7 Reasons to Love the 2020 Honda Civic Interior (and a Few Fun Drawbacks)

When it comes to compact sedans the 2020 Honda Civic is hard to beat Not only does it offer an impressive drive but its interior really steps up the game Too many cars in this class sacrifice quality for affordability but the Honda Civic breaks that mold delivering a surprisingly upscale experience This article dives deep into everything you’ll want to know about the Civic's interior from the technology to the seating comfort and some of the quirks you'll have to live with if you're ready to bring one of these beauties home

Comfortable Seats: A Cushion for All Occasions

Let's start with one of the most important features in any car seating The seats in the 2020 Honda Civic are a true highlight They're comfortable supportive and surprisingly spacious for a compact car Whether you’re taking a long road trip or just commuting to work the seats provide great back and thigh support No more sore backs after an hour on the highway

Leather or Cloth? Your Choice

You get two options here leather or cloth The higher trims like the EX-L come with plush leather seats that wouldn’t feel out of place in a luxury vehicle If you're opting for a lower trim the cloth seats aren’t a bad trade-off either The fabric feels durable and premium definitely not like the bargain-bin material you might expect at this price point

Potential Drawback: A Bit of a Short Thigh

Okay here’s the thing as nice as those seats are they’re a tad short in the thigh for taller drivers "I’m about 6'2 and while I love the comfort after an hour or so my legs start craving more support" says Alex Collantes a long-time Honda enthusiast It’s not a deal-breaker but it’s something to keep in mind if you're on the taller side

Dashboard & Center Console: Minimalist or Too Simple?

One of the most refreshing aspects of the 2020 Honda Civic’s interior is its dashboard layout It’s clean and uncluttered The design is minimalist which means you won’t find a bunch of confusing buttons scattered everywhere Honda seems to have taken the "less is more" approach and it works—most of the time

Big Screen Small Quirks

The 7-inch touchscreen found on most trims is intuitive to use with big icons and easy-to-read fonts If you spring for the Touring trim you’ll get an upgraded system that supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration perfect for anyone looking to stay connected

However the placement of the screen can be a bit too low for some drivers making it difficult to glance at while driving You might find yourself craning your neck to see navigation maps but hey it’s not like you should be looking at it too much while driving anyway right?

The (Not So) Convenient Climate Controls

The climate controls are fully digital which feels modern But there’s a quirk you can only adjust them through the touchscreen on some trims "I’m a fan of tactile buttons" says Alex "Sometimes you just want to twist a knob to lower the temperature but instead you have to scroll through menus It’s a bit of a pain when you’re trying to adjust things while driving"

Cargo Space & Storage: The Civic Does It Right

Despite being a compact sedan the 2020 Honda Civic offers impressive cargo space especially with its 60/40 split-folding rear seats You get 15.1 cubic feet of trunk space which is pretty generous for this class Need to haul larger items? Fold the back seats down and you can fit things like golf clubs or a weekend's worth of camping gear no problem

Deep Center Console for Your Stuff

The center console storage is also a highlight It’s surprisingly deep allowing you to store things like phones sunglasses wallets and even larger items There’s also a sliding tray that gives you quick access to smaller items like your car keys or a pack of gum

Quirk: Where Did I Put My Cup?

While we’re talking storage let’s address the cup holders The front ones are great they’re adjustable and deep enough to hold even larger bottles But the rear cup holders well they’re kind of awkwardly placed right on the armrest So if you’ve got rear passengers they might not be too thrilled about losing an armrest every time someone wants to grab their coffee

Tech Features: Advanced for a Compact

One of the best things about the 2020 Honda Civic is how tech-friendly it is In this era you expect cars to be connected to the digital world and Honda doesn’t disappoint

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto: A Game Changer

The Civic’s infotainment system is highly compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto which means you can seamlessly connect your smartphone to the car’s system and use your favorite apps music and navigation hands-free You don’t need to fiddle with your phone everything is right there on the screen

