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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  Expecting a little more from Honda! - 2004 Honda Civic
  By Mike - January 28 - 6:51 pm

  This was my 1st Honda. Gas mileage is great. It was the reason I bought it. Dealership not very inspiring. Had 2 electronic issues. Gas gauge faulty. When that was fixed I found out thru a safety inspection the rear lights didnt work. My mech traced the problem to behind the dash. At 1st Honda confirmed that fact but then said it was at the transmission. Wrote owner of dealership to complain but was told he would stand behind his staff. $700 later it was fixed. What was I thinking. The consumer is right?? My mechanic traced the problem and stated that the cell on the transmission was ok. Problem was behind the dash. Who did the work behind the dash? Im getting the Mazda3 next week!

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  Alaskan Honda - 2005 Honda Civic
  By AlaskaHonda - January 28 - 4:38 pm

  I have put 14,000 miles on my 2005 Honda Civic EX, and I am glad that bought it. It has been very reliable, and the Honda dealership has had great customer service. No problems at all. I find that i get good enough traction with mud & snow tires that I dont even need to use studded tires for driving in the snow in Alaska. Despite sub-zero temperatures, it has always started reliably. Its not a sports car, but it is a sporty, well-made, polished and reliable car that saves money it saves money by needing less fuel, by needed little maintenance, by saving the hassle/money of being in the shop, and by maintaining good resale value when its time to sell. My next car in 10 years: Civic!

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  More power than I expected - 2009 Honda Civic
  By edhil - January 28 - 2:30 am

  I only have the car for a week, this is my sixth Honda, first Hybrid. The car has ample acceleration and power, very quiet ride. Face it with the unstable oil market, its time to make the change. I only leased the car for three years, who knows what type of power will be available in the future. I dont think the extra cost will pay for itself in three years, but I leased it to save gas, not money.

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  You get what you expect - 2004 Honda Civic
  By Dexter - January 27 - 8:26 pm

  I sold my Wrangler (which I loved) because of a new long commute to work, and needed economy. Si wasnt my first choice, but only because I hadnt thought of it and was looking into more common cars. What I like about it is that it isnt so common. Ive noted it on the street before, and it seems so much nicer-designed than a base Civic. I feel small inside, considering it *looks* small on the outside. To me it is very quiet, smooth, adequately powerful. My beefs are with ergonomics and design. The big silver swath that is the center console is cheap/ugly compared to the nice materials used throughout the rest of the cabin-it looks like an afterthought. Its great overall.

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  Best car ever - 2004 Honda Civic
  By Charlynn - January 26 - 9:29 pm

  I just bought my 2004 Civic and its already the best vehicle Ive ever bought. It handles wonderfully and the gas mileage cant be beat. I am counting on having this car for at least 10-15 years because I know it will last!

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  the little car that could! - 2003 Honda Civic
  By civic-fan - January 26 - 10:00 am

  well, its no race car, not a luxury car either. but i still love driving it; because i know where ever i take it, it will get me home. im looking forward to many years of painless ownership. its the best in its class in my opinion.

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  Best car on the market. - 2003 Honda Civic
  By dkully - January 26 - 10:00 am

  Honda makes great cars, and this is the best Honda Ive ever driven. Fun to drive, no loss of speed because it is a Hybrid. I turned in an SUV and save about $50 a month is fuel. Great car.

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  1st Civic - 2006 Honda Civic
  By AVIMECH - January 26 - 6:03 am

  We went to buy a certified Accord, but after seeing the poor selection ended up test driving a new Accord and then the Civic. Hands down the Civic won due to styling, mileage, features and price. The Accord just felt it should be driven by someone of an older generation. No problems as of yet, plenty of room and gas mileage has been hovering between 31 & 37 mpg depending on amount of short trips. Feels solid and built with high quality materials. And crash test results are excellent.

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  Changed my driving style - 2007 Honda Civic
  By Honda Civic Hyrid - January 24 - 4:56 pm

  We bought the Honda Civic Hybid for the gas mileage. I was disappointed at first with 40 mpg, I changed my driving habits to see what I could get and now I average 47.5 mpg. I do both highway and city driving. I am satisfied with the mileage. It could have a better ride. Overall not bad just a little bumpier than a more expensive car, but you get what you pay for.

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  Love my Honda! - 1997 Honda Civic
  By Steve - January 23 - 10:03 pm

  Ive owned my Civic Ex since it was new & have been very pleased overall with it. It has been extremely reliable. The drive train, body & hardware have held up nicely. Only a couple of flaws: the SRS failed under extended warranty, but has failed again out of warranty--cost approx $500 to repair: Ouch! Fob doesnt work any longer--it is 10 yrs old, maybe Im expecting too much. Had to replace drivers window regulator, also replaced master & slave cylinders for the clutch. I consider these to be normal wear & tear items on a car of this age & mileage. Will sell this car soon as I have been given a company car. Ill miss my Honda!