Consumer Reports and the Honda Civic appear to have kissed and made up. Following the compact's substantial "emergency refresh" after just one year on the market, CR got its hands on the vehicle for a quick drive. While the evaluation was far from the standard CR test, the organization found the 2013 Civic to offer a better tuned suspension and less vague steering at first blush. While the split-tier dash still hangs around for another few years, the cabin has ditched much of its oddly textured plastic bits in favor of soft touch materials with nicer detailing. That fact also won the new model points over its predecessor.
As you may recall, the 2012 Civic scored too low in Consumer Report evaluations to earn a "Recommended" rating. That fall from grace marked the first time the Honda model failed to make the cut, though that news didn't stop buyers from flocking to the vehicle. Consumer Reports will buy its own Civic and evaluate it once again soon. In the interim, you can check out the organization's initial impressions by scrolling down, as well as the brief writeup in the link below.
Via: Redone 2013 Honda Civic seems to appease Consumer Reports
From what we can see in these photos, the 500e doesn't look vastly different from other Fiat 500 models, save the redesigned lower front fascia (in contrasting white), lower side sills, aero underbody lip, and more wind-friendly wheels presumably wrapped in low rolling-resistance tires. Inside, the Fiat's cabin has been done up in a similar white-and-orange motif. Other changes to the interior include a redesigned gauge cluster and the addition of push-buttons where the normal gear shifter would be.
