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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  Quiet little car - 2005 Honda Civic
  By Megan Matney - September 20 - 1:40 am

  Its very quiet and overall a great first car, wish it would have been my first car. :) The gas mileage is excellent. I hate to get rid of her, but I need something bigger. If you have a teenage daughter, (Im a young lady, myself,) I would most definitely suggest this little companion.

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  Quiet little car - 2005 Honda Civic
  By Megan Matney - September 20 - 1:40 am

  Its very quiet and overall a great first car, wish it would have been my first car. :) The gas mileage is excellent. I hate to get rid of her, but I need something bigger. If you have a teenage daughter, (Im a young lady, myself,) I would most definitely suggest this little companion.

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  Its good, but not great - 2006 Honda Civic
  By djs - September 20 - 1:10 am

  Not sure how I got so lucky, but my gas mileage has been ranging around 36- 38mpg this summer. I like the interior and dont have any problems with the digital speedo or the parking brake lever digging into my leg (Im only 58"). Inside of windshield does get dirtier than in previous cars Ive owned. Squeaks and rattles are MUCH more numerous than in my previous car, the Mazda Protege. Body roll and handling in general is inferior to the Mazda, but I can live with it. Factory Honda stereo is significantly better than the Mazda, and I like the aux input on the EX. Seat comfort on long trips could be better (little too firm for me).

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  Losing its shine - 2002 Honda Civic
  By Scooterberrycrunch - September 19 - 10:00 am

  I have had no major mechanical problems with this car in 21k miles in 20 months, but it is literally losing its shine. The paint seems kind of dull, I always thought it was applied rather thinly. Way too easily chipped and the body panels are showing lots of dings from rocks and parking lot incidents. Doesnt take much. My biggest concern is the rattle from the dash. It used to be intermittant but is now a constant nuisance. My car and a friends 03 both share the same rattle from the exhaust near the muffler.

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  I LOVE MY HONDA - 2004 Honda Civic
  By Delsi Diaz - September 19 - 10:00 am

  I have had wonderful experiences with my car. It has never let me down, and I know that it will last forever. I recomend Hondas to anyone who wants a reliable car.

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  Single Cam is Weak get a Dual Si Model - 2004 Honda Civic
  By RomeoWu - September 19 - 10:00 am

  This car is awsome, only one thing sucks. The performaance is horrible. Everything else is perfect. Good price ,good mileage, no more worries of it breaking down. I just wish they made a 4 door Si model like in Japan.

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  Now Im a believer!! - 2004 Honda Civic
  By Adam - September 19 - 12:39 am

  I have always heard about hondas, but I was a big 3 guy. After hearing horror story after horror story on the big three. I wasnt impressed anymore either too many sensor issues, drivetrain problems. On new vehicles. So I decided to get a honda civic for my 80 mile commute back and forth to work. The guy that sold it to me put in a newer engine bc the previous one had blown. Even then their were some things that I had to fix. After investing 360 dollars and one weekend I have the car that is dependable and from what I found very easy to work on.

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  Traded my 2008 Accord for the 2012 Civic - 2012 Honda Civic
  By misiu2 - September 18 - 11:09 am

  The MPG is what they claim on the sticker but you have to have the econ mode on in order to achieve 30 in the city and about 40.5-41 on the highway. I have not tried to drive the Civic on the Off mode of the econ because I do live in Chicago and the gas prices…, well you can fill in the blank. So if you are looking for a gas savior and do not want a hybrid then get the 2012 Civic without a question. I do have a word of caution…if you are driving on the econ mode and you are on the highway, do Not expect acceleration or getting in front of a Camaro. The good thing about the econ mode is you can turn it off whenever you want to including when you’re driving.

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  VXs before Insights - 1994 Honda Civic
  By moranec - September 18 - 2:00 am

  In the aftermath of Desert Storm, Honda came out with the V-tec engine, a marvel of automotive precision and efficiency. Putting it in the little Civic proved to be a winner for fuel efficiency. Boasting 45-48 MPG, these engines were turning out specs the new gas/electric Insights and VW TDI technology are only now surpassing. If zippy performance is a key to car enjoyment, forget the VX. Its mainstrength comes at the pump when years after year of ownership will be favored by stingy fuel bills. In an era of gas-guzzling SUVs, look for the VX model for a find that will reward you with reliability and incredible fuel efficiency.

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  Not All Civics are created equal - 2003 Honda Civic
  By macwindows2002 - September 17 - 10:00 am

  What a crap vehicle. I wish I would have read the Reviews in Car and Driver or Road and Track before I bought this KIA with a Honda badge. What crap!