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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  Clunker Trade for a Tall Person - 2009 Honda Civic
  By Bob - November 16 - 4:43 am

  We were lured into a new car thanks to the CARS programs. We looked at many small cars, and found stock shortages at most big three dealerships. I am 64 and this car has lots of headroom, but not quite as much leg room as desired. My right leg rests uncomfortably on the hand brake. But not enough of an issue to not go for it. Was more comfortable in the Fit, but the discounts on the civic were greater.

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  Tunnercivic96 - 1996 Honda Civic
  By Joel - November 15 - 5:33 pm

  My 96 civic ex coupe is fun to drive. Has amazing performance. Great comfort to the driver and is an great fuel saver. Great on reliability and has never let me down.

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  Great Commuter Car!!! - 2000 Honda Civic
  By Daily Commuter - November 15 - 3:11 pm

  I purchased this car because I wanted a reliable commuter car. Something I could put a bunch of miles on and not worry about anything but general maintenance. Im pleased with my purchase. I average around 39 mpg. I changed out my standard air filter and added a K&N for a little better breathability. I added A/C for $800 from my Honda dealer, as it does not come standard. This is not the fastest car out there, but I bought it for its economy--not performance. Besides that, I love my car!

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  Great car - 2007 Honda Civic
  By jay - November 14 - 7:56 pm

  Ride is smooth, tight steering, a lot of car for your money, nothing like a Honda

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  Transmission Woes - 1998 Honda Civic
  By sat - November 14 - 10:00 am

  Watch out for transmission problems of Civic. The automatic transmission started to upshift very harshly. It seems to be a common issue for Civics. I did not bother about this until it happened to my car (well maintained, cared-for, less than 50K miles and of course out of warranty).

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  The Honda Civic Si Rocks! - 2008 Honda Civic
  By Erik W - November 13 - 7:56 am

  I was in the market for a small sedan that that was fuel efficient, reliable, stylish, and would perform with some pep on the road. After doing some extensive research on-line (which included reading Consumer Reports, Edmunds, KBB,etc., I narrowed it down to the 1) Nissan Sentra 2) Mazda 3) Toyota Corolla, and 4) Honda Civic. After completing all of the test drives, the Civic Si was the hands down winner! The Civic fit and finish were best is class, the interior is well laid out and is both comfortable and stylish. The 6 speed manual transmission is smooth as silk and I am thrilled with the overall performance on both the city streets and the highway!

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  A blessing, but a mixed one. - 2004 Honda Civic
  By BMS - November 13 - 12:16 am

  This car is roomy and comfortable, and drives and handles well. However, there are a few bad points. The dashboard materials creak and rattle when the temp. is below about 40 (indicating poor workmanship to me). There is a slight vibration in the steering wheel ataround 68-70MPH. The car has a slight hesitation until it warms up fully, inexcusable in a fuel-injected car. And the engine is not quiet during acceleration, including a low-level high-pitched whine (though idle is smooth). The dealer says these are all "characteristics of the car" and will not "fix" them. But reliability, fuel economy, overall comfort and driveability are typical Honda. More plusses than minuses here.

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  cant go wrong - 2006 Honda Civic
  By chris - November 12 - 11:23 pm

  purchased the car because it handled and drove better than the prius. the honda quality is very evident and the gas mileage has been an average of 48mpg. Im 63" and the leg room and head room is better on the civic than most full size cars. Owning and driving a hybrid has never been so comfortable and affordable. There really is no excuse not to own a hybrid now. The only real complaint is how much the dealer wants to get you for XM radio.

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  Fantastic Car - 2007 Honda Civic
  By Matt - November 11 - 5:26 pm

  Ive owned this car since May 2007. Never had one single problem with it. No rattles, squeaks, nothing. The ride is somewhat rough, but that is expected with tight suspension. Makes up for it in handling. Very quick, although most power is at VTEC (6000- 8000 rpm. A blast to drive. Love it!

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  great car - 2008 Honda Civic
  By mikesing13 - November 10 - 11:20 pm

  This car is great on gas and with the leather interior added it is very nice inside and out.