Consumers Report blasts Civic
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Joined: Jan 2001
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From: Mish-she-gan
Consumers Report blasts Civic
From AutoExtremist-
" Honda. Editor-in-Chief's Note: Just how treacherous is this image wrangling stuff? Consumer Reports just blasted the 2012 Honda Civic, dropping it 17 points on its rating scale and calling it "too low to be recommended." Ouch, Baby. This is after the Civic has been the darling of the magazine for years. To its credit, Honda fired back saying, "In virtually every way, the completely redesigned 2012 Civic is a step forward. The new Civic excels in areas that matter to small-car customers, including fuel efficiency, safety, and reliability," in a released statement. So what is going on here, exactly? First of all, did Honda all of a sudden "unlearn" how to build cars? Of course not. Is the new Civic the "wow machine" everyone was expecting? No, but it's not 17 points worse than the old one, which means to us that the Honda image has taken such a beating of late that even the hand-wringers at Consumer Reports have to find fault with it. It's as if they were let down and wanted to spank Honda for it. We don't think much of CR around here, never have. But we know a lot of people take their word as the be-all and end-all, which is too bad. Could Honda have done better? Absolutely. But the reality is their short-term thinking and hyper conservatism is starting to bite them in the ass. The Civic is a decent car, although the cheapened interior bits are inexcusable. (The Civic Si is an excellent car, btw.) But the Bottom Line here is that Honda has lost its mojo, both internally and with much of the car-buying public. Even with CR. Like I've said many, many times before in this publication, developing, establishing, honing and maintaining an image is the most delicate task in this business. Get it right and it pays dividends for years to come. Get it wrong, and well, it takes years and years to recover. Mercedes-Benz had it right for a long time with "Engineered Like No Other Car in the World" and BMW did as well with its "The Ultimate Driving Machine" tag lines. And yet you can blow-it up real good in just a couple of quarters, like Mercedes did with "Unlike Any Other" and BMW almost did with it's "Joy" misstep. Honda needs to get real about its current lot in automotive life. People used to believe in the brand with an unwavering devotion. Now? There are too many choices out there equal to or better than Honda, and besides, what does Honda stand for again? Exactly. - PMD
" Honda. Editor-in-Chief's Note: Just how treacherous is this image wrangling stuff? Consumer Reports just blasted the 2012 Honda Civic, dropping it 17 points on its rating scale and calling it "too low to be recommended." Ouch, Baby. This is after the Civic has been the darling of the magazine for years. To its credit, Honda fired back saying, "In virtually every way, the completely redesigned 2012 Civic is a step forward. The new Civic excels in areas that matter to small-car customers, including fuel efficiency, safety, and reliability," in a released statement. So what is going on here, exactly? First of all, did Honda all of a sudden "unlearn" how to build cars? Of course not. Is the new Civic the "wow machine" everyone was expecting? No, but it's not 17 points worse than the old one, which means to us that the Honda image has taken such a beating of late that even the hand-wringers at Consumer Reports have to find fault with it. It's as if they were let down and wanted to spank Honda for it. We don't think much of CR around here, never have. But we know a lot of people take their word as the be-all and end-all, which is too bad. Could Honda have done better? Absolutely. But the reality is their short-term thinking and hyper conservatism is starting to bite them in the ass. The Civic is a decent car, although the cheapened interior bits are inexcusable. (The Civic Si is an excellent car, btw.) But the Bottom Line here is that Honda has lost its mojo, both internally and with much of the car-buying public. Even with CR. Like I've said many, many times before in this publication, developing, establishing, honing and maintaining an image is the most delicate task in this business. Get it right and it pays dividends for years to come. Get it wrong, and well, it takes years and years to recover. Mercedes-Benz had it right for a long time with "Engineered Like No Other Car in the World" and BMW did as well with its "The Ultimate Driving Machine" tag lines. And yet you can blow-it up real good in just a couple of quarters, like Mercedes did with "Unlike Any Other" and BMW almost did with it's "Joy" misstep. Honda needs to get real about its current lot in automotive life. People used to believe in the brand with an unwavering devotion. Now? There are too many choices out there equal to or better than Honda, and besides, what does Honda stand for again? Exactly. - PMD
Joined: Apr 2007
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From: Long Beach, MS
I follow CR's recommendations...some of them...because nobody is publishing anything called "Launderer and Washing Machine" or "Refrigerator Trend".
