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The 9th generation Civic never really seemed to get it right.

Class average rather than a class leader, the 2012-2015 seemed to have lost some of that Mojo Honda compacts are world famous for.

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Well, for 2016 it appears that the Civic is back. Rebuilt from the ground up the new 10th generation Civic is nothing like last year’s model.

Completely New

Honda claims this is the biggest complete redesign the Civic has ever received. The goal with the 10th generation car is to recapture some of the sporty character the Civic used to be known for, but was lacking in the last generation. It’s two inches wider and one inch lower, built on a 1.2-inch longer wheelbase.

The new look has a lot of 2016 Accord up front and a blend of Insight, Crosstour and FCV Clarity in the back. Sitting ahead of the large front fender flares are available LED headlights, much like Acura’s jewel eyes. As well, LED daytime running lights and LED taillights are standard

New Power Plants

The news under the skin is just as dramatic as the car’s new look. The regular Civic will feature two all-new four-cylinder engines, a 2.0-liter and a 1.5-liter turbocharged unit. This is the first time Honda has ever offered a turbocharged engine in North America and claims it will have class leading performance, which means expect power levels to be high.

SEE ALSO: 2016 Honda Civic Type R to Outperform Even the NSX

The turbocharged engine will come in EX-T, EX-L and Touring trims of the Civic. The two liter engine found in the LX Civic won’t be a slouch either as Honda claims it’s the most powerful base engine ever put in a Civic.

At the global debut of the new car, Honda PR boss Save Marie announced that the base 2.0-liter engine would make 158 hp while the turbocharged 1.5-liter will deliver 174-hp.

Honda is being vague when it comes to fuel economy ratings but claims the Civic should get in excess of 40 mpg on the highway, thanks in part to a twelve percent improvement in aerodynamics.

Better Handling

So it’s going to get the power it needs, but what about the handling? Well, the new Civic features a front strut suspension and multi-link rear end design. Honda claims body rigidity is up 25 percent, while weight is down 68 pounds, for the body at least.

Variable gear ratio steering, beefier front and rear stabilizer bars, 4-wheel disc brakes and handling assist brake-torque vectoring will all be included with the new Civic.

Bigger Inside

Inside there is now an extra 3.7 cubic feet of passenger space that leads to an extra 2 inches of rear-seat legroom that can easy accommodate a six foot passenger. And if stuck back there, it’s nice to know that heated seats for rear passengers are now available.

SEE ALSO: 2016 Honda Civic Concept Video, First Look

With that slope-back rear-end design, trunk space is also up 2.6 cubic feet. Standard in the car is automatic climate control and an electronic parking brake as well as much quieter driving experience that Honda achieved, in part, as a result of a 58-percent reduction in cabin air leaks.

As far as technology is concerned, a 7-inch high-definition Display Audio touchscreen is available that can operate Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. On the safety front, a technology suite called Honda Sensing is available with advance options like collision mitigation, road departure mitigation and adaptive cruise control.

More Choice

The 10th-generation Civic will also break from recent tradition and be available as a sedan, coupe and five-door hatchback. And of course, besides the high performance Si model, for the first time on our shores there will also be the even crazier Type-R model.

More details on the Civic will become available closer to its launch date for the sedan later this fall.

Discuss this story on our 10th Generation Honda Civic Forum