to fit. This was a surprise given how the roofline isn’t too sloped.
And, honestly speaking, the suspension could be stiffer. Hairpins taken at a fair speed show just how much body roll there is. Not a huge concern, but still.
Overall it’s a great car and the pros greatly outweigh the cons. I love it.
Recommended
Verified Owner
