Here we go all you Audiophiles!
Overview
The new Civic significantly advances in-vehicle connectivity and audio performance with a new generation of advanced technologies. New available features include a 7-inch capacitive touchscreen Display Audio1 interface with Android operating system, and an all-new Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System™2 developed in cooperation with the experts at Garmin®3. The Civic Sedan's Display Audio system also enables simplified smartphone connectivity with a single cable connection. The available system is now compatible with the Apple CarPlay®4 and Android Auto™ platforms5, giving customers seamless integration of key smartphone features and functions, including smartphone-powered GPS navigation and voice-controlled search capabilities. Featuring standard Pandora®6 compatibility, streaming Bluetooth®7 audio and many other content choices, including available SiriusXM®8, Civic offers a rich selection of entertainment options.
Key Available Audio and Connectivity Features
7-inch Display Audio touchscreen with integrated HVAC controls*^
Android Auto™3 and Apple CarPlay®*^4
HondaLink™ connected-car system*9
HondaLink Assist10 (when paired with compatible phone) *
HD Radio™11
Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System™ with Voice Recognition and Honda HD Digital Traffic2
Smartphone-Based Navigation App Compatibility
New-generation "2.0" SiriusXM®8 Radio*
Pandora®6 interface
SMS12 Text Message function
USB Audio Interface13
160-Watt 4 Speaker AM/FM Audio System
180-Watt 8 Speaker AM/FM Audio System
450-Watt 10 Speaker (Including Sub-Woofer) AM/FM Audio System*
* First for Civic
^ First for Honda
5-Inch Display Audio System (LX)
The Civic LX has a standard 160-watt AM/FM radio audio system with four door-mounted speakers and a USB port to allow the connection of other compatible devices. The system can play Pandora®6 content from a compatible device via the USB port, or wirelessly, via Bluetooth®7 HandsFreeLink®. The audio system has a 5-inch (diagonal) display screen and conventional "hard" buttons and knobs to control the various functions. Illuminated steering wheel mounted controls are positioned within fingertip reach. This system includes four 6.7-inch diameter speakers, two in each front door and two in the rear deck.
7-Inch Display Audio Touchscreen
(Civic EX, EX-T, EX-L)Civic Sedan EX and above trims feature a 7-inch Display Audio touchscreen that uses the Android operating system to offer a wide range of useful features and capabilities. The intuitive and easy-to-use touchscreen lets users swipe, tap and pinch – just like on a tablet or smartphone – to control the vehicle's audio system, display settings and other advanced features. The 7-inch touchscreen is a special high-contrast, high definition IPS display with a high viewing angle for better legibility. The 160-watt audio system has eight speakers with four 6.7-inch full range speakers, one in each front door and two in the rear deck, plus four 1.5-inch tweeters, two near the A-pillars and two in the rear deck.
The system offers most popular audio formats, including AM/FM,
[email protected] content, Pandora®6, Bluetooth®7 streaming audio, and compatibility with the Apple CarPlay®4 and Android Auto™5 platforms. SiriusXM®8 and HD Radio®11 are included in the EX-T trim and above.
Icons resembling smartphone apps are displayed on the high-definition, capacitive touchscreen, making the interface intuitive and easy to use. Interfaces for standard internet-sourced music and media options, such as Pandora® can be displayed and controlled on the Display Audio interface, with the ability to create personalized stations, tap to "like" songs, and view album artwork directly from the touchscreen. Display Audio also integrates touch operation of the menu and return functions for a modern and sleek look.
The system can also be controlled with illuminated steering-wheel mounted controls, including a new touchpad control that enables an alphabetic search of a range of features using a vertical swiping motion. Search items appear on the color Driver Information Interface (DII) display located in the lower portion of the instrument display, just below the digital speedometer display. The system can also be controlled via voice commands, after pressing and releasing the steering-wheel-mounted talk button.
7-Inch Display Audio Touchscreen (Touring)
In Touring models, the 7-Inch Display Audio Touchscreen system includes a number of upgrades. The total system output is increased to 450 watts, the most powerful in the Civic's segment, and the speaker count is increased from eight to ten. Premium 6.7-inch full-range speakers are positioned in the front doors and two in the rear deck plus one 3.1-inch speaker in the information panel. Two 1.5-inch tweeters are positioned near the A-pillars and two more are located on the rear deck, and a 7.9-inch subwoofer is placed in the center of the rear deck.