I would never base a car purchase on CR but the recent tumble of the Civic from CR's "recommended" list reflects more than a failure of image. Honda has always kept its light under a bushel except in advertising. But the cars became legend through enthusiast magazine reviews and word of mouth. The first Accord, the first and second gen CRX, and the EK Civic are only three examples of this phenomenon. These models sold because they were much better than the competition. Sure the new Civic is a good car. But Honda has stood in place while others have moved forward, matching or surpassing the big H in quality, style, handling, ride, overall performance and value. Here's hoping for better days ahead for the brand so many of us have grown so fond of over the years.
I would never base a car purchase on CR but the recent tumble of the Civic from CR's "recommended" list reflects more than a failure of image. Honda has always kept its light under a bushel except in advertising. But the cars became legend through enthusiast magazine reviews and word of mouth. The first Accord, the first and second gen CRX, and the EK Civic are only three examples of this phenomenon. These models sold because they were much better than the competition. Sure the new Civic is a good car. But Honda has stood in place while others have moved forward, matching or surpassing the big H in quality, style, handling, ride, overall performance and value. Here's hoping for better days ahead for the brand so many of us have grown so fond of over the years.
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 45,944
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From: Mish-she-gan
I used to follow car stuff a lot. Not so much any more (he, he, he, he). But in the past I've totally agreed with CR ratings when it comes to cars...... the ratings that are based on owner feedback over a long period of ownership. Their rating and rankings when I've checked were never a surprise to me.
I can't say one way or the other about their Civic rating. I read where someone suggested the prime reason was their rated a 'cheaper' Civic model than the one before.
In any case, I think we all pretty much agree that Honda's lost it's mojo, at least with current releases.
I can't say one way or the other about their Civic rating. I read where someone suggested the prime reason was their rated a 'cheaper' Civic model than the one before.
In any case, I think we all pretty much agree that Honda's lost it's mojo, at least with current releases.
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Joined: Apr 2008
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From: Albany, UPSTATE NY
I think the 2012 Civic is burdened by history. It fails to live up to the kind of expectations people (press) had of it. Civic's in the past surprised by punching above their weight. The 8th Gen with its controversial two-tier dash and modern styling surprised people with how it departed from the 7th Gen Civic.
The new car is a decent car. Where it fails though is that its not a worthy successor to all the cars that have preceded it.
Moving on to the Si, I think it may have been a victim of confusion. Confusion caused by one group of customers that continue to love its peppy high-revving nature and the other group that wants a 6 cylinder and modern amenities and gizmos. It appears the 2.4ltr engine is a compromise as it delivers more torque while revving to around 6500 RPM (or 7000 not sure if right) so people dont have to downshift all the time. Needless to say fancy gauges like a VTEC gauge that tells you when you are in the zone is pandering to the group that would like visual confirmation before they yell "VTEC kicked in yo!"
My guess is this car was designed by committee ensuring that all focus group demands were met and as such in meeting all those requirements, they may have come up with a car that is appealing to none.
The new car is a decent car. Where it fails though is that its not a worthy successor to all the cars that have preceded it.
Moving on to the Si, I think it may have been a victim of confusion. Confusion caused by one group of customers that continue to love its peppy high-revving nature and the other group that wants a 6 cylinder and modern amenities and gizmos. It appears the 2.4ltr engine is a compromise as it delivers more torque while revving to around 6500 RPM (or 7000 not sure if right) so people dont have to downshift all the time. Needless to say fancy gauges like a VTEC gauge that tells you when you are in the zone is pandering to the group that would like visual confirmation before they yell "VTEC kicked in yo!"
