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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  Such a good time - 2002 Honda Civic
  By Blakslee - October 7 - 11:08 pm

  Before I got this car I had a 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.9 which I love(d). But once I started grad school and began driving close to 400 miles per week, I needed something more economical but because Im a car nut and feel that my car is a strong reflection of myself the list of cars I could afford, actually wanted and would save me enough money was veeeeery small. I was about to get a Mini cooper when the owners bailed and then I came across a gold 2002 Civic Si on craigslist. Owner was asking $5000 which I felt was a bit high but because it was so clean and very stock I really didnt want to pass it up so I shelled out the money. Being my first stick shift, it took me a few days to be able to drive the car proficiently and really enjoy what an awesome machine it is. Coming from my Jeep which was basically a 4wd muscle car (big engine, crude suspension and really only good in a straight line) to this car was like going from a hovercraft to a go-cart. This thing handles phenomenally well. (My car has lower, stiffer springs on it mind you). The seats hold you in tight and so far the car has only asked me to push it harder. Where my jeep was happiest at 1/3 to 3/4 throttle, the Civic Si is happiest when youre revving the nuts off of it. The car is a bit sluggish from a stop and 1st gear is really short but from then on it is just a blast. Surprisingly it does have some torque steer. I would highly recommend a cold air intake on this car if nothing else just for the induction noise. At about 3k rpm you get the start of a great engine growl what just gets bigger an louder especially once the vtec kicks in. But (on the stock exhaust) its quiet enough for me to finally enjoy some classical music on the highway (when you arent driving like Paul Walker of course). The clutch is nice and light but very squeeky and bites in the upper half/upper third of the travel. The shifter could be notchier and have less play but the car does have 92000 miles on it. It isnt the fastest thing in the world, in fact my old jeep is probably faster, but that is not at all why I bought the civic. Id already had a car that was fast but I found that I rarely ever got to use all the power and because it was an automatic, the only time I really ever enjoyed the car was when I was flooring it (which was almost never). The 2002 civic si is fast enough where giving it the full berries is just as much fun as it was in the jeep but Im not breaking the speed limit...as much. This is going to sound really odd but because the civic si is a bit slower, I can savor the sensation of acceleration and that wonderful induction noise for longer before I need to stamp on the brakes. Not to mention that every time you turn the wheel its like carving a hole in the laws of physics. The trade off of course is ride quality. I would not say it is uncomfortable but you are going to know exactly where the town didnt do such a good job paving the roads. If you value getting to 60 in under 6 seconds, going on road trips with 3 of your friends or being whisked to your destination surrounded by Egyptian cotton and duck down dont buy this car. But if you are someone who says "I GET to drive an hour each way to...", who wants a car that will reward you when you push it and encourage you to push it harder while doing 30 mpg highway and being as reliable as a sun dial on a clear summer day then you really need look no further. If you can find one that hasnt been modded up the yin yang and thrashed by...well me.

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  Love my civic! - 2012 Honda Civic
  By Nyagresk - October 5 - 11:37 pm

  ROAD NOISE SUCKS THOUGH!!! Very noisy. And there no outside air display which is kind of weird. Other than that it is amazing. I love the gas mileage and that it takes regular gas. Looks super sporty on the outside and slick interior is nice and simple. So far so good! 19.120k miles and going strong.

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  Avoid 2007 - 2007 Honda Civic
  By BV - October 1 - 8:12 am

  Tire wear is terrible because of a defective Rear Upper Control Arm. Honda did not do a recall but there was a class action suit forcing Honda to replace the defective parts and reimburse customers for premature tire wear. Unfortunately for me, I did not find out until after the expiration of the settlement which was January 16, 2014. That is after I spent more than $2,000 for new tires, struts, shocks, alignments, etc., trying to fix the problem. 2006 through 2009 models have extended warranties related to another serious issue where coolant leaks and can cause engine block damage and complete engine failure. The seats are wearing out much faster than any car I have ever owned and I am average size and the car only has 80,000 miles on it.

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  Great, dependable car - 2007 Honda Civic
  By Brandon - October 1 - 12:50 am

  I purchased my 2007 Civic with 80k miles in 2012. I just traded it in with 126k miles, for a brand new Civic. I bought a new one because I didnt want to take a chance at having any mechanical issues down the road. However, while owning my 07 Civic I never had any unusual or unexpected repairs, besides my starter going out at 110k. It was a great car, no complaints.

