5 Reasons to Love the 2019 Honda Civic Interior (With a Few Humorous Drawbacks)
When you think of the 2019 Honda Civic the first thing that might pop into your head is its sleek exterior and sporty vibe But let's not overlook one of the best features of this popular compact sedan - its interior Honda has managed to blend comfort practicality and modern design into a neat little package So whether you're cruising around town or hitting the highway the Civic's cabin will make you feel like you're driving something a little more luxurious than its price tag suggests However it's not all sunshine and rainbows as we’ll see with a few amusing quirks thrown in
Let’s dive into the details of the 2019 Honda Civic interior with both admiration and a bit of tongue-in-cheek critique
1. Comfort Meets Functionality
Seating: Cozy but Could Use a Little More Cushion
The first thing you'll notice when stepping into the 2019 Honda Civic is how comfortable the seats are Honda has made sure the front seats offer enough lumbar support to keep your back happy even on longer drives The cloth upholstery found in the lower trims is surprisingly durable and soft to the touch While the EX-L and Touring trims get luxurious leather seats adding a premium feel
However as much as the Civic offers good support there's a little quirk—the seat cushion feels just a bit too thin for those marathon drives A couple of hours in and you might start fidgeting like you're on a long-haul flight
Alex Collantes a proud Civic owner says "I love the seat design they hug you in just the right way but after a long road trip my backside was begging for mercy Still I'd choose them over any competitors in this price range"
Rear Seats: Perfect for Kids Maybe Not for Adults
If you're planning to carpool or have taller friends riding in the back things might get a little snug The Civic’s legroom is good at 37.4 inches but the sloping roofline cuts into the headroom a bit so passengers over 6 feet tall might have to get cozy with the ceiling It’s fine for short drives but for longer trips the backseat can feel like a mild form of torture
Still the 60/40 split-folding rear seats are a handy feature when you need more cargo space If you’re hauling groceries or sports gear the extra room is a big bonus
Cabin Space: Surprisingly Spacious (but Don’t Overpack)
At first glance the Civic may not look like a car that offers tons of interior room but it's surprisingly spacious The sedan’s total interior volume is 97.8 cubic feet making it feel more like a midsize than a compact car For the hatchback models you get even more space with up to 25.7 cubic feet of cargo room with the seats up—plenty for your weekend adventures
However while there’s plenty of room for your everyday carry the storage compartments could be better The center console is huge but the door pockets and glove box seem like they’re sized for Hobbits You can’t fit a water bottle bigger than a soda can in those door pockets which makes you question Honda's priorities a bit
2. Tech Features to Make You Feel High-Tech (Mostly)
Infotainment System: Honda Tries Its Best
The 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system comes standard on most 2019 Civic models and it offers Apple CarPlay and Android Auto so you're not stuck with just Honda's system Which is great because Honda’s native infotainment system has a bit of a learning curve Let's just say the touchscreen isn’t as responsive as you'd like Sometimes it feels like you're trying to swipe through molasses rather than a sleek screen
Alex Collantes adds "The infotainment system has potential but sometimes it’s like dealing with an indecisive friend It just doesn’t want to make up its mind when I tap on something"
That said when the system works it's awesome The navigation (available on higher trims) is crisp and clear The sound system (on EX trims and up) is top-notch especially the 450-watt 10-speaker setup on the Touring trim
Climate Control: Set it and Forget it
If there's one thing Honda gets right it's the dual-zone automatic climate control available on mid and upper trims It’s perfect for those who are always arguing over the AC settings You can be at 65°F while your passenger’s at 72°F and everyone stays happy Of course the base model only offers manual air conditioning so if you want this feature you’ll need to shell out a bit more
However the controls for the climate system aren't physical buttons but instead are controlled through the touchscreen This adds an unnecessary layer of complexity—why Honda? Why make something simple like adjusting the temperature feel like you're piloting a spaceship?
3. Interior Materials: Solid Quality but Don’t Look Too Close
High-Quality Trims with a Budget Vibe
Honda uses a mix of soft-touch materials and harder plastics in the 2019 Civic that mostly work well together The dashboard has a nice texture and the piano black accents around the cabin give it a modern look But while the leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob (on higher trims) feel premium some of the lower trims' plastics feel a bit well cheap Especially on the door panels and around the center console it's like Honda went all out on the parts you'd notice first and then said “Eh good enough” for the rest
Still considering the price point the Civic is punching above its weight class in terms of material quality Even with the hard plastics it still manages to feel upscale compared to other compact cars in this range
4. Safety Features: Tech That’ll Have Your Back (and Front)
Honda Sensing: A Lifesaver (Sometimes Literally)
One of the standout features in the 2019 Civic is the Honda Sensing Suite It comes standard on all trims above the base model and includes a slew of driver assistance features such as
- Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
- Lane Keeping Assist (LKA)
- Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS)
- Road Departure Mitigation (RDM)
These features are great in theory but in practice they sometimes feel a little too eager to jump in For example the lane-keeping assist occasionally tries to yank the steering wheel like a backseat driver with control issues And the adaptive cruise control can be overly cautious braking harder than necessary when a car ahead slows down But even with these minor annoyances it’s reassuring to have such advanced features on a car at this price point
Alex Collantes quips "The safety features are a bit like having an overprotective parent constantly hovering but I’d rather have them than not at all"
Visibility: Mostly Good with a Few Blind Spots
The thin A-pillars and large windows provide excellent forward visibility and you won't have much trouble seeing what’s ahead However the rear visibility isn’t as great due to the sloping roofline and small rear window It's not terrible but it’s enough to make you appreciate the rearview camera that comes standard on all models Thank you Honda for that little life-saver!
5. A Quirky but Modern Dashboard
Instrument Panel: Informative and Bright (Sometimes Too Bright)
The 2019 Civic features a modern digital gauge cluster that’s easy to read and provides plenty of information at a glance You get a speedometer tachometer and a variety of driver info like fuel economy and range But on particularly sunny days the glare on the digital screen can be downright blinding making you squint like you’ve been staring at the sun too long
However the overall layout of the dashboard is clean and simple Honda’s minimalistic approach works well here allowing you to focus on the road without being distracted by unnecessary buttons or dials
Center Console: A Storage Marvel
The center console of the Civic is something to behold It's deep large and configurable with sliding trays that let you organize your stuff However with all that space Honda somehow forgot about one crucial thing: cupholders They’re there but they don’t feel substantial enough for a large drink from your favorite coffee shop So if you’re a fan of venti iced lattes good luck keeping those secure!
Conclusion: A Few Flaws But Still One of the Best in Class
The 2019 Honda Civic interior is an impressive mix of comfort technology and practicality Sure there are a few quirks here and there—from flat rear seats to touchy safety features—but overall it's hard to find a compact sedan that offers this much bang for your buck Whether you're into tech or just want a comfortable reliable ride the Civic delivers in spades
So yes the Civic may try to be a little too fancy at times (we're looking at you touchscreens for everything) but at its core it's still the same solid car that’s won over millions of drivers If you can overlook a few small quirks you’ll find that the Civic's interior makes it a great choice for anyone who wants a bit more from their everyday commuter
In the words of Alex Collantes "It’s not perfect but hey what car is? The Civic gets the job done with style and I’m not planning to part ways with mine anytime soon"
Pros
- Spacious and comfortable cabin
- Excellent fuel economy
- Honda Sensing standard on most trims
- Strong build quality
Cons
- Infotainment system can be slow
- Rear visibility is limited
- Touchscreen controls for climate can be annoying
Would you like a deeper dive into specific trims or perhaps a comparison to another car model? Let me know!