My guess is this car was designed by committee ensuring that all focus group demands were met and as such in meeting all those requirements, they may have come up with a car that is appealing to none.
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From: Top of the Bay
I thought the almost complete absence of anything related to the Civic back in the April 2011 "Best and Worst 2011 Cars" issue might be more than an oversight. After all, the Civic IS is merely one of the best "real world" mileage cars out there, and is justifiably notorious for its reliability. To totally ignore the model defied logic. Could the 2012 Civic be sexier... sure. Do we all wish Honda still sold something really neat and affordable, like the "S".... sure. Fact is, not many automakers do these days. Has Honda really lost its mojo.... probably, at least they are floundering in the same world of uncertainty that the rest of the automakers are. I for one, have no doubt that if the marketplace ever again makes it feasable for a car like the S2000 to exist, Honda will build it. In the meantime, the Civic Si and the CRZ... along with their continued involvement in racing... are there to tell us they are still interested in being interesting.
Now I see CR has taken up the practice of medicine, with today's reports of 'overused', 'improper', and 'unnecessary' cardio tests and procedures (almost sounds as if it was lifted from one of our fearless leader's speeches about doctors preferring to amputate feet to make more $$$, rather than just treating a diabetic condition) just to pump up the revenue stream. Docs practice defensive medicine because the system as it has been created forces them to do so, not because they like it. Once again, CR is "out of line", and simply saying something controversial for the sake of saying it.... for the purpose of selling magazines (gee... would they really do that?).
Back on topic, anyone gullable enough to believe CR's crap that they are "non-biased because they do not accept advertising" or that they don't have an 'agenda' might want to consider purchasing some ocean front property I've got in northern Arizona.
No... I am NOT a fan of Consumer Reports... and never have been.
(end of rant
Now I see CR has taken up the practice of medicine, with today's reports of 'overused', 'improper', and 'unnecessary' cardio tests and procedures (almost sounds as if it was lifted from one of our fearless leader's speeches about doctors preferring to amputate feet to make more $$$, rather than just treating a diabetic condition) just to pump up the revenue stream. Docs practice defensive medicine because the system as it has been created forces them to do so, not because they like it. Once again, CR is "out of line", and simply saying something controversial for the sake of saying it.... for the purpose of selling magazines (gee... would they really do that?).
Back on topic, anyone gullable enough to believe CR's crap that they are "non-biased because they do not accept advertising" or that they don't have an 'agenda' might want to consider purchasing some ocean front property I've got in northern Arizona.
No... I am NOT a fan of Consumer Reports... and never have been.
(end of rant
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 45,982
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From: Loveland, CO
From AutoExtremist-
" Honda. Editor-in-Chief's Note: Just how treacherous is this image wrangling stuff? Consumer Reports just blasted the 2012 Honda Civic, dropping it 17 points on its rating scale and calling it "too low to be recommended." Ouch, Baby. This is after the Civic has been the darling of the magazine for years. To its credit, Honda fired back saying, "In virtually every way, the completely redesigned 2012 Civic is a step forward. The new Civic excels in areas that matter to small-car customers, including fuel efficiency, safety, and reliability," in a released statement. So what is going on here, exactly? First of all, did Honda all of a sudden "unlearn" how to build cars? Of course not. Is the new Civic the "wow machine" everyone was expecting? No, but it's not 17 points worse than the old one, which means to us that the Honda image has taken such a beating of late that even the hand-wringers at Consumer Reports have to find fault with it. It's as if they were let down and wanted to spank Honda for it. We don't think much of CR around here, never have. But we know a lot of people take their word as the be-all and end-all, which is too bad. Could Honda have done better? Absolutely. But the reality is their short-term thinking and hyper conservatism is starting to bite them in the ass. The Civic is a decent car, although the cheapened interior bits are inexcusable. (The Civic Si is an excellent car, btw.) But