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  Love my Civic - 2015 Honda Civic
  By Brandon - October 1 - 12:43 am

  Great value! I recently traded in my 07 Civic for a brand new 15. I wasnt expecting anything short of spectacular, and I got what I expected. Pros: *Awesome standard tech & safety features *Ride height (not too low) and good rearward visibility *Excellent steering & acceleration, yet very quiet cabin & high mpg *large trunk, good amount of storage *EX options are well worth the extra$$ (blind spot camera, moonroof, touch screen infotainment, smart entry, & black accented alloy wheels) Cons: *the cloth seats. Previously, Honda did a good job with keeping the cloth simple yet comfortable & attractive. In Civics recent production years the cloth is patterned, shiny, thin, rough & cheap looking. Doesnt look like it can take too much wear & tear, but only time will tell. *center console arm rest has no cushion, extremely hard on elbows *lack of headroom for very tall drivers (only in models with moonroof). I chose the EX partially for the added value of a moonroof, but the moonroof also cuts down headroom by an inch or two. Im 64" though, so not your average driver. I LOVE my Civic, even with the couple minor complaints. Im looking forward to driving it the next couple years and cant wait for my next Honda purchase. Great, dependable brand.

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  lOVE MY HONDA (IF ONLY) - 2013 Honda Civic
  By cyndi strawser - September 30 - 8:47 pm

  I like the two-tier dash and exterior/interior style. Gas mileage using econ o mode makes a hybrid unnecessary as its not unusual for me to get 40-44 mpg mixed driving. Cold weather drives down the mileage tremendously. VERY unhappy with paint quality, it looks nice but every little rock from passing traffic will nick paint down to the primer. Also developed a plastic sounding rattling noise during certain mild wind conditions. My new car sounds like a rattletrap from inside. Three different dealers and a couple of friends have not been able to find the problem. Hope the lemon law applies. I live in the country and I have to switch to a truck during snow/ice, Civic will not stay on the road ,,not enough weight.

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  Happy Owner - 2008 Honda Civic
  By Donna - September 30 - 3:05 pm

  I am all about economy and reliability. This car has both. I like that it is easy to park. It can gain speed quickly on the interstate. I feel that the car is substantially build. The cloth on the seats has held up very well and looks almost new. I have taken my car to the dealer for all recommended maintenance and have been very satisfied. I feel that my money was well spent when I purchased this vehicle.

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  2015 Si sedan - 2015 Honda Civic
  By Mark Lubner - September 29 - 1:53 pm

  I bought my 2015 Si sedan after hitting a patch of black ice in my 2015 Subary Legacy and crashing it. I chose to go back to Honda because of the interior comfort ( I had a 2007 Civic Si coupe, bought new, which had 140k miles on it, all original-trans, clutch, everything ). I chose the Subaru because of its all wheel drive and hoped for a quieter ride, but what I did not know at the time, is I prefer smaller cars with a lower ride height. The Legacys high driver seats made it uncomfortable for me. My 2015 Si sedan has been an utter joy to drive. Its quick and I love revving the engine. I like how Honda took what they did good in my 2007 Civic and improved upon that formula. Im a HUGE fan of the two-tier dashboard. I missed that funky dash when I had the generic dash in the Subaru. My only gripes about the 2015 Civic are few: The center console armrest is rock hard, with absolutely NO padding on it whatsoever. I have had to resort to using a few small towels to give me some padding ( and am contemplating swapping out the Sis armrest with a 2015 EX-non Si-armrest ). My only other complaint about the car is it would be nice to see the fuel savings/ how many miles you have left in your gas tank, on the smaller screen to the right of the speedometer. Other than that, I recommend the 2015 Civic Si sedan.

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  Do not buy a Civic / Major quality problems - 2007 Honda Civic
  By Doug Hilbert - September 28 - 10:06 pm

  Bought new, maintained 100% on time at a Honda dealership. MAJOR transmission problems, major paint problems, total engine failure without warning at 131,000 miles. DO NOT buy this car, at any price.

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  Do not buy this car - 2007 Honda Civic
  By Maggie - September 25 - 8:13 pm

  This is not a hybrid, do not pay the extra money! I previously owned a 2002 Prius but when it was up for renewal and had over 120k miles I thought it was a good time to trade it in. Thinking that Honda was a solid company I felt confident about buying the 2007 Civic Hybrid. It was the worst decision! Advertised mpg of 40+ I only get <27mpg - I could have spent thousands less for a regular Sudan with better gas mileage. The acceleration is also DANGEROUS with the IMA motor sometimes it will accelerate and then others it will barely move almost causing multiple accidents. Do not waste your money!!!