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:

• 

  Shocked how good-looking - 2016 Honda Civic
  By mmreview - October 25 - 4:49 pm

  I was interested in this car because of its fuel economy and reliability. The fuel economy is amazing! Im actually getting about 40 in mixed driving (much highway). I also looked at the Mazda 3, but the test drive showed a world of difference. The Mazda is fun to drive, and the controls are well laid-out, but the ride is noisy. The Civic EX-T has sporty handling, but also a solid, quiet ride. Acceleration is alarmingly good! I have found myself going faster than intended due to the smooth, powerful acceleration delivered by the CVT and the smooth ride. The standard radio at this trim level is very nice. So many cars have bass that sounds like it is in the bottom of a cardboard box. The bass in the Civic EX-T is strong without being muddy. The seats are very comfortable and the interior is nice looking and seems bigger than it is. There are lots of bells and whistles, moonroof, keyless start, audio and other display controls on the steering wheel, etc. People have complained about the audio controls on the touch screen, but the driver really never needs to use them with everything on the steering wheel. The biggest surprise to me is that this is a great looking car!

• 

  LOVE IT! LOVE it! - 2006 Honda Civic
  By LOVE IT LOVE IT!! - October 25 - 7:13 am

  Let me just say that I absolutely love my car!! I have been trying it for 6 months now and its been amazing. I originally wanted to buy a hybrid but I loved the look of this car and it was way more affordable. BY now Ive come to realize I basically have a hybrid. This car is so fuel efficient its amazing. I can drive 265 miles before I have to fill up. The seats are very comfortable for long trips and short trips. I was nervous buying a 2 door vs. 4 door, but there is so much room in the back for passengers. The safety is incredible, it has 6 airbags all around. If you get into a serious accident the front engine drops to the ground and slides under the car.

• 

  First car and I still love it! - 2008 Honda Civic
  By Civic Driver - October 24 - 5:33 pm

  This car is so low maintenance and still runs like the day I bought it! So practical and still a cute car. I love it.

• 

  My Civic - 2003 Honda Civic
  By hanson205 - October 24 - 10:00 am

  I really enjoy my Honda Civic. I had a 2001 Civic LX, but this time I bought an EX. Big difference in the engine, and performance of the EX.

• 

  Did Honda Get the New Civic Right? - 2016 Honda Civic
  By tholemu - October 23 - 1:28 pm

