Is the Civic a 3-cylinder or 4-cylinder?
3 Answers
The Civic comes with both 3-cylinder and 4-cylinder options. The 1.0T engine is a 3-cylinder, while the 1.5T engine is a 4-cylinder. The 1.0T engine delivers a maximum power of 92 kW and a maximum torque of 173 Nm, whereas the 1.5T engine offers a maximum power of 130 kW and a maximum torque of 220 Nm. Both engines are paired with a CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission). The Honda Civic is a compact sedan introduced by Honda, with body dimensions of 4649mm in length, 1800mm in width, and 1416mm in height, and a wheelbase of 2700mm. The Civic has been launched in multiple variants to cater to the preferences of consumers in different countries, including a 3-door hatchback, a hardtop coupe, a hybrid version, and a 5-door sedan.
As a long-time Civic owner, I've been driving this car for five years. The 1.5T version I bought back then was definitely a four-cylinder engine. Later, I heard that the tenth-generation Civic had a 1.0L three-cylinder version released overseas, but almost no one bought it in China. Now, the latest eleventh-generation model comes standard with a 1.5T four-cylinder engine across the lineup, and the L15 series powertrain is tuned to be quite smooth. The hybrid version also features a combination of a 2.0L four-cylinder engine and an electric motor. I'd advise fellow car enthusiasts to directly check the layout under the hood when buying a car—it's the most reliable method. The linear arrangement of four cylinders is particularly obvious. Although three-cylinder engines are more fuel-efficient, the idle vibration issue can be quite annoying. Honda's decision to stick with four-cylinder engines for the Civic now is a wise choice.
Recently accompanied a friend to check out the 11th-gen Civic, and the salesperson confirmed all trims come with a 1.5T four-cylinder engine. The hybrid e:HEV version uses a 2.0L naturally aspirated four-cylinder plus electric motor. Earlier 10th-gen models had an EX trim with a three-cylinder, but those are basically extinct now. The easiest way to tell: listen to the engine sound during cold starts - three-cylinders produce uneven sputtering noises; popping the hood to count spark plug positions is more straightforward. Four-cylinder layouts have far better balance, especially when highway RPM exceeds 4000 - they run much quieter.
