
The Civic's 1.5L Earth Dreams engine delivers 177 horsepower. The Civic is a sporty A-segment sedan under Honda. The Civic has a wheelbase of 2700 mm, with length, width, and height measuring 4658 mm, 1800 mm, and 1416 mm respectively. The Civic is equipped with two engine options: a 1.0-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine and a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. The 1.0-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine produces 125 horsepower and 173 Nm of maximum torque, with maximum power achieved at 5500 rpm and peak torque available between 2000 to 4500 rpm. The 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine generates 177 horsepower and 226 Nm of maximum torque, delivering maximum power at 5500 rpm and peak torque from 1800 to 5500 rpm.

I've been driving the 10th-gen Civic 1.5T for three years, and its factory 177 horsepower is more than enough for daily use. The turbo kicks in quickly at start-up, and it doesn't hesitate when overtaking on the highway. The 11th-gen upgrade to 182 horsepower makes it even more powerful, while fuel consumption remains around 7L. Honda's L15B engine is tuned for sportiness, paired with a CVT transmission that delivers exceptionally smooth acceleration. For those who frequently take long trips, I'd recommend the high-power version, but for city commuting, 177 horsepower is more than sufficient. There's actually quite a bit of tuning potential—some fellow enthusiasts have pushed it past 200 horsepower with just a Stage 1 tune, though warranty concerns should be considered. Every time the light turns green, it leaves a bunch of cars behind—this small-displacement turbo engine is truly a gem!

The Civic 1.5T comes in two versions with different power outputs. The 10th-generation model with 177 horsepower was the mainstay, but last year I drove a friend's 11th-generation high-power version with 182 horsepower, which felt noticeably more aggressive. The low-power version with 129 horsepower is suitable for pure commuting, while the high-power 182-horsepower version truly lives up to the title of a sporty sedan. Paired with a CVT, this 1.5T Earth Dreams engine can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in under 8 seconds. I specifically compared it with the Mazda 3 2.0L in the same class, which only has 158 horsepower, and the Civic's power advantage is obvious. When choosing a car, pay attention to the rear badge: 240TURBO indicates the high-power version, while 180TURBO is the low-power version.

The horsepower of the Civic 1.5T varies depending on the specific year and configuration. The main models of the tenth generation mostly have 177 horsepower, but the eleventh generation launched last year comes in two power levels: the 180TURBO version with 129 horsepower and the 240TURBO version with 182 horsepower. In actual driving, the 182-horsepower version offers a stronger sense of acceleration, especially in sport mode at higher RPMs. In the tuning community, flashing ECU programs is popular, allowing the horsepower to exceed 200 without modifying the factory hardware. For daily driving, the 177-horsepower version is more cost-effective with a combined fuel consumption of just over 6 liters per 100 kilometers.

Having driven both the 10th and 11th generation Civic 1.5T, the most noticeable difference is the change in horsepower. The 10th generation uniformly delivers 177 horsepower, while the 11th generation is divided into two versions: 129 horsepower and 182 horsepower. The 182 horsepower version reaches its peak torque at 4000 RPM, and you can still feel a significant push when you floor the accelerator on the highway. Actual tests show that the 0-100 km/h acceleration is about 0.3 seconds faster than the 10th generation. The lower-powered version is more fuel-efficient, but you might feel the power is a bit lacking when driving with a full load and the air conditioning on. For young drivers, I’d recommend going straight for the 240TURBO 182 horsepower version—after all, isn’t the driving fun the whole point of buying a Civic?


