Are Honda Civics Good Cars?

in Reliability
Silver Honda Civic

Honda Civic by Elise240SX — CC BY-SA 4.0

The Honda Civic is one of the most recognizable and popular compact cars in the automotive market. With its inception in 1972, it has become a symbol of excellent Japanese automotive and has consistently provided efficiency, affordability, and reliability. True enough, the humble Honda Civic has reinforced its reputation as an economical sedan with “till the wheels fall off” reliability.

The Honda Civic’s popularity can be attributed to its consistent performance, fuel efficiency, and versatile design. It has been among the best-selling cars in various countries, including the United States, for several years. Its wide range of models and trim levels caters to different tastes and budgets, making it a favorite among other age groups and demographics.

If you’re interested in this model, you probably have one question: are Honda Civics good cars? To help you answer this question, we highlight some critical aspects of the Civic, including engine, performance, interior features, safety, reliability, and more.

Engine, Performance, and Fuel Economy

A good selection of engines is one of the best qualities of the Honda Civic. It helps people with different preferences for performance and efficiency. Below is a quick breakdown of the engine options available in recent Honda Civic models:

  • 2.0L naturally aspirated inline-4: This engine is often found in the base models, balancing efficiency and performance. It’s suitable for daily commuting and offers reasonable fuel economy.
  • 1.5L turbocharged inline-4: This engine offers more power and torque in higher trims, enhancing the driving experience. It’s known for its responsiveness and sporty performance.
  • 2.0L turbocharged inline-4 (Civic Type R): This engine is specific to the high-performance Civic Type R variant. It delivers a significant boost in horsepower and sportier driving dynamics for enthusiasts.
  • Hybrid options: Some older Civic models may also offer hybrid engines, combining a gasoline engine with an electric motor for improved fuel efficiency.

The base engines should be adequate for most commuters. However, common feedback is that the base engines are generally underpowered. The sportier 1.5-liter turbocharged engine is highly recommended if you want more enthusiasm.

The Honda Civic is lauded for its performance, with precise and responsive steering that offers excellent driver feedback. Its suspension ensures stable cornering with minimal body roll. Enthusiasts may prefer higher-performance variants like the Civic Si and Type R for sharper handling, and the turbocharged engine is recommended for optimal performance.

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Honda Civic Fuel Economy

The Civic also excels in fuel economy and is one of the most fuel-efficient Honda models. Below is a breakdown of the 2023 Civic’s fuel economy as per EPA.gov:

1.5L Turbocharged Inline-4 Engine
  • Automatic (Variable Gear Ratios):
  • * 4-Door: 36 MPG combined (33 city / 42 highway)
    • 5-Door: 35 MPG combined (31 city / 39 highway)
    • 4-Door (AV-S7): 34 MPG combined (31 city / 38 highway)
    • 5-Door (AV-S7): 33 MPG combined (30 city / 37 highway)
    • 5-Door Manual 6-speed: 31 MPG combined (28 city / 37 highway)
    • 4-Door Manual 6-speed (Premium Gasoline): 31 MPG combined (27 city / 37 highway)
2.0L Naturally Aspirated Inline-4 Engine

Automatic (Variable Gear Ratios):

  • 4-Door: 35 MPG combined (31 city / 40 highway)
  • 5-Door: 33 MPG combined (30 city / 38 highway)
  • 4-Door (AV-S7): 33 MPG combined (30 city / 37 highway)
  • 5-Door (AV-S7): 32 MPG combined (29 city / 37 highway)
  • 5-Door Manual 6-speed: 29 MPG combined (26 city / 36 highway)
  • 5-Door Manual 6-speed (Turbo, Premium Gasoline): 24 MPG combined (22 city / 28 highway)

Interior and Tech Features

The Civic interior is what you’ll expect from a sedan marketed towards a mass appeal. Don’t get us wrong, the interior looks great, but it’s not a space you can accuse as luxurious. As expected, you’ll see plenty of hard- and soft-touch plastics, with luxury trimmings like leather upholstery on higher trims. The cabin of older models will likely look outdated for most people.

The Honda Civic also offers a spacious interior and can accommodate average-size adults with no issues. Meanwhile, the truck provides 14.8 cu-ft of cargo, larger than the Civic’s competitors. Honda did a great job utilizing the space and providing many clever storage solutions.

Tech-wise, the Honda Civic comes with a highly intuitive infotainment system. However, the smaller 7-inch display on lower trims might be too small for some people – especially considering the competition. It supports Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and other connectivity options. You can connect your phone wirelessly or use a USB cable for the Touring model. However, the USB connection has been found to offer faster speeds compared to the wireless option.

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Safety Features and Ratings

If you value safety above everything, you’ll have a lot to love about the Honda Civic. The Honda Sensing suite is undoubtedly one of the more reliable safety techs in the business. With that said, below are some of the safety features found in recent Civic models:

  • Honda Sensing Suite: This includes adaptive cruise control, collision mitigation braking system, lane-keeping assist, and road departure mitigation.
  • Airbags: Multiple airbags, including front, side, and curtain airbags, protect in the event of a collision.
  • Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS): Helps prevent the wheels from locking up during hard braking.
  • Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA): Helps to stabilize the vehicle during cornering and maintain traction on slippery surfaces.

According to the NHTSA, the 2023 Honda Civic deserves a 5-star rating with excellent scores during crash tests.

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Long-Term Reliability and Best/Worst Years

Are Honda Civics good cars? Well, for most people, it can depend on long-term reliability. According to RepairPal, the Honda Civic is the third most reliable compact car out of 36 models – with an excellent score of 4.5 out of 5.0. With proper maintenance, you can easily squeeze 100k miles out of your Honda Civic, with many reports of people putting 200k to 300k miles on their trust sedan.

Although Civics are generally reliable, some models are worse than others. If you want to avoid some models, below are the years to approach with caution:

  • 2001
  • 2003-2005
  • 2006-2009
  • 2009-2011
  • 2016

If you want to learn more, we highly recommend reading our previous writeup about the Honda Civic years to avoid.

Final Verdict: Are Honda Civics Good Cars?

If you haven’t guessed already, the Honda Civic is an excellent car. It’s a well-regarded vehicle, offering value, performance, and efficiency. While there are some concerns, particularly with the air conditioning in earlier models and the low ground clearance, the overall feedback from owners is mainly positive.

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