Driver Information Interface (DII)
All Civic models with the exception of the LX feature the Driver Information Interface (DII) integrated into the operation of the 7-Inch Display Audio Touchscreen. The DII is positioned in the instrument display, just below the digital speedometer. The color TFT DII display puts a wide range of information in front of the driver where it's easy to see. The steering wheel mounted buttons and touchpad control make it easy to search among choices on the DII, and then make the desired selection.
DII displays the following items:
Driving Computer
Smart Maintenance
Audio System
Navigation
Telephone
SMS12/Email
Apple CarPlay4
Android Auto™5
1-Cable Connection
In the Civic EX and above trims, compatible iPhones and Android (with Android Auto app.) phones loaded with the compatible HondaLink9 app can be connected to the 1.5-amp USB port with a single USB cable (provided with the phone), to display navigation information on the 7-inch Display Audio Touchscreen. This makes connection simpler and less costly than Honda's previous system that required three cables to make the connection between the smartphone and the vehicle.
Apple CarPlay®
Civic EX models and above offer standard Apple CarPlay4 compatibility. By connecting the iPhone to the car using the phone's USB cable (supplied with the phone) and the Civic's 1.5-amp USB port, CarPlay features can be accessed. (Note that the CarPlay system will not work using the USB port located inside the Civic's center console.)
CarPlay takes the most popular functions and features of the user's compatible iPhone and puts them on the Civic's Display Audio touchscreen and DII display, positioned in the instrument cluster. You can get directions, send and receive messages, listen to audio books and music, all in a way that allows you to stay more focused on the road.
CarPlay features Siri voice control and is specially designed for typical driving scenarios. It also works with the Civic's controls – both on the audio touchscreen and the steering-wheel mounted controls, so you don't need to pick up your phone. A curated selection of available CarPlay Apps are designed for use in the Civic, and are specially designed to minimize driver distraction.
CarPlay includes access to Apple Maps, which can provide turn-by-turn directions, traffic conditions, and estimated travel time. CarPlay can also predict where you most likely want to go using addresses from your email, text messages, contacts, and calendars.
CarPlay is compatible with iPhones that feature the small Lighting connector, not older iPhones with the larger 30-pin connector.
Android Auto™
Civic EX models and above offer standard Android Auto™5 compatibility. By connecting a compatible Android phone to the car using the phone's USB cable (supplied with the phone) and the Civic's 1.5 amp USB port, the Android Auto platform is enabled.
Android Auto puts some of your phone's most useful Apps on the Civic's audio display and DII, positioned in the instrument cluster. You can get directions, send and receive messages, listen to audio books and music, all without the need to pick up your phone. Android Auto works with the Civic's controls – both on the audio touchscreen and the steering-wheel mounted controls – so it's simple and intuitive to use.
Android Auto's voice control is specially designed for typical driving scenarios. A curated selection of available Android Auto Apps are designed for use in the Civic, and are specially designed to minimize driver distraction.
Android includes access to Google Maps, which can provide turn-by-turn directions, live traffic conditions, lane guidance and more. CarPlay can also predict where you most likely want to go using addresses from your email, text messages, contacts, and calendars.
Android Auto is designed to work with Android phones running 5.0 (Lollipop) or higher.
SiriusXM® Radio
A new generation 2.0/3.0 version of SiriusXM®8 Radio is a standard feature in the EX-T and above trims, and it provides more than 165 channels of digital programming with near CD-quality sound. The SiriusXM® signal is beamed from two broadcast satellites positioned in geostationary orbit above Earth. The beams from these two broadcast satellites combine to span the entire continental United States and some of Canada.
SiriusXM® Radio programming includes channels devoted to music, sports, talk, traffic, weather, children's programming and entertainment. When the audio system plays SiriusXM® Radio, the audio system displays the current category, station, song title or artist's name.
This latest generation of SiriusXM includes many all new features, including pause, fast forward and rewind. There is also an instant replay feature and the ability to hear all songs from the beginning on preset channels. The new Sports Flash feature lets you listen to your favorite (non-sports) programming, and if your favorite team makes a big play in a live game that is being broadcast on SiriusXM, you will receive an on-screen alert. With a touch of a soft-key you can hear up to 30 seconds of audio before and including the big play.
Pandora® Compatibility
All Civic models are designed to provide a convenient interface for Pandora®6, a free music service that allows users to open an account online and create up to 100 personalized internet "radio stations" that are based on favorite songs or artists. Users can choose among their stations and listen via computer, and can also download a free smartphone Pandora® app, which allows users listen to the same list of personalized stations via their compatible phone. Although Pandora® is free, phone data charges apply.
