10 Reasons the 2017 Honda Civic Wins Autobytel Buyer's Choice Best Compact Car Award

2017 Honda Civic Sedan profile ・ Photo by Honda

The Autobytel Buyer's Choice Award for Compact Car goes to the 2017 Honda Civic, which has a little something for everyone in the segment: The current 2017 Civic lineup features versatile hatchbacks with plenty of cargo space, sporty coupes with dynamic styling, and sedans that are just right for families.

#10: LED lighting

A full array of LED lighting is available to accent the dramatic design of the 2017 Honda Civic. LED taillights, turn signals and daytime running lights—with a distinctive light signature—are all standard. Uplevel trims additionally offer full LED headlights in a slim, inline lamp arrangement that’s quite sophisticated.

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#9: A little dose of luxury

The 2017 Honda Civic, despite its affordable pricing, also can provide premium cabin cues such as a leather-wrapped steering wheel, leather interior trim, and heated leather seating. And to be clear, multi-stage heating is available for both front and back rows. For the driver, an eight-way power-adjustable seat is on the menu.

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#8: Convenient technology

Shoppers looking for the latest smartphone integration technology will find both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay available in the 2017 Honda Civic. That way, they can use the vehicle’s 7-inch infotainment touchscreen to help control many of their favorite phone functions. Bluetooth connectivity also is standard across the lineup.

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#7: LaneWatch

Separate the Sensing technologies, and the standard multi-angle rearview camera, is the optional LaneWatch system for the 2017 Honda Civic. This feature relies on a small camera mounted in the passenger-side exterior mirror, and when the right turn-signal is activated, it sends a live video stream of the car’s blind spot to the center display screen.

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#6: The Honda Civic Si

The 2017 Honda Civic also carries on one of the brand’s best traditions, serving up athletically oriented “Si” models for the coupe and sedan body styles. Both get a high-performance version of the Civic’s 1.5-liter turbo engine, and that’s the most powerful unit ever used in a Civic Si—delivering more than 205 horsepower.

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#5: The Honda Civic Type R

Prefer your performance in a hatchback package? Pick up the 2017 Honda Civic Type R, which is being offered for the first time to U.S. drivers. The Type R brandishes more than 300 horses, a driver-centric cockpit, and a full carbon-fiber aero kit, complete with everything from a front splitter to a rear wing.

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#4: Standard driving dynamics

The standard engine for the 2017 Honda Civic is a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder unit that delivers 158 horsepower and 138 lb.-ft. of torque, for significantly more standard output than in the car’s Nissan and Toyota rivals. Meanwhile, the Civic’s available turbo touts 174 horsepower and 167 lb.-ft. of torque, for an even bigger advantage.

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#3: A versatile hatchback body style

Although the 2017 Honda Civic Hatchback is a nimble 177.9 inches in length, it can fit 25.7 cubic feet of cargo beyond the rear seats. Per Honda, that’s enough for “several large golf bags.” The rear seats also can be folded, opening up more than 46 cubic feet of cargo space.

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#2: Fuel efficiency

Drivers enjoy impressive fuel-economy ratings in all body styles for the 2017 Honda Civic. The Civic hatchback, for example, is rated at 30 mpg city/39 mpg highway/33 mpg combined, and the Civic sedan sets the pace with an EPA line that can reach 31 mpg city/42 mpg highway/35 mpg combined.

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#1: Honda Sensing safety technology

The 2017 Honda Civic hatch hasn’t been tested by the IIHS, but the sedan and coupe are both 2017 Top Safety Picks, and all three body styles furnish a wide range of assistance technologies. The highlight is the Honda Sensing bundle, with collision-mitigation braking, road-departure mitigation, lane-keeping assistance, and adaptive cruise control. Read about the 17 Most Wanted Vehicles of 2016 for the full list of the 2017 Autobytel Car Buyer's Choice Award recipients.

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