Two enjoyable drives in class-leading automobiles during the extended holiday season were those in the 2016 Honda Civic and 2015 Mercedes-Benz S550 4Matic sedan.
The Civic, year after year, has been among the four or five best-selling cars in America, and the wonderfully finished S550 has long set the standard for luxury sedans. There is little to link the two, though – they’re separated by 2 feet in length and 100 grand in price.
The new Civic showed up with 3-inch-longer body (182.3 inches), a noticeably roomier interior, curb weight still under 3,000 pounds and, Honda said, its first-ever turboed engine in a U.S. Honda car. All that, and a window sticker of $27,335.
The grand four-door known as the Mercedes S550 stretches to 206.3 inches in length, weighs in at 4,773 pounds and gets its go from a twin-turbo, 449-horsepower V-8 engine. Its sticker price: $128,935.
As for the Honda compact, the 10th-generation model is arguably the best-looking, most-stylish exterior ever seen on the Civic, with a bolder front end and a sleeker and sharply sloped roofline.
Its new look, roomier interior and better performing powertrain have already earned attention – the Civic was named “car of the year” at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Jan. 11-24.
The Touring model I drove performed impressively with its 174-horsepower, 162 torque, 1.5-liter direct-injection turbocharged 4-cylinder engine. While it carries a high EPA rating of 31/42 miles per gallon, my overall average was 34.3. Honda said it is the most powerful engine ever offered on a non-Si Civic in the U.S.
The turbo 4 is mated to an improved continuously variable transmission (CVT); a switch of the Civic into Sport mode boosts the power level and eliminates much of the CVT whining associated with power trains of the past couple years.
Base models of the Civic are fitted with a 2-liter, naturally aspirated 4-cylinder engine producing 158 horsepower; it can be mated to a 6-speed manual transmission. The CVT is the only transmission available with the turboed engine.
Occupants of the Civic gain a smoother ride from a chassis featuring improved torsional rigidity, revamped strut front and new multilink rear suspensions.
Well-cushioned leather seats and lots of storage with a bin up front on the center console and one beneath the center stack are interior highlights. Trunk capacity is 14.7 cubic feet, narrowed a bit from base models by a trunk-mounted speaker.
The Civic Touring model’s $27k price tag included a sunroof and even heated rear seats. Added also are remote engine start, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning and rain-sensing wipers. Its 7-inch display for the navigation setup also accommodated rearview camera and premium audio with 10 speakers including subwoofer, Bluetooth, USB audio interface, Pandora and SiriusXM satellite radio.
As for the German-built Mercedes S550 four-door, it is perhaps the finest of Colorado Drives in level of comfort. Most superlatives are used up long before the drive concludes.
The security of 4Matic all-wheel drive enhances the performance capability of a 4.7-liter biturbo V-8 (449-hp, 516 lb.-ft. torque) and 7-speed automatic transmission with shift paddles.
Let the sedan wander toward the side of the road, with the wheels touching the white line, and the Mercedes is instantly slowed and guided back into the driving lane. Remove one hand from the steering wheel during less-than-straight, down-the-road driving, and a safety-alert icon pops up on the display screen suggesting both hands on the wheel.
Night-vision assist lends a black-and-white view of the area in front of the car during nighttime driving; it identifies and highlights pedestrians along the road before the driver is able to spot them.
To open up access to a cigarette lighter and ashtray was a surprise to me; they were some years ago removed from most cars. It was interesting to see, though of no use, for I’ve not smoked since I was 12.
Did I mention the Nappa leather, softer than in the past, and so attractive with wood trim.
The big Mercedes carries an EPA estimate of 16/26 miles per gallon of premium fuel. My overall average was 19.5; it will cruise the highways at 22 or higher.
A few standouts among the long list of optional equipment that raised price from $97,400 to $128,935 are power rear side-window sunshades, front-seat massage, power outboard rear seats, power right-rear-seat footrest, ventilated front and rear seats, surround-view camera, heated steering wheel, head-up display and 20-inch wheels.
The S550 is one of the world’s best-built automobiles.
Here are the specifications for the ’16 Honda Civic Touring:
- Wheelbase 106.3 inches
- Length 182.3 inches
- Width 70.8 inches
- Height 55.7 inches
- Curb Weight 2,923 pounds
- Track 60.9 inches front, 61.5 rear
- Ground Clearance 6.7 inches
- Turn Circle 35.7 feet
- Drivetrain Front-wheel-drive
- Engine 1.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder
- Horsepower/Torque 174/162
- Transmission continuously variable
- Steering electric power
Fuel mileage estimate 31/423 - Fuel mileage average 34.3
- Fuel Tank 12.4 gallons, regular unleaded
- Wheels 17-inch
- Tires Firestone 215/50R17
- Cargo Volume 14.7 cubic feet
- Warranty 3 years/36,000 miles basic, 5/60,000 powertrain
Competitors Ford Focus, Toyota Corolla, Chevrolet Cruze, Nissan Sentra
Assembly Plant Greensburg, Ind.
Parts Content U.S./Canadian 70%
Base Price of Lowest Model $18,640; Base Price of Review Model $26,500; Destination Charge $835; Sticker Price $27,335.