An iPhone or compatible Android phone can be connected wirelessly to the Civic, using Bluetooth®7 HandsFreeLink®. To use Pandora®, the Pandora app is launched on a compatible connected smartphone and the vehicle's audio source is set to Pandora®. The audio screen shows Pandora® information and album art, and the audio controls allow listeners to choose from among existing stations, pause, resume, skip forward, and mark a track with "Like" or "Dislike" ratings. To mitigate the potential for driver distraction, some functionality of the Pandora® app is locked out when using the Civic's Pandora® interface.
HondaLink®
The Display Audio system with next generation HondaLink9 that is standard in EX models and above allows the owner's digital lifestyle to seamlessly integrate with the car and provides access to a world of cloud-based information. The all-new application-based platform connects customers to online content both inside and outside the car. The connection between the system and the user's smartphone is made through the Bluetooth®6 HandsFreeLink® wireless interface. A HondaLink phone app provides convenient access for many services including location searches, local weather, messaging, Maintenance Minder alerts, service scheduling by phone, and access to the vehicle Owners Guide.
HondaLink Assist
An additional new feature on Civic EX and above is HondaLink Assist10, which can help request emergency assistance for drivers. If a compatible phone is paired through Bluetooth®7 HandsFreeLink®, there is a cellular connection and an airbag deployment sensor is triggered, the system is designed to automatically attempt to notify an operator, report the car's current location, and allow occupants to talk directly to the operator. The operator can then contact emergency services if needed.
Aha™ by Harman
HondaLink includes Aha™ that can be accessed using a compatible smartphone. Aha organizes the Civic owner's favorite content from the web into personalized on-demand radio stations in the vehicle. Aha is a comprehensive, cloud-based platform optimized for the automotive environment that provides a simple integration point to bring in a wide range of current and future applications into the audio system head unit. This capability allows users to access their favorite podcasts, internet radio, on-demand music, restaurant recommendations, and even audio updates from Facebook and Twitter.
Aha™ key features:
Free service with wide content choice
Enables flexible personalization and station management
Content updated automatically throughout vehicle life
Aha™ content categories:
On-demand news and weather
Personalized music including Slacker
Internet Radio
On-demand podcasts
Audio Books
Local Search: Restaurants, fuel, ATM, parking, etc.
Social Media: Facebook, Twitter, etc. via audio
Custom Interactive OEM Channels: Direct communication to and from vehicle
Siri Eyes Free
The Civic EX and above trims integrate Apple's Siri Eyes Free mode imbedding in Apple CarPlay. Compatible iPhone® users will be able to operate Siri through familiar voice commands by pressing and holding the TALK button on the steering wheel for two seconds when their iPhone is paired via Bluetooth®7. Using Eyes Free mode, Siri takes hands-free functionality even further and helps to minimize the potential for distractions by keeping the iOS device's screen from lighting up.
Owners can direct Siri to perform a number of specific tasks while they keep their eyes on the road and their hands on the wheel. Capabilities include:
Send text messages and e-mails
Read incoming text messages and emails
Set up calendar entries, reminders, and alarms
Check the weather
Turn-by-turn voice navigation (when the audio system is set to Bluetooth®7 Audio or iPod mode)
Sports scores and stock quotes
SMS Text Messaging
All Civic models EX and above have a standard SMS12 text message function that can read incoming texts aloud over the audio system, and allow the driver to reply with any of six factory preset messages. The system works with SMS-capable cell phones that have an active data plan and the Message Access Profile (MAP), such as the Blackberry, Droid X and others. Apple iPhone models do not support this feature, but Siri Eyes Free CarPlay mode (iPhone 5 and 6 at time of launch) offers the ability to initiate, hear and respond to text messages via voice commands.
Once a compatible phone is paired with the Civic's Bluetooth®7 HandsFreeLink® system, the text messaging function is enabled. When the phone receives a text message, an alert appears on the audio display screen. The driver can choose to have the message read aloud, can select among the preset reply choices, or can call the sender – all without touching the phone.
To help avoid the potential for driver distraction, the text of the incoming message is not displayed on screen unless the vehicle is stopped.
Available factory preset text replies:
• Talk to you later, I'm driving. • OK
• I'm on my way. • Yes
• I'm running late. • No
Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink®
The Bluetooth®7 HandsFreeLink® interface is designed to offer hands-free operation for many Bluetooth®-enabled mobile telephones. Standard on all Civic models, the system wirelessly connects the driver's cell phone to the vehicle's audio system. This allows the driver to make or answer cell phone calls without removing hands from the steering wheel. The system is compatible with Bluetooth®-enabled cell phones that have the Hands Free Profile (HFP). A list of compatible phones can be found at handsfreelink.com or honda.com.
Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink® enables audio files to be played through the vehicle's audio system wirelessly with a feature called Bluetooth® Audio. If an audio compatible device is paired it will be added as an auxiliary source on the audio screen. This allows the Bluetooth® device's media to be played wirelessly by the audio system. Cell phone devices that support the Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP) and Audio Video Remote Control Profile (AVRCP) 1.3 allow the display of metadata for artist, album and track name on the audio screen. The vehicle's audio controls for "skip forward" and "skip backward" allow for navigation from track to track.
Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink® is designed for easy use. After the driver completes a simple one-time "pairing" process to link the cell phone with the vehicle, Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink® can communicate wirelessly and securely with the driver's cell phone when the phone is within about 33 feet of the vehicle. Once the driver enters the vehicle, the phone can be stored in a pocket, briefcase, purse or a storage bin inside the vehicle's cabin as the call transfers information through the wireless telephone interface. Certain compatible cell phones can also transfer the cellular phonebook into the vehicle through the Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink® system. After the cellular phonebook is transferred, calls can be made by making selections from the registered phonebook on the Civic's display screen.
Pressing the steering wheel-mounted "Pick up" button answers the call and mutes the audio system
The caller is heard through the audio-system speakers
An overhead microphone picks up the driver's voice while minimizing background noise and echoing
Numbers with voice tags may be stored in the system's memory
To make a hands-free call, the driver first activates the system using the steering wheel-mounted fingertip controls, then speaks a preset voice tag
Numbers can also be dialed by speaking the telephone number
Automatic import of phone book and call history with compatible phones
Up to six different compatible mobile phones can be paired with the Bluetooth®6 HandsFreeLink® system
Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System with Voice Recognition and Honda HD Digital TrafficAvailable on the EX-L and standard on the Touring model, the integrated Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System2 uses GPS technology to provide drivers with turn-by-turn guidance to their chosen destination. This all-new navigation system, developed in cooperation with Garmin, offers many improvements, including enhanced graphics, live search, speed limit display, customized vehicle icons, 3D buildings and terrain, and more. The system includes free map database updates for up to 5 years (initial purchase plus one yearly update each year for 4 years). The system includes the HD Digital Traffic feature, which alerts the driver to current traffic conditions and can display alternate routes around gridlock. It features expanded coverage including many surface streets within the U.S., allowing the driver to choose faster, less congested routes. HD Digital Traffic is subscription-free.
The navigation system can be controlled by voice or through the 7-inch electrostatic touch-screen audio display utilizing its tap, pinch and swipe functionality. The voice-activation system can respond to more casual command phrases that require less user familiarization, in addition to the previous capability of being able to understand spoken city and street names. For example, a voice request for "Radio 98.3 FM" can now be spoken in approximately a dozen different ways ranging from "change the radio station to 98.3" to "98.3 FM." This logic applies to audio functionality of the audio/information screen. The navigation system can also be controlled by voice with conventional navigation commands like, "Find nearest Chinese restaurant" or "find nearest ATM."
The audio system is automatically muted when the "Talk" button is pressed. The voice-recognition technology allows the driver to simply speak city and street names aloud, and the system responds by displaying the matches available in the database. Points of interest on the map – such as restaurants or grocery stores – can be displayed with brand logo icons or you can have the system provide turn-by-turn navigation, all by voice command. The massive point-of-interest (POI) database includes telephone numbers that can be dialed by using the Bluetooth®7 HandsFreeLink® system when the driver's cellular telephone is connected to the system.
The Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System2 uses GPS in combination with detailed information from the vehicle's mapping system to pinpoint the vehicle's location and to provide a host of useful mapping and route guidance features. The system's antenna receives positioning information from a network of 24 global positioning satellites. If the antenna is obstructed by a tunnel, a parking garage or a tall building, an internal gyroscopic system and a speed sensor track the location of the vehicle so that the map information remains current and reliable. The vehicle clock is independently controlled by GPS data, so when time zones are crossed while driving, the clock will automatically set itself to the current time.
USB Ports and Power Outlets
In LX trims, a 12-volt power outlet is positioned at the base of the center stack on the right of the lower storage tray, with a 1.0-amp USB port positioned on the left. EX and above trims retain the 12-volt power outlet, while the USB port on the left is upgraded to 1.5 amps, and a 1.0-amp USB port is added inside the console.
