Overview & Reviews

Since its launch in 1973, the Honda Civic has been one of the most popular compact cars sold in America. Its success can be attributed in large part to its consistently high level of quality inside and out and its long-standing reputation for reliability and low running costs. Impressive fuel economy and engaging performance have also played a role in making the Civic a top choice for many Americans.

The competition has largely caught up with Honda, though, and there are now many excellent small cars vying for your attention. Still, we continue to recommend the Civic due to its ergonomic interior layout, wide range of models and high resale value. For small-car shoppers in search of a solid used vehicle, the Honda Civic is certainly a smart choice, as its long production run and many variants make it easy to find what you want.

User Reviews:

• 

  Great commuter car! - 1991 Honda Civic
  By Agntjay818 - March 24 - 2:31 am

  I first bought this car in 2003 to get around school and work. The engines 1.6 liter had about 130,000 miles, it handled well and even made it to San Diego which is 120 miles away from Los Angeles. The engine lasted me another 4 years until it overheated in the summer of 2007 and it was just a few months later when I swapped a new engine (ZC JDM Engine) which has been running well to this day. I have lowered the vehicle and it handles even better! Went to a local paint shop dealer and got it painted for the price of 3 details at a car wash!

• 

  Excellent compact sports car - 2008 Honda Civic
  By MTG - March 23 - 11:50 pm

  This car replaced a 2005 STI Impreza; before that I drove a 2001 S2000. The Civic isnt a muscle car like the STI, or a demanding, purpose-built sports car like the S2000, but it is a well executed sports coupe. It is fast when I want it to be, but its a Civic when thats appropriate. The suspension is well tuned, the front wheel drive works surprisingly well, the brakes are reasonably good, and having the 6000- 8000 vtec power band is fun and effective. The navi system and premium stereo are both treats. All in all, a well executed package. I will keep this one for 5-7 years.

• 

  Most perfect small car - 1993 Honda Civic
  By Geoff - March 23 - 10:27 pm

  This car was always there for me. It pulled through snow when pickups foundered. It averaged 38-41 mpg, and I had the original clutch for 180K miles. It now has 253K miles and only died on me once when the water pump seized. 16 wonderful years, but now with a family of 4, we are going to buy midsize. It is a classic. I wish I could keep it for Sunday drives the next 30 years.

• 

  Awsome Vehicle - 1999 Honda Civic
  By BigNate - March 22 - 11:52 pm

  I recently purchased this car, I have owned many, many Hondas/Acuras and they build a very nice car. My new 99 ex sedan has always had its routine services, and always done by certified Honda Techs. and you can tell it. Its ten years old, but looks amazing inside and out. Has a auto trans and shifts smooth, and rides nice. As long as you do the necessary work when it needs to be done, this car, along with all the other Hondas, will last a very, very long time.

• 

  Catchy title goes here ... - 2017 Honda Civic
  By MJ - March 22 - 9:24 pm

  First, its a very nice looking car. The 1.5 turbo should be the standard engine, its great. Seats are very comfortable compared to the Prius I came from. Handling is predictable but not extremely tight. Wish there were more choices for interior color, Im not a huge fan of black interiors. My biggest disappointment is in Honda not providing more Honda Sensing versions of the EX-T. My dealer says he has no control over inventory. A search shows very few with Honda Sensing EX-T models. That being said, that is the model I wanted but ended up without it. Mileage is good ~38mpg. Im disappointed in the stereo sound, cheap speakers in a $25k car is well.... cheap. The electronics are a bit confusing and layout seems odd, but Ill likely get used to it in time. Though the stereo/car settings have some pretty cool features. Wind noise is superb compared to my 3rd gen Prius. Warranty is miserable, warranty length defines confidence in their product. Transmission has a slight delay and then a thud when shifting into reverse. USB ports are a bit awkward to get to and I wish there were some for the rear seats. The clear film you can get for the nose and mirrors wasnt offered but it should be. We had an Accord that was a mess after four years. Simple things - I love auto up/down for both front windows, I like that I dont have to turn cruise control "on" each time I get in the car, I like manual seats, I also like heated seats. Overall, its the car I wanted in the price range it sits at. Others are close but this is the clear leader of the pack. Honda has some details they need to work out though to put away first place in my eyes.

