2017 Honda Civic Safety Features and Crash Test Ratings: Your Road to Peace of Mind
There’s a unique peace of mind that comes from driving a car known for its reliability and top-tier safety.
When you slide into the driver’s seat of your Civic, you’re not just getting a fun, efficient car—you’re getting a vehicle designed with some of the most advanced safety technology of its time. Let’s pop the hood on the 2017 Honda Civic’s safety features and see exactly how it earned its stellar report card from safety experts.
Built Like a Fortress: The Civic’s Physical Protection
Before we get to the high-tech gadgets, it’s important to know that the 2017 Civic’s safety starts with its very bones. Honda engineers built a incredibly strong foundation to protect you and your passengers.
Advanced Body Structure
The core of the Civic’s safety is its Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body structure. Think of this as a smart skeleton for your car. It’s built with the most high-strength steel ever used in a Civic up to that point. In a crash, this design works to evenly distribute crash energy around the passenger cabin, rather than letting it all pour into one spot. This helps protect everyone inside your Civic, and it also helps reduce the force transferred to another vehicle in a collision.
Comprehensive Airbag System
Surrounding you is a full suite of airbags:
- Advanced Front Airbags that inflate at different rates depending on the severity of the crash.
- Front Side Airbags to protect your torso and pelvis in a side impact.
- Side Curtain Airbags that drop down to cover the window area for all outboard passengers, and are even designed to stay inflated during a rollover.
The front passenger airbag even has a special Safety Vent system. If it detects the passenger is leaning too far forward (“out of position”), it vents gas away from them to reduce the risk of injury from the airbag itself. It’s a brilliant piece of thoughtful engineering.
The Civic’s Electronic Co-Pilot: Honda Sensing™
Now for the really futuristic stuff. Available on many 2017 trims and standard on the top-tier Sport Touring hatchback, Honda Sensing is a suite of driver-assistive technologies that acts like an extra set of eyes on the road.
Collision Avoidance Tech
This system is designed to help you avoid accidents before they happen. Its key features include:
- Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS): This system can detect a potential collision with a vehicle ahead. It will first warn you, then, if you don’t react, can even apply the brakes itself to help reduce the impact or avoid it entirely.
- Road Departure Mitigation (RDM): If you start to drift out of your lane without a turn signal, RDM can gently steer you back and apply braking if needed.
- Lane Keeping Assist (LKAS): On the highway, this feature provides a small amount of steering assist to help keep you centered in your lane.
Stress-Reducing Cruise Control
- Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Low-Speed Follow: This is cruise control for the real world. It not only maintains your set speed, but also automatically adjusts your speed to keep a safe distance from the car ahead. Even in stop-and-go traffic, it can bring you to a complete stop and then resume driving when the traffic moves again. It takes the fatigue out of long commutes and highway driving.
The Report Card: Stellar Crash Test Ratings
So, how did all this safety engineering hold up under official testing? The 2017 Honda Civic passed with flying colors, earning top marks from both major U.S. safety organizations.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
The federal government’s safety agency gave the 2017 Civic its highest possible score.
| Test Area | NHTSA Star Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Vehicle Score | ★★★★★ |
| Frontal Crash | ★★★★★ |
| Side Crash | ★★★★★ |
| Rollover | ★★★★★ |
This coveted 5-Star Overall Rating means your risk of injury in the 2017 Civic is “much less than average.”
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS)
The IIHS is known for its even more rigorous testing. The 2017 Civic was anticipated to earn the TOP SAFETY PICK award when equipped with Honda Sensing. It earned the top rating of “Good” in all five of the toughest crashworthiness tests:
- Small overlap front: driver-side
- Moderate overlap front
- Side
- Roof strength
- Head restraints & seats
Its available front crash prevention system was rated “Superior.” Note: The one area where the Civic didn’t shine was its standard halogen headlights, which received a “Poor” rating from the IIHS. Upgrading to better bulbs or ensuring your lights are properly aimed is a good idea.
Safety for Everyone on the Road
Honda’s safety thinking extends beyond just the people inside the car. The 2017 Civic was designed with pedestrian injury mitigation in mind. The hood, hinges, and fender mounts are designed to deform and absorb energy if the car makes contact with a pedestrian, which can dramatically improve their chances of survival.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Honda Sensing?
Honda Sensing is an optional suite of driver-assistive features on the 2017 Civic that includes collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control to help prevent accidents.
Did all 2017 Civic body styles get the same safety ratings?
Yes, the safety ratings from both NHTSA and IIHS apply across the 2017 Civic lineup, including the Sedan, Coupe, and Hatchback, as they share the same core safety structure.
What is the ACE body structure?
ACE is Honda’s unique body design that helps spread crash energy evenly throughout the front of the vehicle during a frontal collision, enhancing protection for occupants and improving compatibility with other vehicles.
Is the Civic’s rearview camera helpful?
Yes, every 2017 Civic comes standard with a multi-angle rearview camera, making reversing safer by providing a clear view of what’s behind you, with dynamic guidelines on higher trims that show your predicted path.
How does the Civic protect against whiplash?
The front seats are specially designed to help mitigate whiplash injuries in a rear-end collision by absorbing the occupant’s energy and supporting the head and neck more effectively.
2017 Honda Civic: A Top Safety Performer
This chart shows the 2017 Civic’s top-tier performance across major crash test categories from NHTSA and IIHS.
Driving should be about enjoyment and freedom, not worry. With its robust physical design and smart, proactive Honda Sensing technology, the 2017 Honda Civic delivers that confidence in spades. It’s a car that truly has your back.
Which Honda safety feature gives you the most peace of mind on your daily drive? Is it the confidence of the ACE body structure or the helpful alerts from Honda Sensing? Share your story in the comments below!
