The Japanese sedan that still believes in simplicity

Even at the risk of sounding like a geezer, I’ll ask you: Remember when sedans used to be simple? What do you get with fewer (and smaller) touchscreens, physical buttons, and a straight-up engine under the hood? These types of family-friendly sedans are in increasingly short supply these days. Well, definitely looks old now. I digress, sometimes simpler is better. Especially when that simplicity comes in the form of a familiar, trustworthy face.

That’s where one of the perennially popular Japanese sedans comes in. For decades now, that sedan has proven that you can have your cake and eat it too. And that cake doesn’t need to be a three-tier cake with buff warriors reenacting a battle scene from a blockbuster action movie. It just might be a really nice cake. It’s absolutely simple. Don’t let me lose you; We’re still talking about sedans here. To be more precise, a one-go sedan.

ever complex vehicle

This is 2026. The kind of technology you’ll find in a modern car is far more advanced than it was 10 or 20 years ago. Remember the days when navigation was charged heavily? Today, your smartphone can project directly onto your touchscreen using functions like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. This includes turn-by-turn navigation, powered by your own device, at no charge.

Speaking of touchscreens, giant TFTs are straight-up ubiquitous in today’s new car market. You can get the Mercedes-Benz EQS with a massive 56-inch screen array. That, or a Cadillac Celestial with a 55-inch wall of screen stretching from pillar to pillar. Heck, some new cars are equipped with varying levels of autonomous driving. That was science fiction from 15 years ago. Not to mention the gaudy, complex interior layout. But not every sedan is this complex.

Simplify Sedan Approach

However, that’s kind of the point, isn’t it? Life is complex enough without adding complexity to your daily grind. Sometimes, it’s best to go with a reliable family car that has a simple interior, a drama-free four-cylinder engine under the hood, and enough technology to be useful. Fortunately, there are options for less-fussy, straightforward compact sedans to meet your everyday needs. This option from Japanese automaker giant Honda skips the unnecessarily complicated stuff and keeps things simple. There’s no dearth of options in its expanded lineup, however.

2026 Honda Civic: Just a sedan benchmark, for decades

Starting at $24,695

For 2026, the Honda Civic doesn’t get much updates. Although this may not actually be needed. The Civic is in its 11th generation (yes, you read that right), having been completely refreshed for the 2022 model year. Flashy styling cues were gone in favor of a more evolved aesthetic inside and out on the 10th generation model. Under the hood, the standard engine choice is a 150-horsepower naturally aspirated 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder mill that sidesteps the complexities of forced induction or hybrid electric architectures. There is only one gearbox option: a continuously variable automatic transmission. The same applies for drivetrain options. From the entry-level Civic LX all the way up to the proper hot hatch that is the Civic Type R, power goes exclusively to the front wheels.

no shortage of options

The base Civic keeps things down to the basics. It had front-wheel drive, a free-breathing naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine, seating for five and a beautifully simple interior layout. Here’s the thing, though: The rest of the lineup looks like an automotive choose-your-own-adventure.

2026 honda civic lx specs

Don’t like sedans? It is available in hatchback form. Do you think the base model is not fuel-efficient enough? The 2026 Honda Civic Hybrid boosts the efficiency and performance factor. Do you want a simple, straightforward approach to your driver’s car? The 2026 Honda Civic Si offers a slick 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 uses a 200-horsepower, turbocharged 1.5-liter four-pot engine and front-wheel drive.

plain and simple

The 10th generation, FC-bodied Honda Civic took a different approach to styling. It relied on oblique front fascia and aggressive lines. For some, it was a bit much. Very teenage. Fast forward to the 11th-generation FE and FL Civics, and Honda changed things. The current Civic has cleaned up the looks of the previous generation, giving it a welcome aesthetic update from every angle. Honda abandoned the polarizing exterior styling in favor of a new, cleaner look.

on the inside, 2026 honda civic It’s all about work. Interior storage space is generous, as is cabin space for four-five people in a pinch. A seven-inch touchscreen is standard equipment. Although it’s a bit small, it’s not as intrusive as some of the larger, more impressive TFTs. That said, a nine-inch touchscreen is an option over the base model.

commendable fuel economy

Fast is good. But in your no-nonsense family sedan, you probably care more about fuel economy than speed. Even with the less powerful 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. This is not only commendable, but also good enough to best rivals the Volkswagen Jetta, which gets 29 mpg city and 40 mpg highway. Of course, choosing the Honda Civic Hybrid and its dual-motor hybrid electric platform also increases fuel economy with a deeper thirst for gasoline. The EPA estimates that 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 can 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 to sprint to 60 mph in a slow 8.9 seconds. Now, this all-business base puts the Civic behind some of its segment competition. However, if you want a faster, more eager Civic, the Si and appropriately spicy Type R are available.

So, should you buy one?

The Honda Civic has been on American roads for more than 50 years. In that time, it has transformed into one of the best-selling sedans to reach the star-spangled shores. Now, with its clean, reimagined 11th-generation platform, it’s one of the few extremely simple, straightforward compact sedans to survive American consumers’ appetite for SUVs. In short, if you’re looking for a sedan that has a reputation for getting the job done, Honda’s Resident compact sedan may be the one for you.

Source: EPA, Honda, Edmunds