
The Civic is equipped with two engines, offering two horsepower options. The 1.0-liter turbocharged engine delivers 125 horsepower with a torque of 173 Nm, paired with a CVT transmission. The 1.5-liter turbocharged engine provides 177 horsepower with a torque of 220 Nm, matched with either a 6-speed manual or CVT transmission. The interior craftsmanship of the Civic has been improved, featuring a well-layered design and reasonably arranged storage spaces. Both the passenger space and trunk space are relatively large. The car offers quick acceleration, smooth gear shifting, and responsive steering. It utilizes ECON technology for better fuel efficiency, and comes with a rich set of safety features, ensuring good safety performance.

I've been driving a Civic for three years now, and this car comes in several powertrain configurations. The standard 1.5T engine delivers 182 horsepower, which is more than enough for daily commuting. The throttle response is quite quick, and you can feel plenty of reserve power when overtaking. The three-cylinder 1.0T version only has 125 horsepower, making it suitable for city driving but struggles a bit on uphill roads. The high-performance Civic Type R is much more powerful, with 330 horsepower putting it firmly in the hot hatch category, and its manual transmission offers crisp shifting with great modification potential. Currently, dealerships mainly sell the 1.5T version, which costs less than 200,000 yuan out the door, offering excellent value for money. In my opinion, if you want to experience sporty driving, go straight for the 182-horsepower version - the kickdown in Sport mode on the highway is seriously impressive.

A couple of days ago, I accompanied a friend to check out the Civic and specifically researched it beforehand. The regular version delivers 182 horsepower paired with a CVT transmission, and it feels more powerful in real driving than the specs suggest, especially with noticeable power surge after 4000 rpm. I heard there's a hybrid version overseas with just over 200 horsepower, but it hasn't been introduced domestically yet. The most surprising is the Type R version, with its red-top engine producing 330 horsepower and a 0-100 km/h acceleration in just over 5 seconds, though the price is doubled. What's interesting about this car is that while its horsepower isn't exceptionally high, Honda's tuning makes it very responsive, with quick body reactions during turns, offering more driving fun than many cars in the same price range. My friend finally settled on the 1.5T version, saying it's just right for daily commuting.

The horsepower of the Civic depends on the specific model. The domestic 1.5T four-cylinder engine delivers 182 hp, which is sufficient even with air conditioning on and full load uphill. The entry-level 1.0T three-cylinder produces 125 hp, ideal for pure city commuting. My younger brother just bought the hybrid version with 204 hp, achieving a fuel consumption of just over 4 liters. The most powerful is the Type R, with a 2.0T engine squeezing out 330 hp, setting a front-wheel-drive record on the Nürburgring. Interestingly, the Civic has great modification potential—some have tuned the 1.5T to over 220 hp with software and just a tire change for track fun. Personally, I recommend the 182 hp version as the most practical, with engines being durable and maintenance costs low.

After comparing many A-class cars, the Civic's 182 horsepower is quite strong among joint-venture models. The Corolla Hybrid only has 140 horsepower, and the Sagitar 1.5T offers 160 horsepower. The difference is even more noticeable in actual driving—the Civic's RPM surges quickly when you floor the accelerator, and combined with its stiffer suspension, it feels especially thrilling on mountain roads. However, if you're after ultimate performance, the Type R is the real deal, with 330 horsepower and a limited-slip differential, making corners feel like you're on rails. One nice detail is that the standard version controls engine noise well; you don’t have to raise your voice to chat at 120 km/h on the highway. If your budget allows, I’d recommend going for the 182-horsepower version—the extra power reserve makes driving much more effortless compared to those 150-horsepower cars.

After driving the older Civic and then trying the new generation, the horsepower increase is quite noticeable. The new 1.5T delivers 182 hp, 10 more than the previous generation, with significantly improved low-end torque. At traffic lights, a slight tap on the accelerator sends it darting forward, and the CVT transmission's simulated shifts feel quite sporty. A friend in the U.S. drives a Type R with 315 hp paired with a 6MT, and he says the manual transmission extracts the power more thoroughly. For the domestic market, I'd recommend going straight for the 182 hp version—adding an aftermarket intake can bump it up to around 190 hp. The engine bay layout is well-designed, making tasks like spark plug changes a quick 30-minute job. If you frequently take long trips, even fully loaded with the A/C on, the 182 hp version won’t leave you with just engine noise and no go.


