Honda Moves Up Civic Update

Honda is accelerating its plans to update the Civic, Automotive News is reporting. Although it's selling pretty well, Honda's redesigned-for-2012 Civic has been panned by critics, tarnishing the brand image of this perennial compact-class benchmark.

Earlier reports suggested that Honda was planning a midcycle refresh sometime in 2013, but Honda officials at the National Automobile Dealers Association convention in Las Vegas announced that an updated Civic will come out this fall, just 18 months after the new one debuted.

With the 2012 redesign, the Civic got fresh styling, a new specific high-fuel-economy model and, many argue, a cheaper interior and overall feel. It sounds like Honda's update to the Civic will address those faults. Details haven't been released, but Honda has said the changes will be "significant."

Honda Pulls Forward Major Changes to Civic to This Fall (Automotive News)

Woman Wins Suit Against Honda

The Southern California woman who claimed Honda misled her about the fuel economy of her 2006 Civic Hybrid has had her day in court — and won. A Los Angeles judge ruled that the automaker indeed misled Heather Peters and awarded her $9,867 in compensation. 

The former corporate attorney took Honda to small-claims court last year alleging that her hybrid never delivered the fuel-economy Honda promised. The car's window sticker advertised a 49/51 mpg city/highway rating, which she claims never happened. Peters also said a deteriorating battery and software update worsened the car’s fuel economy.

Top 10 Best-Selling Cars: January 2012

After capping 2011 with four decent months, the auto industry hit 2012 running. Analysts expect auto sales to outpace 2011 figures anywhere from 6% to 10%, which could make 2012 the best sales year since 2007.

January enticed consumers with total incentives — including financing offers, automaker and dealer cash, and trade-in bonuses — amounting to 16% off the average car’s MSRP, CNW Marketing Research reports. That beats January 2011, when shoppers saw only 13.5% off the average MSRP.

Shoppers took advantage. January sales jumped 11%, beating Tuesday’s expectations. This marks the best annualized month since 2009, Automotive News reports. Chrysler, Nissan and Hyundai-Kia saw double-digit sales gains, with GM the only top-seven automaker to post a loss.

Cars.com Reviews the 2012 Honda Civic Hybrid

Compared to the rest of the redesigned Honda Civic litter, the 2012 Honda Civic Hybrid is certainly the most disappointing, according to Cars.com Managing Editor David Thomas. The hybrid system doesn't feel as refined as those offered by competitors, and gas mileage isn't that much better than some of the regular gasoline Civic trims, yet it costs nearly $5,000 more.

2012 Honda Civic Hybrid Review

2012 Honda Civic Hybrid Video

The 2012 Honda Civic Hybrid is all-new for the model year, and it now ekes out 3 mpg better fuel economy than the 2011 model. Even so, not everything is rosy with the Civic Hybrid, starting with its unrefined hybrid system, which shutters off-the-line, according to Cars.com Managing Editor David Thomas. The Civic Hybrid's pricing also might be hard to swallow since there are competitors (including other Civic trims) that get similar gas mileage and are more affordable.

Honda Sued Over Fuel-Economy Claims

The automaker known for its high-mileage vehicles is being sued for not delivering advertised fuel-economy figures. Honda is being taken to California small-claims court by an owner of a 2006 Civic Hybrid, according to USA Today.

Former corporate attorney Heather Peters is circumventing an ongoing class-action suit against Honda that alleges similar claims. The pending lawsuit involves owners of 2002-09 Civic Hybrids and could net each one $100 to $200. Peters’ individual lawsuit, however, could pay her as much as $10,000.

In the lawsuit, Peters alleges her Civic Hybrid never delivered the fuel-economy figures publicized by Honda. She says it initially got 20% less than the 49/51 mpg city/highway rating advertised on the Civic Hybrid’s window sticker. She also alleges that a deteriorating battery and software update only worsened the car’s performance.

Peters bought the car for $25,400 and is seeking compensation for the premium she paid over the gas version, the extra gas her Civic Hybrid has been using since she bought it and its depreciated resale value. In the lawsuit, she contends that Honda owes her a total of $122,112.

The judge has not yet ruled on the lawsuit.

Honda Goes to Small-Claims Trial Over Gas Mileage Claims (USA Today)

Most Popular Car Seat Checks

Parents, grandparents and caretakers know what a pain it can be to install child-safety seats into a car. Imagine doing it over and over and over again. That's what our Car Seat Check team does nearly every week as it tests new cars to find out how easy it is to use the Latch system.

Car Seat Checks are performed by Cars.com editor Kelsey Mays, Cars.com photographer Ian Merritt and Cars.com editor and certified car-seat technician Jennifer Newman.

Honda Extends Fuel Tank Warranty on 80,000 2006-11 Civic Hybrids

Honda is extending the warranty on the gas tank assembly of 80,000 2006-11 Honda Civic Hybrids, according to the New York Times. The warranty is being extended because fuel may leak from some vehicles, the automaker says.

On the affected vehicles, small cracks may develop where “the fuel-filler pipe joins the gas tank,” according to a technical service bulletin sent to dealers. Honda says it is confident the leaks do not pose a safety risk, according to the Times. (That’s why this isn’t considered a safety recall.)

The warranty now lasts 10 years or 120,000 miles. Typically, a Honda vehicle has a three-year, 36,000-mile warranty on the fuel tank, covered by the bumper-to-bumper warranty. States with a low-emissions vehicle category (for partial-zero emissions vehicles, or PZEVs) have a 15-year, 150,000-mile warranty on Civic Hybrid fuel tanks already, Honda says. If cracks form, Honda will replace the fuel tank free of charge, so long as it is under warranty.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says it’s monitoring the situation with the Civic Hybrid and will determine if further action is needed, the Times reported.

This isn’t the first problem to emerge regarding the Civic Hybrid. Last year, owners of 2006-08 Civic Hybrids complained of premature battery failure, and the automaker said it fixed the issue by updating the software in the battery management system.

Gas Leak Prompts Warranty Extension for 80,000 Honda Civic Hybrids (New York Times)

Naughty or Nice: Front Seats

What one driver finds comfortable in a front seat, another may deride as sitting on lumpy coal. Seat comfort is different for everybody, though features like center armrests and tilt/telescoping steering wheels help drivers dial into the comfort zone. We’d like to see those features in every car, but we’re not there yet.
 
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The process of seeing new cars evolve from sketches to concepts to production cars on sale creates anticipation and excitement over the months and years it takes to release or redesign a car. Driving these cars for the first time can quickly confirm our high hopes, or squash them flat like the chances of getting an unaltered “Han shot first” Blu-ray version of “Star Wars” this holiday season.
 
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