NO ESC, No Recommend: Consumer Reports Takes Away Title For Honda Civic EX

Is Honda losing it? I mean, the brand still is selling well because it has a loyal base but with Kia and Hyundai on the rise, with things like this coming to light and designs that are questionable is Honda setting itself up for disaster?

Consumer Reports said today that it is no longer recommending the Honda Civic EX small sedan. That's because the car doesn't have electronic stability control, something Consumer Reports believes is a "vital piece of safety equipment."

I mean, it's not like the car is rear-wheel drive and putting 500 horsepower to the ground.

With that said, is Consumer Reports blowing this up for no reason, or is the magazine justified?


**To see CR's video review of the Honda Civic EX, watch down below...


Consumer Reports no longer recommends the Honda Civic EX, despite its current ranking at the top of our small sedan Ratings.

This is because electronic stability control, a vital piece of safety equipment, is not available at all on the Civic unless you buy an EX-L (with leather), a Si sports model, or the hybrid. That means the cheapest Civic with stability control has a sticker price of $22,705—significantly higher than the typical small sedan price in our Ratings of about $19,000...



[Source: Consumer Reports]








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uaw_lax - 11/2/2010 12:28:34 AM

0 Boost

There should soon be an all new Civic next year so Honda I hope you are listening.

Bmw8ter - 11/2/2010 7:24:29 AM

+7 Boost

My 2004 Mustang V6 didn't have ESC, and I managed to drive it over water, snow and ice without issue. The only time I ever lost control with that car was when it was intentional. If you're a decent driver, not an idiot, you should be able to get by pretty easily in a FWD with no ESC.

kablaam - 11/2/2010 8:20:59 AM

-2 Boost

Every car these days should have ESC. Fact is, it does help and 90%(at least) are terrible drivers with the reaction time of a mollusk.

There is no excuse for a 2010 Honda Civic NOT to have ESC. Then again, isn't Honda still using 5 speeds on their 2011 models? Ha

veyron1001 - 11/2/2010 8:49:59 AM

0 Boost

"Every car these days should have ESC. Fact is, it does help and 90%(at least) are terrible drivers with the reaction time of a mollusk."

I think reaction time of evolution is a better answer.

Uh you get better fuel economy with a 5 speed over a 6 speed and why would you need one with the little power the car has.

kablaam - 11/2/2010 11:57:24 AM

+2 Boost

"Uh you get better fuel economy with a 5 speed over a 6 speed and why would you need one with the little power the car has."

Seriously? More cogs = lower RPM's = better MPG Look at the Honda Odyssey, the 5sp gets lower mpg than the 6sp. Explain that.

I thought this was common knowledge.

Nothing is a replacement for driver knowledge, control and attentiveness. Fact is though, ESC does help and it does prevent accidents. Does it REALLY cost that much more money? Hyundai's, Suzuki's, Kia's, Toyota's all have them in their vehicles......lets get on the ball here - no excuses.

Joe_Limon - 11/2/2010 12:31:23 PM

+1 Boost

does the hyundai accent have it?? they don't even have a radio in its most basic form.

t_bone - 11/2/2010 9:24:42 AM

-2 Boost

It's good to call Honda on this. I was really stupid in 2001, I bought my wife a Civic DX and assumed it had ABS brakes--wrong. IMHO Honda quietly uses its reputation to sneak in de-content like this.

Whelan - 11/2/2010 12:07:33 PM

+1 Boost

I think CR wanted to find something to jab at Honda since their designs or late have been uninspiring and not deserving of a second look. Guess this is the best they could find to knock it off it's recommended list.

Willis - 11/2/2010 3:12:55 PM

+2 Boost

CR = a joke.

uaw_lax - 11/2/2010 3:31:49 PM

+1 Boost

Im sure it will be standard on the new model.