Honda Civic Fails to Gain Consumer Reports Recommended Car Title

Around these parts there’s an awful lot of folks that come from a car family.  By this I mean Ford or Chevy.  Grandpa worked at the plant, now dad works at the plant and all the while everyone in the family drives or ever would think of driving is Ford or Chevy, depending on your particular pedigree.  In the mid to late 80’s though, Japanese manufacturers, namely Toyota and Honda seemed to make a foothold into this passionate type of brand devotion.  While the Japanese makers weren’t the hand that fed the family, they grew brand loyalty with quality products.  Many households from my childhood in the 80’s even until now would truly identify as a Honda or Toyota family.  My mother swears by Honda, as a family we’ve had a few.  I have other relatives who are Toyota devotees.  

Call it complacency, call it the tightest competition in years between automakers.  Especially in the compact and small car segments, largely ignored by the big American three until recently, Honda and Toyota are getting hosed by their competition.  The recent news of the Honda Civic model falling out of Consumer Reports recommended rankings is some of the most damming evidence toward complacency.  The redesigned Civic, a perennial recommended model, received poor rankings in interior fit and finish (never a Japanese maker strong-point), as well drivability matters like stopping distance and tactile handling.  

In the small car class that the Civic and Toyota’s Corolla belong to, there has been serious competition that has come into the marketplace.  From Mazda’s 3, Ford’s new Fiesta and Focus models, and Chevrolet’s recently released Cruze model, there are many tastier options available.  While Honda’s Accord model is still a top contender in the larger sedan category, Toyota’s Camry has fallen by the wayside.  Once a Bud Light-esq argument of taste great versus less filling, if you were in the market for a family sedan it was probably one of those two.  A new Camry design is forthcoming but much of the photos floating around the www look pretty underwhelming. 

While its notable regarding the decline of Japanese automaker’s product, that the American makers have stepped their small and midsize car game up, the biggest threat undoubtedly comes from South Korea.  Kia's second quarter profit for this year is reported at a gain of 67%.  New models from Kia like the Optima, and from Hyundai the Elantra, Sonata and Genesis are all appealing.  

Sometimes when you’d get into a conversation about cars with one of those old timers, a Ford or Chevy guy, you’d likely hear a diss toward Japanese makers referencing the quality of their early imports to the U.S. Now those roles could be said to be reversing.  In a what goes around comes around way, I’ve found myself slagging a South Korean made vehicle based on the reputation of their earliest imports.  I try to keep an open mind about what’s out there, and these new models have certainly made me reconsider my thinking.  In this tough economic climate, with competition between carmakers as tight as ever there’s no room for error.  It pains me a little bit to say, but there’s not a Honda model I’d buy if I needed to purchase a new car today.