Honda Civic Hybrid - Continuous Variable Transmission (CVT)

The 2010 Honda Civic returns virtually unchanged from 2009, continuing in sedan and coupe body styles and again offering a gas-electric hybrid model. Choose a sedan over a coupe for the best blend of cabin space and ride quality.And go for the 2010 Honda Civic LX trim level (one step up from the base DX) for the best value in the Civic line. That gets you a spry compact car packed with features at a competitive $18,400 or so with automatic transmission.
Top-line Honda Civic EX-L versions start near $22,000, money better spent on the larger Honda Accord. Sporty Honda Civic Si models top $22,000, too -- though they’re worth it. Honda Civic lineup starts with the frugal Civic DX, then builds up to LX, EX, and EX-L models. Each of those models come with a 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine, making 140-horspower and hooked up to either a 5-speed manual transmission or 5-speed automatic. Si models get, in addition to a range of performance upgrades, a 197-horsepower, 2.0-liter 4-cylinder with a 6-speed manual transmission. Hybrid models get a version of Honda's Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) mild-hybrid system, altogether producing110 horsepower.

Models with the standard engine or Si version are offered either as a 4-door sedan or 2-door coupe. The Coupe version gets a slightly racier image, thanks to a different, more aggressive roofline toward the back and a tilted-back look to the rear fascia. Coupes have a full-size back seat, though entry and exit is a little more difficult. Trunk space is about the same in the Sedan and Coupe-very ample with a low lift-over height in both cases. 

The 2010 Honda Civic lineup again begins with the very basic DX sedan and climbs to EX-L sedans and coupes with leather upholstery, sunroof, and a navigation system. Along the way, it detours into the sporty Si coupe and sedan and swings wide to encorporate hybrid and natural-gas-powered sedans. Honda defines each trim level by an escalating set of features. There’s no ala carte selection of options. Every Civic comes with antilock brakes, a tilt/telescope steering wheel, a height-adjustable driver’s seat, and power windows. Notable features include antiskid control to stabilize the car in changes of direction; it’s standard on the Civic EX-L, Hybrid, and Si. Those Civics, as well as the EX and Hybrid models, are available with a navigation system that includes voice recognition, satellite radio, and Bluetooth cell phone connectivity. The navigation system is accompanied by a USB audio interface for iPods and other MP3 devices. EX, EX-L, and Si models come with a power sunroof. Leather upholstery and heated front seats and side mirrors are standard on EX-L models and available on Civic Hybrids.