LA Auto Show: Honda’s 2016 Civic Coupe keeps the affordable fun rolling

The 2016 Honda Civic Coupe joins the already revealed sedan as part of one of the most ambitious compact lineups around today. For starters, the vehicle isn’t as aggressive as the NY concept, that much is obvious.

Tech options include a music system with Android Auto and CarPlay support, Pandora streaming, and SiriusXM.

The 2016 Civic Coupe is the second in a series of new 10-generation Civic models that Honda is launching over the course of the next 18 months, including the Civic Sedan, Civic Coupe, the first-ever Civic 5-door hatchback for the US market, Civic Si performance variants and for the first time in the USA, the radical new Civic Type-R.

Physically, the Civic Coupe is 48 mm wider and has a 73 mm longer wheelbase than its predecessor. The new Civic Coupe interior strikes a more premium tone with high-quality materials and high-contrast finishes. Its rear end has likewise been shortened and its rear fenders enhanced to convey muscularity, all while growing its interior space a surprising 8.4 cubic feet and its rear seat leg room more than 5 inches compared with the 2015 version.

The 2016 Honda Civic Coupe comes with a choice of engines – a turbocharged 1.5-liter, which gets 42 mpg highway and 174 horsepower, and a naturally aspirated 2-liter four-cylinder engine that gets 41 mpg and 158 horsepower. LED headlights can be fitted, too, along with remote start, and Honda Sensing, which includes things like adaptive cruise control.

Drivetrain options come in identical to the sedan’s, which is something of a shame as the six-speed manual transmission is only available at the lowest trim, with the weaker of the two engine options.

The rest – including all of the 1.5-liter turbo versions – will get a CVT automatic transmission. Lower spec models will be powered by a 2.0-liter DOHC i-VTEC engine, good for 158 HP and 138 lb-ft (187 Nm) of torque with anticipated fuel-economy ratings of 31/41/35 mpg (city/highway/combined), or 7.5/5.7/6.7 liters/100 km.

About 10% to 15% of Civic buyers opt for the coupe, a percentage that Honda hopes to increase when the new one comes to showrooms in March, says Jeff Conrad, the head of the Honda division in the U.S.