the Bottom Line here is that Honda has lost its mojo, both internally and with much of the car-buying public. Even with CR. Like I've said many, many times before in this publication, developing, establishing, honing and maintaining an image is the most delicate task in this business. Get it right and it pays dividends for years to come. Get it wrong, and well, it takes years and years to recover. Mercedes-Benz had it right for a long time with "Engineered Like No Other Car in the World" and BMW did as well with its "The Ultimate Driving Machine" tag lines. And yet you can blow-it up real good in just a couple of quarters, like Mercedes did with "Unlike Any Other" and BMW almost did with it's "Joy" misstep. Honda needs to get real about its current lot in automotive life. People used to believe in the brand with an unwavering devotion. Now? There are too many choices out there equal to or better than Honda, and besides, what does Honda stand for again? Exactly. - PMD
" Honda. Editor-in-Chief's Note: Just how treacherous is this image wrangling stuff? Consumer Reports just blasted the 2012 Honda Civic, dropping it 17 points on its rating scale and calling it "too low to be recommended." Ouch, Baby. This is after the Civic has been the darling of the magazine for years. To its credit, Honda fired back saying, "In virtually every way, the completely redesigned 2012 Civic is a step forward. The new Civic excels in areas that matter to small-car customers, including fuel efficiency, safety, and reliability," in a released statement. So what is going on here, exactly? First of all, did Honda all of a sudden "unlearn" how to build cars? Of course not. Is the new Civic the "wow machine" everyone was expecting? No, but it's not 17 points worse than the old one, which means to us that the Honda image has taken such a beating of late that even the hand-wringers at Consumer Reports have to find fault with it. It's as if they were let down and wanted to spank Honda for it. We don't think much of CR around here, never have. But we know a lot of people take their word as the be-all and end-all, which is too bad. Could Honda have done better? Absolutely. But the reality is their short-term thinking and hyper conservatism is starting to bite them in the ass. The Civic is a decent car, although the cheapened interior bits are inexcusable. (The Civic Si is an excellent car, btw.) But the Bottom Line here is that Honda has lost its mojo, both internally and with much of the car-buying public. Even with CR. Like I've said many, many times before in this publication, developing, establishing, honing and maintaining an image is the most delicate task in this business. Get it right and it pays dividends for years to come. Get it wrong, and well, it takes years and years to recover. Mercedes-Benz had it right for a long time with "Engineered Like No Other Car in the World" and BMW did as well with its "The Ultimate Driving Machine" tag lines. And yet you can blow-it up real good in just a couple of quarters, like Mercedes did with "Unlike Any Other" and BMW almost did with it's "Joy" misstep. Honda needs to get real about its current lot in automotive life. People used to believe in the brand with an unwavering devotion. Now? There are too many choices out there equal to or better than Honda, and besides, what does Honda stand for again? Exactly. - PMD
Tom R? He just bought a new 2012 Civic for his daughter and drives it regularly. What does he have to say?I must say, I love my 2011 Honda Crosstour but I do see some cost cutting measures that are very disappointing. This is my eighth Honda so I know what they are like. It may sound petty but there aren't any doorsill plates or coverings of any kind.
I thought maybe my car missed them on the assembly line. Owners can buy some on-line! I can't believe Honda left them off. I bought some stainless steel ones from China but haven't put them on yet. When you open the door to a Honda, there's clearcoat in the front of the door opening, over the paint. Also on the back side of an opening hatch. Not on the Crosstour. No clearcoat on the inside of the door back, either. It looks cheap! I have a JD Powers questionnaire to send in. I've been sitting on it for two weeks as I decide what bothers me the most and what to tell them.
Not quality related but I've been very unhappy with the controls for the air, audio and navigation. So many little buttons with small letters. I have over 1,400 miles on it and it's still a chore. For instance, you push a button on the left, to cycle through the modes for the air, and then you have to look at the narrow screen above and to the right to see what setting you've chosen. Talk about taking your eyes off the road. Yeah, it has voice recognition but it doesn't work well.