• 

  Catchy title goes here ... - 2017 Honda Civic
  By MJ - March 22 - 9:24 pm

  First, its a very nice looking car. The 1.5 turbo should be the standard engine, its great. Seats are very comfortable compared to the Prius I came from. Handling is predictable but not extremely tight. Wish there were more choices for interior color, Im not a huge fan of black interiors. My biggest disappointment is in Honda not providing more Honda Sensing versions of the EX-T. My dealer says he has no control over inventory. A search shows very few with Honda Sensing EX-T models. That being said, that is the model I wanted but ended up without it. Mileage is good ~38mpg. Im disappointed in the stereo sound, cheap speakers in a $25k car is well.... cheap. The electronics are a bit confusing and layout seems odd, but Ill likely get used to it in time. Though the stereo/car settings have some pretty cool features. Wind noise is superb compared to my 3rd gen Prius. Warranty is miserable, warranty length defines confidence in their product. Transmission has a slight delay and then a thud when shifting into reverse. USB ports are a bit awkward to get to and I wish there were some for the rear seats. The clear film you can get for the nose and mirrors wasnt offered but it should be. We had an Accord that was a mess after four years. Simple things - I love auto up/down for both front windows, I like that I dont have to turn cruise control "on" each time I get in the car, I like manual seats, I also like heated seats. Overall, its the car I wanted in the price range it sits at. Others are close but this is the clear leader of the pack. Honda has some details they need to work out though to put away first place in my eyes.

• 

  Catchy title goes here ... - 2017 Honda Civic
  By MJ - March 22 - 9:24 pm

  First, its a very nice looking car. The 1.5 turbo should be the standard engine, its great. Seats are very comfortable compared to the Prius I came from. Handling is predictable but not extremely tight. Wish there were more choices for interior color, Im not a huge fan of black interiors. My biggest disappointment is in Honda not providing more Honda Sensing versions of the EX-T. My dealer says he has no control over inventory. A search shows very few with Honda Sensing EX-T models. That being said, that is the model I wanted but ended up without it. Mileage is good ~38mpg. Im disappointed in the stereo sound, cheap speakers in a $25k car is well.... cheap. The electronics are a bit confusing and layout seems odd, but Ill likely get used to it in time. Though the stereo/car settings have some pretty cool features. Wind noise is superb compared to my 3rd gen Prius. Warranty is miserable, warranty length defines confidence in their product. Transmission has a slight delay and then a thud when shifting into reverse. USB ports are a bit awkward to get to and I wish there were some for the rear seats. The clear film you can get for the nose and mirrors wasnt offered but it should be. We had an Accord that was a mess after four years. Simple things - I love auto up/down for both front windows, I like that I dont have to turn cruise control "on" each time I get in the car, I like manual seats, I also like heated seats. Overall, its the car I wanted in the price range it sits at. Others are close but this is the clear leader of the pack. Honda has some details they need to work out though to put away first place in my eyes.

• 

  My Little Honda!! - 2003 Honda Civic
  By Angie-lou - March 22 - 2:43 pm

  My Little Honda and I have been on several road trips together and we have both survived!! She is a beauty and she is fun to drive. Her small size and get up and go helps me maneuver in and out of traffic very efficiently. Right now, she is at about 120,000 and is doing great!!

• 

  Great mileage--little else... - 2006 Honda Civic
  By Brian - March 22 - 2:00 pm

  Owned the 2006 Civic LX coupe for three years. Great mileage, but terrible in the snow- ascending the slightest hills were a challenge. Tires wearing unevenly. Hesitation starting in cold weather. Suspension squeaks in cold weather. Interior plastics cheap and scratch seemingly just by looking at them. Car very unsteady on the highway especially in cross winds and most use the foot to the floor for acceleration. Only had 17,000 mi and brakes were worn. Front end so low would scrape parking barriers. Paint chips easily, needs thicker clearcoat. A/C not the best. Traded for Ford Mustang. Its good to be home!

• 

  This is Fun to Drive! - 2008 Honda Civic
  By rn5 - March 22 - 12:13 pm

  This is my second new Civic in two months! After driving my first new 2007 for 3 weeks, a drunk hit me on the drivers side. The side air bags went off perfectly and I walked away from my totaled car. I guess this speaks to the cars safety. Since I purchased an end of 2007 Civic and I liked the car, I went ahead and purchased a 2008-same exact model/color. The new 2008 differs from the 2007 with the addition of a handy tire pressure monitor (which went off a couple of days) and the absence of a key entrance for the for the trunk. Very fun to drive. Excellent handling and braking. Good acceleration. Mileage so far has been 31 (city/hwy).