Drawback: The Volume Knob’s Absence (Or Lack Thereof)

This is where things get tricky Honda made the curious decision to ditch the volume knob in favor of touch-sensitive volume controls on the lower trims It sounds cool but in practice it's frustrating Try adjusting the volume while driving down a bumpy road good luck! Fortunately higher trims like the Touring bring back the good old-fashioned knob

Materials & Build Quality: A Class Above

Let’s talk materials Here’s where Honda really outdid themselves The Civic’s interior uses a combination of soft-touch plastics metals and leather to give the cabin an upscale feel It’s not luxury-car-level but it’s certainly a step above most competitors in this price range

Durable Yet Stylish

Even the lower trims come with quality materials Honda’s done a great job of ensuring that even the hard plastics feel premium They’ve managed to make affordable materials feel anything but cheap

Drawback: A Little Glossy in Spots

The one area where the materials fall short is in the glossy plastic trim It looks nice sure but boy does it attract fingerprints and dust "The center console looks great when it's clean but two seconds later it’s like a crime scene for fingerprints" jokes Alex If you’re a neat freak this might drive you nuts

Rear Passenger Space: Roomier Than You Think

One of the surprises you’ll find in the 2020 Honda Civic is just how spacious the back seats are There’s plenty of legroom even for taller passengers and the headroom isn’t bad either despite the car's sloping roofline

Ideal for Small Families

Whether you’re hauling kids or adults the rear seats are comfortable enough for longer trips You also get some decent features like rear air vents (on higher trims) and a good amount of foot space under the front seats

Drawback: Watch Your Head!

While legroom is great taller passengers may find themselves bumping their heads on the roofline when entering or exiting the back seat It’s a minor quirk but worth noting especially if your family or friends tend to be on the taller side

Sound System: You’ll Be Pleasantly Surprised

Honda has equipped the 2020 Civic with a decent 160-watt sound system on the lower trims which is fine for casual listeners But if you love your music upgrade to the 450-watt premium system available on the Touring trim It delivers clear highs and a nice thumping bass making it a joy for audiophiles

Sound Deadening Could Be Better

If there’s one area that’s lacking it’s sound insulation While the Civic does a good job keeping most noise out at higher speeds you’ll still notice a fair bit of wind and road noise seeping into the cabin

Drawback: Bumpy Beats

Even with the premium sound system the speakers can get a little rattly at higher volumes when the bass kicks in hard It’s not a deal-breaker by any means but it’s something to keep in mind if you’re planning on blasting your favorite tunes on the daily

Infotainment System: Learning Curve Ahead

The 2020 Honda Civic comes with an easy-to-use infotainment system but it has its quirks The touchscreen is responsive and the menus are logically laid out However the system’s learning curve can feel a bit steep especially for those who aren’t particularly tech-savvy

Bluetooth and Connectivity

The Bluetooth pairing process is straightforward and once your phone is connected you won’t have to re-pair it unless something goes wrong USB ports are conveniently placed so you don’t have to struggle to plug in your devices

Drawback: Freeze Frame

One small downside is that the system can occasionally lag especially when switching between apps It’s like the system took a nap and you’re trying to wake it up says Alex It doesn’t happen all the time but when it does it can be a tad frustrating especially when you're trying to quickly change a song or get back to navigation

In conclusion the 2020 Honda Civic’s interior offers a great balance of comfort technology and practicality for a compact sedan While it’s not without its quirks (seriously Honda what’s with the missing volume knob?) it delivers a solid experience overall From its supportive seats to its spacious cargo room it’s clear that Honda has put some serious thought into making this cabin as enjoyable as possible Sure you’ll deal with some minor annoyances but every car has its flaws and the Civic’s are just part of its charm

For a car in its price range you’re getting more than what you paid for as Alex would say "It's hard to beat what the Civic offers in the compact class Sure it’s got its quirks but so do I and I’m still here right?"