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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  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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  2015 Honda Civic - 2015 Honda Civic
  By Brittany Allers - September 25 - 5:59 pm

  I am currently leasing a 2015 Honda Civic from a local dealership. The main reason I decided on the Honda Civic was for the price. As a full-time college student, the low payments fit my budget. I had been driving my parents’ Honda Accord and wasn’t expecting the Civic to be that great. However, I’ve grown to love it. The responsiveness of the car is great. The steering is spot-on. It doesn’t overshoot or cut a corner close when steering unless you drive that way. The accelerating and braking are also amazing and has kept me from an accident or two. In less than 5 seconds, it can go from 60 down to 15 without loss of vehicle control. Overall, the driving is smooth and easy to handle. The interior is comfortable in the front seat. Don’t think about passengers as they don’t have much room for legs in the back. Another great feature is the fuel economy button which increases the MPG.

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  My second Civic one year later - 2014 Honda Civic
  By Honda Girl - September 24 - 6:51 pm

  Excellent value for the money, Honda reliability and resale. CVT takes some getting used to, very good MPG with or without the Econ feature activated, awesome highway car! This is my second Honda Civic. I replaced my 1994, also purchased new, one year ago. I love this car, especially the back up camera and handling. The ride over some city streets is a bit choppy but the OEM tires probably contribute to that. I find it a joy to drive on the highway without the road noise or driving fatigue that I experienced with my smaller old Civic. The CVT shifts smoothly and is different than a conventional automatic transmission, but I have not had any of the problems that some people mention. I like the sound system and being able to interface my IPad with the audio display. The build quality is solid without any squeaks or rattles. I would recommend Honda to anyone thinking about purchasing a new car.

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  Great Little Car! - 2005 Honda Civic
  By Kimyung - September 19 - 7:14 am

  I had this car from 82K to 135K miles. I had the stick shift model. I would have kept it too, but I got rear ended and they totaled the car out. I didnt do anything to the car besides a tune up and basic maintenance. Im really happy with my experience with this car. The AC compressor started to go towards the end. Ive only driven Hondas my whole life and I have had it happen a couple of times. I wish I didnt get hit, Id still be driving this little car.

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  Great car - 2011 Honda Civic
  By jay clark - September 17 - 3:53 pm

  bought it new, so far 85,000 miles not one major problem, it is a little noisy on the highway, tire noise, great in town, one of the best cars I ever owned. Dealership is OK I guess have never been there again, except to look for a new car last week In town it is the best, for traveling it is a bit small, next car will be accord or like, more trunk room for traveling but we love the civic. I average 30 mpg in town and around 40 on the highway, only problem is the trunk lock (inside the car no longer works, can release it and open it from outside but Honda had a lock so you could not release the trunk from inside and it does not work, stuck otherwise no problems in 85,000 miles, pretty good now days! would recommend it to anyone needs reliable transportation, not luxury for sure but very dependable and inexpensive

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  The Last of the Simple Hondas.... - 2000 Honda Civic
  By Kris - September 16 - 6:45 pm

  Absolutely love this car! Purchased a respectable example with low-mileage five years ago. Gave it a very comprehensive service and full detail and she has been running like a clock ever since then. Almost 130k and it consistently nets me 38-45mpg with a mix of 80% highway and 20% city driving. Although highway merging requires planning with only about 105hp, the 5sp manual helps control the power band better than the automatic. Winter conditions in an FWD are no problem with good tires and a manual. Interior has worn very well for its age. Although not modern, it is simplistic, which is a major antithesis to the gadget-laden stuff on sale today. Hatchback is cavernous for its size with folding seats. Exterior has held up mostly well, although there are initial signs of a few rust bubbles around the rear wheels. Washed monthly and hand-waxed every couple of months has kept the paint mostly bright. Lives up to the "bulletproof Honda" mantra. High-quality synthetic and filter every 7500mi. Issues I have had are very minor (cracked distributor cap, frozen crank window regulators, lower ball joints, wonky A/C clutch) and have been low-cost to fix with good parts. Normal schedule for filters/fluids and preventative replacement of major wear components in the last 40k miles (clutch, brakes, full exhaust, shocks/struts, ball joints, etc.) should see this car get to 200k no problem. Id most certainly buy one again!

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  Best car for gas saving - 2007 Honda Civic
  By Mark - September 3 - 12:00 am

  Have had my car for a short time love the gas saving have been getting 44.5 miles per gallon, drives great enjoy driving my Honda Civic hybrid. Not as smooth of ride as some cars but every thing else about the car is great I dont think you can beat a Honda holds its value and will run for ever.

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  Honest review - 2012 Honda Civic
  By Bugs - August 23 - 6:01 am

  This is my first Hybrid car, first cvt transmission also. Bought this car for gas mpg and it has really impressed me on the mpgs. We just got back from a long vacation, 2565 miles with varies roads from Hilly, interstate, and city driving, it average 45.8.

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  buy this car - 2009 Honda Civic
  By Brian - August 16 - 6:29 pm

  I have a 2009 civic sedan lx 5spd manual I purchased new ...336,005 miles later it has never had a single thing break (minus the a.c. somewhat recently). Mileage was always a calculated 40mpg up until it for real old and now I get 36mpg. I just had all major suspension components replaced because I hadnt ever replaced a single thing. Didnt need to...mechanic said all were in acceptable condition. I dont know what would possess ANYBODY to buy a GM, Chrysler or Ford when you can have Honda and Toyota quality. I will buy this exact same car again. Detroit cars are fine as long as you unload them before 80k and 4 years. Absolute junk beyond that. Honda is the way to go. Period.

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  Another Honda - 2015 Honda Civic
  By Joseph Fabian - August 14 - 5:55 am

  Was torn between Civic LX & Mazda3. But, with only 2 Mazda dealers in state, I opted for Civic with 3 dealers in Town. Front seat side bolsters are very firm and I find them uncomfortable after a while of driving. Plan on putting seat covers on with seat bottom cushion to ease the pressure of these. ALSO, why does Honda have to put the roughest material they can find on the armrest? Its like sandpaper to my poor elbows. Its like this in my 2009 CRV also. Had to find covers for the armrest to make comfortable. It is definately not a luxury car. I was looking for the lowest price high gas mileage car that I could find that was still enjoyable to drive and the Civic LX fits the bill. Shifts Great (5 Speed Manual) and handling is sporty. Overall, Im very happy with the car, with Honda overall, and our closest dealer. Compared Civic with Mazda3, Toyota Corolla, Nissan Sentra & Versa.