The popular 2014 Honda Civic, produced as a sedan or coupe, comes with three four-cylinder engine options: 1.8L, 2.4L, and 1.5L for the hybrid version. The first is designed for a comfortable commute, the second surprises with spirited acceleration, and the hybrid fights to keep up with traffic.
Key Points
- Engine options in the 2014 Honda Civic include the 1.8L SOHC i-VTEC, the 2.4L DOHC, and a 1.5L gas paired with a 20 kW lithium-ion battery on the Hybrid.
- The 2014 Honda Civic HF offers improved fuel economy by tweaking the car’s physical design, not its engine.
- Unleash your inner speed demon in the 2014 Honda Civic Si (sedan or coupe) with 205 horsepower and a fun six-speed manual transmission.
- The 2014 Honda Civic Hybrid may save you at the pump with its 44 mpg, but the 110 horsepower will leave you in the dust.
Experience Just Enough Muscle in the 2014 Honda Civic Sedan or Coupe with the 1.8L Four-cylinder Engine
The standard 2014 Honda Civic rolled out with a 1.8L inline-four-cylinder engine under the hood of the sedan and coupe. A single overhead cam design and intelligent variable valve timing feature a bore and stroke of 81 x 87.3 mm. It redlines at 6,700 rpm. The compression ratio of 10.6:1 churns out 143 horsepower and 120 lb.-ft. of torque.
Complete the powertrain with either a five-speed manual transmission or the popular Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT). Both versions earn a respectable fuel economy rating from the EPA.
The 1.8L with manual transmission in the sedan comes in at 28 mpg city and 35 highway for a decent combined 31. The CVT version improves the numbers to 29/37 and 33 combined mpg.
Drivers find all the muscle needed for daily driving and the ability to power through tight spots on the highway.
2014 Honda Civic HF Tweaks the Programming, not the Engine, to Earn Improved Fuel Economy
When surfing through trims on the 2014 Honda Civic, you will find mention of an HF. While it does improve fuel economy numbers up to 40 mpg highway, it isn’t due to a different engine. There are no hybrid battery systems, either. The onboard electronic control module adjusts valve timing and fuel injection. Meanwhile, designers removed any extra weight they could inside the car. A set of diffuser panels underneath and low-drag wheels also contribute to its efficiency.
Car and Driver took it out for a test drive and discovered, “The HF got to 60 mph in 8.3 seconds, the best time we’ve recorded for a non-Si Civic sedan.”
So, when looking for that magic fuel-efficient powertrain combination without a hybrid price tag, look at the HF.
2014 Civic Si’s 2.4L Engine and its 205 Horsepower Add Excitement to the Driving Performance
If you demand more than an ordinary commute to the office, the 2014 Honda Civic Si packs a punch as a coupe or sedan. It features a 2.4L four-cylinder DOHC engine with i-VTEC that pours out 205 horsepower and 174 lb.-ft. of torque. Matched to the six-speed manual, you experience a boatload of thrills when you launch off the line.
Motor Trend pushed their test vehicle to the limit and reported, “The car bursts through the 60-mph barricade in 6.5 seconds before finishing the quarter-mile in 15 seconds flat and trapping 93.5 mph.”
You will hit the redline when pushing it over 7,000 rpm. Its 87 x 99 mm bore and stroke deliver a surprisingly muscular 11.0:1 compression ratio. You do give up gas mileage as it earns just an EPA-estimated 22 city/31 highway and 25 mpg combined. Still, who is looking at the gas budget when powering through shifts in the turns?
Attain 44 mpg in the 2014 Honda Civic Hybrid with its Combined 1.5L Engine and Electric Motor
Are you afraid of losing performance when opting for a hybrid? In the case of the 2014 Honda Civic Hybrid, this is the truth. The sedan’s SOHC 1.5L engine and CVT combine with a 20 kW lithium-ion battery to produce a disappointing 110 horsepower and just 127 lb.-ft. of torque.
The gas motor redlines at 6,000 rpm. The 73 x 89.4 mm bore and stroke provide a compression ratio of 10.8:1. The single electric motor comes with 144 volts, earning 23 horsepower, that adds to the 97 hp produced by the gas side.
The Indy Star reviewed the compact hybrid when it was first released and gave the power plant mild praise. “Performance drivers will scoff at the combined 110 horsepower and 127 lb.-ft. of torque, but the powertrain is smooth and powerful enough to slip down the interstate with high enough velocity to awaken the state patrol,” said the Indy Star.
Since the electric torque is immediate, accelerating from a stoplight is acceptable. However, reaching cruising speed on the interstate is more of a wait-and-see game. It earns an EPA-estimated 44 mpg combined, which outpaces nearly every standard gas sedan or coupe on the market for this year.
Each of the 2014 Honda Civic’s Three Engines Feature a Design that Works Well for its Intended Purpose
In the end, none of the engines found on the 2014 Honda Civic are a disappointment. The 1.8L included on the standard coupe or sedan gives you good fuel economy and reasonable performance around town or on the highway. The 2.4L motor featured on the Civic Si gives you the extra bump of control and acceleration that sports car enthusiasts demand. Meanwhile, the hybrid engine works hard to lower the gas bill, but you do sacrifice performance on the highway.
Photos: Honda
