Honda Civic a Top Pick for Mississippi Drivers

2011 Honda Civic, one of the most reliable and popular economy compact cars in its class. For years it has set the quality and performance standard for the affordable, compact car market.

The 2011 Honda Civic is available in sedan or coupe bodies, all but the Si trim are powered by a 140 horsepower, 1.8-liter inline four-cylinder with a standard five-speed manual transmission and optional five-speed automatic.

The performance-oriented Si comes with a 197 horsepower, 2.0-liter inline-four bolted only to a six-speed manual. Standard safety features on all Civics include anti-lock brakes, six airbags, active front head restraints, daytime running lights and tire pressure monitoring. Electronic stability and traction control is standard on the EX-L trim.

Body Styles, Trim Levels, and Options

The 2011 Honda Civic for sale in MS is a compact car available as a sedan or coupe. For both, there are five main trim levels: DX, LX, EX, EX-L and Si. On the Civic sedan, Honda also offers the DX Value package, the LX-S, and the Hybrid.

The DX comes with just the basics, including 15-inch steel wheels, power windows, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel and a height-adjustable driver seat, It doesn't even have a stereo. Honda Civic shoppers in the Mississppi area will find the DX Value Package at Patty Peck Honda as it includes a four-speaker CD/MP3 audio system, an auxiliary audio jack and air-conditioning. The Civic LX adds 16-inch steel wheels, keyless entry, cruise control, full power accessories, center console with a sliding armrest, a folding rear seatback and cruise control. The LX-S sedan tacks on alloy wheels, a chrome exhaust outlet, a rear spoiler, front sport seats and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.

Going with a Civic EX gets you 16-inch alloys, a sunroof, a six-speaker sound system (coupes also feature an exclusive subwoofer) with steering-wheel-mounted audio controls and a USB input, ambient console lighting and a 60/40-split rear seatback with a fold-down armrest. The EX-L comes with heated exterior mirrors, leather upholstery and heated front seats. The sporty Civic Si has most of the EX's features plus a more powerful engine, a sport-tuned suspension, 17-inch alloy wheels with high-performance tires, foglights, sport seats and special interior trim.

Options are limited to a navigation system with Bluetooth phone connectivity (the only way to get Bluetooth on a Civic) and satellite radio. It's available only on Si, EX, EX-L and Hybrid models. Heated leather seats can be added to the Hybrid.

Powertrains and Performance

The front-wheel-drive 2011 Honda Civic lineup offers a variety of available engines and transmissions. DX, LX and EX models are powered by a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 140 horsepower and 128 pound-feet of torque. A five-speed manual transmission is standard, and a five-speed automatic is optional. With an automatic transmission, the Civic sedan goes from zero to 60 mph in a class-typical 9.6 seconds. Manual-transmission models are notably quicker.

The Civic Hybrid uses a gasoline/electric hybrid powertrain to maximize fuel economy. Its 1.3-liter four-cylinder engine makes 110 hp and is paired to a continuously variable transmission (CVT). For the Civic Si, Honda installs a 197-hp 2.0-liter engine and a limited-slip front differential; a six-speed manual is the only available transmission. The Civic Si zips from zero to 60 mph in 7.1 seconds.

Nearly all Civic models boast above-average fuel efficiency. The 2011 Honda Civic in Jackson fitted with the standard 1.8-liter engine earns EPA estimates of 25 mpg city/36 highway and 29 mpg combined (26/34/29 with the manual shifter). The GX posts similar 24/36/28 mpg ratings. The Hybrid tops the Civic lineup with fuel mileage of 40 city/45 highway and 42 combined. Civic Si models have 21/29/24 mpg estimates.

Safety

Every Civic comes with front-seat side airbags, full-length side curtain airbags and active front head restraints. Antilock brakes are also standard; however, only EX and Si models have four-wheel disc brakes, while the rest have rear drums. Stability control comes on EX-L, Hybrid and Si trims but is unavailable on the others.

In government crash testing, the 2011 Honda Civic earned a perfect five stars for its protection of occupants in frontal impacts. Side-impact tests resulted in a four-star rating for front passenger protection and five stars for protection of rear passengers. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the Civic sedan its top rating of "Good" for the car's performance in frontal-offset and side-impact tests, but the Civic coupe drops to "Acceptable" (second best) in side impacts.

Interior Design and Special Features

The Civic's dash features an unusual gauge layout. An analog tachometer is in the traditional location behind the steering wheel, but a digital speedometer and gas gauge reside at the base of the windshield. Some of our editors find the two-tier display distracting, though others say it makes quick visual checks of speed easier.

Otherwise, the Civic's controls are well laid out and easy to operate, and materials are of acceptable though not outstanding quality. Seats are comfortable front and rear, and the rear floor is flat all the way across, increasing the middle passenger's legroom. Rear passenger space is quite good for this class. The Civic sedans have 12 cubic feet of trunk space.

Patty Peck Honda in Ridgeland is the destination for Mississippi Honda shoppers searching the greater Jackson, Madison and Brandon area for the best customer service, value and prices on New and Used Honda cars.  We would like to invite you in to test drive the reliable and fuel efficient Honda Civic. For more information on the Honda Civic or any of our new or used Honda Vehicles contact Patty Peck Honda by calling 888-902-1166 or Schedule a Test Drive today.

 [1] Based on 2011 EPA mileage estimates. Use for comparison purposes only. Do not compare to models before 2008. Your actual mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle. MPG for an automatic Honda Civic Sedan or Coupe DX, DX-VP, LX, LXS, EX, EX-L