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:

• 

  Love it! - 2009 Honda Civic
  By CIVICLVR. - May 13 - 1:30 am

  Ive had a 99 Honda Civic before this - just the basic model- and it was a really reliable car, compared to an 06 liberty I drove. Ive only had my 09 CIVIC for a week and I love it, I can hardly wait to drive it every day. I bought the EX-L version because I wanted all the bells and whistles, and I dont regret getting this one. It honestly drives like a BMW - loads of fun to drive, even if you are just cruising and very comfortable to ride in. I always turn heads in this car. Perfect for a college student looking for a sporty, luxury, economical, reliable car.

• 

  Its Great - 2004 Honda Civic
  By Civic Hybrid - May 12 - 3:25 pm

  I had forgotten just how much fun driving a car could be. I love the performance and the fuel economy makes my gas cost half as much as other cars. I can get 600 miles on one tank of gas. With gas prices skyrocketing the way they are, I am sure glad I decided to by my Honda Civic Hybrid.

• 

  Great Little Car - 1990 Honda Civic
  By Jer - May 11 - 1:30 pm

  I bought my Civic from a family friend almost 2 years ago. At that time, the car had about 180,000 miles. She was the original owner and took the car to Honda for all services, repairs, etc. As soon as I test drove it, I decided it was well worth the $1500 they were asking. Two years later, the thing still runs like a clock and doesnt miss a beat. Its become my commuter car for work as the mileage cant be beat... I get no less than 30mpg anywhere I go and it usually averages 35-40 mpg on the freeway. It is a pretty simple, barebones car... but its VERY reliable, efficient and cost effective. Especially since gas is now over $3 a gallon!

• 

  2006 Honda Civic - 2006 Honda Civic
  By A_Band_Geek - May 10 - 6:56 am

  This car is very sporty as appearance is concerned, however it does not have as much power as I thought it might. I was astonished when I popped the hood. The engine and battery terminal are tiny. The car lacks quick acceleration but is quite fuel efficient. The safety features are top notch but lack of power is a bit of a let down from such a sporty looking car.

• 

  This car exceeded my expectations - 2006 Honda Civic
  By nobonk05 - May 10 - 3:03 am

  Honda has hit the nail on the head, again. I traded my 2001 Jeep Wrangler to get transportation that was cheaper to operate. Being extremely pleased with our 2005 Honda Element- I did some research on this site. The exterior style knocked my socks off. My 11 year old daughter and I went to the dealership and took a test drive. Proof is in the driving. Not only does the car look good from the outside, the interior appointments and seating are great. Once you make all the necessary adjustments- this car fits like a glove. Doing consulting work, I put on the miles. Highway driving you do have to watch out for the speed. The car exudes confidence at 95 mph with lots of pedal left.

• 

  Great Car - 2001 Honda Civic
  By Brian - May 9 - 3:57 pm

  I have had this car since 61000 miles and I am at 75000. It is still running strong and is an awesome car with great fuel economy. It is low on hoarsepower but I put a exhaust and intake on it to bring it up and it is faster. Needs tighter suspension and one of my struts has started to leak and it sometimes pops out of second gear but I have a warrenty on it to cover it. Overall it has been a great car and has saved a lot of money in fuel.

• 

  Probably the best sedan in class currently - 2016 Honda Civic
  By Matt - May 9 - 10:48 am

  Not the best in all areas, but very good in most. Car would be near perfect if it had the automatic from the Mazda3 instead of a CVT. Body panel gaps are too wide, reminiscent of a 1990s Saturn S series. Some materials are cheap, i.e. rear seat, rear door interior panels. Sheet metal is incredibly thin, hood oil cans when you gently wash the car. Thats the bad. On the good side, 40mpg is easily attainable. Very good visibility from the drivers seat--thank you Honda for not following the high beltline, bathtub seating position trend these days. Full safety suite is available at modest cost on most trims. Turbo engine has just enough power to never feel too strained--decently quick in most situations. Quiet, road and wind noise are very well controlled. Modern interior design. Great gauge cluster. Decent stereo for a stock system. Car feels more expensive than it is, with a few notable exceptions such as the aforementioned body gaps. Mid level EX-T trim is the value play of the lineup in my opinion. You get heated seats, dual zone climate control, remote start, moonroof, decent alloy wheels, the turbo engine, electronic gauges, and a decent stereo for roughly $21k at the time of this review. The base car is well equipped for a few grand less. Add a grand for Honda Sensing active safety system if you want it. The CVT is less obtrusive than in our 2014 Civic, by far, and works better with the turbo than the NA engine. Best value in the compact car class as of May, 2016 in my opinion. The upcoming Subaru Impreza may give the Civic a run for the money, we shall see. But as of today, the Jetta, Sentra, Corolla, etc, all seem cheap and dated compared to the Honda. The Mazda3 is my second place in segment, but doesnt match the Honda in value for the dollar. Civic feels a lot roomier inside, especially in back. Also, the 3 is really noisy in comparison, and feels less refined than the Civic. Focus isnt bad, but is getting long in the tooth and rear seat space stinks. The new Cruze is promising, but probably wont have the same reliability and resale value of a Honda, unfortunately. I havent driven the Cruze yet to comment otherwise.

• 

  Honda sold Civics soul - 2003 Honda Civic
  By scannon - May 9 - 10:00 am

  The 2003 LX is NO FUN at all to drive. The steering is firm but vague, and it refuses to recenter properly. Brake feel is appalling. On the plus side, it is very roomy, its cleanly designed (if boring), and its fine on the highway. Material quality is typical for Honda - first rate, lightyears ahead of anything built by the US manufacturers. This car has qained a full quarter-ton of weight since 1996. Its safer than the previous generation, but the weight increase - absent a commensurate power increase - means that the car is slooooowww off the line. Cornering is uninspired, and as I said, braking is poor.

• 

  Honda civic - 2000 Honda Civic
  By sexymechelle - May 9 - 10:00 am

  The perfect car for first time buyers, and Single people.

• 

  Amazing - 1992 Honda Civic
  By poland21489 - May 7 - 1:52 pm

  Obviously, the gas mileage is astounding. This car has been driven hard constantly, and its never given me a problem. Everything about driving it is reassuring, including clutch/shifter/sterring/suspension. Great car at 130k miles, hoping for another 100k