  The new Civic was entirely off my radar until a week or two ago, which is somewhat odd (or perhaps a testament to how bored Id become with them) considering Ive owned only Hondas since my first car in high school, a 1988 CRX DX. Following the CRX was a 1994 Civic DX coupe, then a 2012 Civic Si Sedan, and next a 2013 Fit Sport (automatic, ugh). Id always looked forward to owning an Si after driving and modding the CRX and Civic, but was somewhat disappointed when acquiring the 2012 Si. Its departure from the old school Civic was quite noticeable, and while performance wasnt terrible, it just didnt feel like a Civic should, in my opinion. I plan on making this a long-term review, updating once a week or so. [5/4/2016] Yesterday I drove home the 2016 Civic LX coupe equipped with the 6-speed gearbox, and after a few miles behind the wheel it seemed as though finally a new Civic had a bit of the grit of the previous generations coupled with the convenience and comfort I now appreciate more than I would have 15 years ago. The driving position feels natural, as does the operation of controls, pedals, the gear shift, etc. Im quite surprised by how lively the 2.0L (K20C2) engine is, especially in the low-mid RPM range. Its not a speed demon by any stretch of the imagination, but for getting around town and commuting to and from work while also getting good gas mileage, I dont see how this doesnt fit the bill. The gearbox seems pretty crisp, maybe better than the 2012 Si. Theres been some speculation about which engine will appear in the Si and Type R models for 2017, and I feel as though the K20 coupled with forced induction would make a solid power plant. Im a bit confused about the actual compression ratio of the K20C2, since Ive seen both 9.8:1 and 10.8:1 reported in different places. Regardless, I am pleased with the configuration. After comparing some of the numbers between a 2000 Civic Si coupe (curb weight: 2,612 lbs, 160hp/111ft-lbs torque, 22/29 city/highway MPG) and the 2016 Civic LX coupe (curb weight: 2,739 lbs, 158hp/138ft-lbs torque, 31/41 city/highway MPG), they are actually quite close in terms of power and weight on paper. Whats very noticeable is the dramatic increase in fuel economy with the new model. Im quite pleased with the vehicle after the first couple of days, but who knows what will happen down the line. Ill continue to post updates periodically as I get in more drive time. [5/10/2016] Its been one week to the day since taking possession of the Civic and I am struggling to find anything I dont like. The vehicle, plain and simple, feels solid. It should though, right? Ive logged just about 200 miles -- shes still a newborn. So in that respect, yeah, I would be seriously concerned if there were issues or things I noticed that didnt seem right. However, compared to the ride quality and cabin noise of my 2013 Fit, the Civic far exceeds it. This could be to the numerous changes to the suspension and chassis components (new rear suspension, bushings, stabilizer bars, rear damper brackets, etc.)*, and only time will tell if the durability holds up. Regarding fuel economy, I am averaging right around 31mpg. With that said, I can say with confidence that if I spend more time babying it and trying to get better mileage it will be quite easy to break into the mid and upper 30s. Even when accelerating mildly to keep pace at highway speeds the mpg gauge hangs around 40mpg. The Fit would average about 30mpg, which always disappointed me. The Civic is far more enjoyable to drive and will almost certainly achieve more greater efficiency around town and on the highway. Prior to my Fit I always owned vehicles manual transmissions. I really, really dislike automatic transmissions, so coming back to a manual has been quite refreshing. Whats more refreshing is the satisfying feel and sound (yes, there is some degree of a nice "click") of shifting gears with this particular gearbox. It may not be as crisp as what you would find from the factory in the S2000s, but for the base model Civic, literally the cheapest Civic the dealer had on the lot, I could not be more happy. Back when I had my 1988 CRX and 1994 Civic DX coupe, I longed for a close ratio 6-speed, and to see Honda mate this gearbox with the K20C2 is quite encouraging. It feels as though the engine is allowed to work as designed by not having it coupled with a longer geared 5-speed. If theres one thing that has baffled and frustrated me a bit it would be the Bluetooth system. It could be an issue with my phone (Galaxy S4), but I have encountered pairing issues a few times. Either the phone will fail to connect over and over when the Civic seemingly rapidly attempts to connect and send a verification code, or it will only connect to phone audio and not media audio. A few minutes of trying to rediscover and pair the devices usually fixes the issue. *Source:Official 2016 Civic Coupe Press Kit

• 

  The best car yet - 2003 Honda Civic
  By asutt - October 22 - 10:00 am

  This is the best car I have had. It handles as well as any other car in its class, and is fun to drive.

• 

  Satisfied Owner - 2003 Honda Civic
  By RC101 - October 22 - 10:00 am

  I switched from my Dodge to a Honda mainly because of its reputation. The cars mileage is only slightly better and as far as ride and performance. I sacrificed design for reliability. There is a very minor rattle somewhere in the dash which kept me from giving it a 10 in both the "Build Quality." I also gave it a 9 in "Reliability" since I havent owned the car for too long, but my neighbor did have problems with her brakes when she first got her Civic two years ago. For the higher price I paid I really didnt want to here any rattles. Im satisfied with my purchase and Im expecting it to pay off in the long run since it holds its value well.

• 

  great car - 2003 Honda Civic
  By LA Mikey - October 22 - 10:00 am

  This is a great car, i only put 150 miles on it so far, but its fun to drive but i think its really underpowered, i should have gotten the manual trans. but otherwise i love this car, its fun to drive, economical and the epa is awesome!!!

• 

  This is the best car - 2004 Honda Civic
  By shushine143 - October 19 - 10:00 am

  I am using this car for college and I could not be happier with the service I have received thus far. The car is always reliable, has a fresh look and is extremely pleasurable to drive. The quality of this car can not be matched. When I got this car,the transmition was defective. The service department at my local Honda was more than happy to help. They made this car better than ever and because of them I can continue to enjoy this car.

• 

  Great car, bad power - 2004 Honda Civic
  By Alicia Strickland - October 19 - 10:00 am

  This is a greta car but it could really use more horsepower and torque