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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  great handling but a slow car - 1992 Honda Civic
  By wishihadafastercar - August 19 - 2:00 am

  The car has great handling and great gas efficiency, but man wheres the accelerating?? This car chokes on hills, and when you need power the Civic wont give it. Ive floored it once and the engine started making a loud noise but my car still didnt go fast. Overall its a good car if you drive like a grandma (if you dont accelerate much) so itll save you a lot of money on gas. But on the other side, it can be very frustrating driving with barely any acceleration. Of course you could always do stuff to it to make it faster, but then I would rather just buy a more expensive car with more horsepower and torque.

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  Beloved Honda - 1996 Honda Civic
  By Nimble Simba - August 19 - 2:00 am

  Just sold it after 7 1/2 years. Will miss it a lot. Hardly any trouble at all very quick, reliable. Only reason to sell was I wanted an Outback Sport. But cant recommend the Honda Civic hatchback highly enough.

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  Fun commuter - 2001 Honda Civic
  By Zap - August 18 - 10:00 am

  Great car. Good power, super brakes, fun handling, AWESOME fuel economy. Commute 38 miles each way and with minimal caution car easily gets 37+ mpg. Competent, reliable, comfortable, lots of storage and fun. Cant ask for much more

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  Great Car for the Money - 2003 Honda Civic
  By Moocow_jc - August 18 - 2:00 am

  Its a great car with good fuel economy and its fun to drive. I had trouble dealing with a Honda Dealership and them not wanting to cover a repair under warrenty and thats about it the metal should be thicker to easy to get a door ding.

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  Buy an HX Coupe - 2003 Honda Civic
  By Cat Man - August 18 - 2:00 am

  It was hard to find this car, but it was worth the hunt. The HX gets 44 mpg on the road and comes standard with alloy wheels, CD player and more, so in my opinion its the best Civic and really looks good in the blue metallic color with a spoiler. I got the 5 spd and its pretty peppy and like all Hondas, its very solid (no rattles at all). Probably the best thing however is still the gas mileage. If you want a fun, solid, economical coupe, consider the Honda Civic HX coupe, if you can find one.

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  2003 Honda Civic EX 4-dr. - 2003 Honda Civic
  By Triskit - August 18 - 2:00 am

  I love my civic. Like all others it lacks its "get up and go". But I know that it is very reliable and dependable and its a great value. Its an overall winner.

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  Dont miss this boat!! - 1994 Honda Civic
  By dailydriver/racerX - August 18 - 2:00 am

  I bought this Honda new nearly 10 years ago and it still runs and drives as well today as when new. This model offers great mileage, and a sporty driving experience for those so inclined. The eqpmt levels on the EX version are high, and most new cars I have recently driven have not measured up to the high standards set by this car. I have never had a mechanical failure or engine problem, and only performed routine maintenance. Upgrade to better aftermarket tires to get the most out of it.

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  5th Civic, 1st Hybrid - 2009 Honda Civic
  By JeremyE - August 15 - 8:40 am

  This is my first hybrid, but 5th Honda Civic. I briefly left the brand for a 2008 MINI Cooper S, but quickly returned to Honda. The quality of the car/pieces in my opinion or better then most luxury vehicles. Compared to my MINI without the sport package the ride in the Hybrid is quite and heavenly! The Hybrid in real world driving handles far better then my Cooper S. In the MINI hitting uneven pavement jerked the car around. The Hybrid hangs on to the curves with the same go-for-itness and absorbs bumps without drama. Per the OBC I avg 31 MPG in the Cooper S, the first week I got 45.7 MPG in the Hybrid. None of my Civics have left me stranded. This is why I returned back to Honda.

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  a great fun small car - 1990 Honda Civic
  By cosmok - August 15 - 2:00 am

  We bought this car new oh some 13 years ago and still love it. Its extremely nimble (saved me from an accident at the last second), simple design (utilitarian), and just looks great. I realized how great the looks were on Hondas/Acuras in the early 90s and how the looks deteriored later on in the 90s... but its starting to get its spunk back.

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  Excellent car - 1997 Honda Civic
  By TS3 - August 14 - 2:00 am

  I have had this car since 1997 and am ready to buy a new one but this one keeps going. Great car, I am at 178000 miles and on the original timing belt. Only replacement I have done is the distributor about 10000 miles ago. I drive this car hard everyday mixed city/highway driving. No complaints