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:

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  Tons of Reliability! - 1990 Honda Civic
  By Krissie - September 27 - 6:10 pm

  I purchased this little car in February of 2004, with only 98,000 miles on it! Only fix needed was a new muffler, surprisingly. This car is very warm in the winter (inside heats up fast!) and ice cold a/c in the summer. Excellent fuel economy! I get very close to 35-mpg on highway and easily 30mpg in city! The advantages are super easy to park, gas mileage and most of all, bullet-proof, long-lasting engines. Disadvantages are they say the smaller the car, the un-safer you are! True, but with the excellent reputations these cars have, Ill take the risk and keep her until the wheels fall off! I highly recommended this cute car for anyone seeking reliability and who is on a budget.

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  Not sure that this car will last - 2008 Honda Civic
  By Mark - September 27 - 3:16 pm

  This car replaced a 1993 Subaru Legacy with 175000 miles on it. The Subaru (my third) was reliable and sturdy but the gas mileage wasnt great. The gas mileage on the Honda has been terrific and I like the 5 speed automatic (I spend a lot of time in traffic). However, Im not impressed with the quality of the interior materials. There is a frequent squeaking noise from the dash/windshield junction, as if the windshield was not set in correctly. The dealer can hear the noise but has been unable to locate the source of the problem. After two months the plastic on the door panels and dash already have permanent scratches despite careful handling. I never had this type of problem with a Subaru.

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  My two cents - 2003 Honda Civic
  By jen - September 27 - 12:00 pm

  This is my first Japanese car and my first manual shift car. I bought it used (31000 miles) from a private party because I was looking for a used 2-door hatch-back gas saver with low mileage and light color (very specific am I?). GTI and Civic Si were my only options. GTI lost out in fuel economy (heavier car) and was mostly sold by dealers. I got lucky to find this babe. 8 months later I can say that I made a great choice! The reasons: 1. fuel economy (not at Prius level but kind enough to my wallet) 2. you dont see many of them on the road, unlike the Civic 4-door sedan 3. smooth and fun to drive 4. hatch-back (why dont they make hatchback anymore?)

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  Hybrid Rules! - 2004 Honda Civic
  By coolbird - September 27 - 2:00 am

  I love this car! Its sporty, saves a lot on gas, and is fun to drive. My other vehicle is a Durango so I refer to the Civic as the "Anti-Durango". I have driven the Hybrid over 15,000 miles in 10 months. I feel comfortable in this car.

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  My Ride - 2000 Honda Civic
  By runves - September 27 - 2:00 am

  This car was made to be bought and put ALL the aftermarket stuff you can on it. That is why it is a "Value Package".

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  Excellent - 2001 Honda Civic
  By Meg - September 27 - 2:00 am

  I loved my Honda. I will buy another one without question!!! It gets great gas mileage and the maintenace is very easy. Very fun to drive.

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  My first hybrid - 2005 Honda Civic
  By Wes Trayner - September 26 - 6:13 pm

  After hearing all of the hoopla about hybrid cars, I decided to turn in a gas guzzler for a Honda Civic Hybrid. The car performs well at all speeds and handles a rides as one would expect of a quality compact car. Do not expect it to be first off the line at a stop light but it is not sluggish. My first tank of gasoline got me 37.2 mpg (city) the second tank got 38.4 with each tank getting slightly more. The last tank got 42.3 and time will tell what the car will eventually level out at. The gauges available for viewing on the dash are very helpfull in learning to get the best from the car. Overall, I really like this car.

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  Honda Civic Nothing But Trouble - 2001 Honda Civic
  By DJ - September 26 - 3:02 pm

  I bought my Honda with 30,000 miles on it. It now has 147,000. I have never had such a disappointing car in all my life. The struts went out at 60,000. The air conditioner went out at 85,000. I had multiple oil leaks repaired. The engine burns about 1 quart between oil changes. Also had electric windows repaired and bushing replaced multiple times. But the worst problem has been replacing the transmission, it died at 130,000.

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  Best Civic YET! - 2006 Honda Civic
  By Tina - September 26 - 3:36 am

  This car is sleek and so fun to drive- It feels like much more than a civic with all of the accesories built in!Its peppy, quiet, easy to manuever and beautiful in and out-Its very stylish and comfy

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  Great Gas Mileage... most of the time - 1998 Honda Civic
  By Citan - September 25 - 10:00 am

  Decent car, decent ride, decent handling, off the line pickup isnt that great with the automatic, but passing power is decent. Only con so far would be: any time the gas tank has fewer than 3 gallons in it, its nearly impossible to start, the dealer cant seem to find anything wrong with it, nor have they been able to duplicate the problem (always how those things go) Also, the dealership was a ripoff for trade-ins, and are a pain to work with in general.