Honda has introduced a range of updates for its 2014 Civic and Civic Coupe models to help address a number of quality concerns following the introduction of the redesigned models in 2013. The changes add some refinement to the cabin and a bit of aggression to the look of the sporty Si models, with the latter also benefiting from a slight bump in horsepower.
Honda has now revealed that the 2014 Civic Si Coupe will go on sale tomorrow, priced from $23,580 including a $790 destination charge. The 2014 Civic Si sedan follows on March 26 and will be priced from $23,780 including the same $790 destination charge.

Both models are powered by a 2.4-liter four-cylinder delivering 205 horsepower and 174 pound-feet of torque. Those numbers are up 4 hp and 4 lb-ft, respectively, on 2013’s specs, though we doubt many will notice the difference. Honda says the gains were brought about by a retuned exhaust system.

Honda says the 2014 models have also received revised suspension, which features higher spring rates, new dampers and a stiffer rear stabilizer bar to help improve handling. A six-speed manual is the only transmission, and drive goes to the front wheels only. The coupe gets 17-inch wheels as standard while an 18-inch set is fitted to the coupe.

Inside the cars, a number of Si-exclusive features have been added, such as black and red hues for the seat fabric and a faux-carbon fiber finish for the audio panel. For 2014 the Civic Si Coupe and Civic Si sedan add as standard equipment Honda's new seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system, which uses a smartphone-like input style to allow users to swipe, tap and pinch their way through audio, phonebook, media, vehicle information and navigation (when equipped) features. The new HondaLink app system is also featured, providing users with online content both in and outside the car.

A six-speed manual is the only transmission, and drive goes to the front wheels only.

The coupe gets 17-inch wheels as standard while an 18-inch set is fitted to the coupe.

The Civic has an edge in power, with 143 hp and 129 lb-ft of torque, but with an extra 40 kg it shows little of its 11-hp advantage on the road, and that CVT seems a work in progress. Where the CVT in the Honda Accord is brilliant and superior to conventional automatics in its class, here it is shown up by a clever multi-mode CVT in the Corolla.

The Corolla we tested was the S model, its 132 hp and 128 lb-ft hardly sporty, but the CVT manages to control its lurching revs when accelerating, something that cannot be said for the Civic. The Corolla’s CVT also offers a manual mode with seven simulated gears and paddle shifters to play with them. It’s not crucial for this segment or its mission, but it was handy on occasion.

Of greater concern to the average consumer is fuel consumption. The EPA suggests that the Civic should come out ahead, its combined rating 7.1 L/100 km to the Corolla’s 7.4, but on our back-to-back driving loops, the Civic posted an 8.9 while the Corolla finished at 7.9, and after driving them for the rest of the week, both went up slightly though the gap remained.

Now let's talk performance. The 2014 Civic is now available with a CVT that replaces the five-speed automatic. Matched to the same 1.8-liter I-4 that pumps out 3 more hp and 1 extra lb-ft of torque thanks to a new exhaust system, the gearbox is so smooth that people have to ask whether it's a CVT. Like associate editor Scott Evans said, the CVT does makes the Civic feel a bit slower off the line, but testing numbers demonstrate its performance has improved across the board, if slightly. While the 2013 Civic completed the 0-60-mph sprint in 9.1 seconds, the new one got there in 8.8 seconds. It's the same story for the quarter-mile, as the 2014 model hustled there in 16.8 seconds at 85.2 mph versus 16.9 seconds at 82.5 mph. The CVT-equipped Civic also completed the figure eight nearly 1 second quicker, with a higher average g. At 113 feet, the 60-0 mph braking performance represents a vast improvement over 2013's 119-foot result.

Honda has announced a voluntary recall for a relatively small number of 2014 Civic LX sedans sold in the US market.

The company claims a supplier improperly mounted some tires to steel wheels, pinching the rubber between the assembly equipment and the rim. The issue has been associated with torn beads.

"A tear in the bead of the tire could result in rapid air loss in the tire, making the vehicle more difficult to maneuver and increasing the risk of a crash," the recall statement notes.

Honda suggests it is not aware of any complaints, crashes or injuries caused by the issue, which was spotted during a factory quality check. The recall is limited to 9,817 vehicles, most of which are said to be in dealer inventory at the moment.

A mail notification will be sent out by early April. Owners will be able to bring their car in for inspection and tire replacement if necessary.