Warming up the engine
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You might not realise, but the Honda Civic name predates even the Volkswagen Golf - it arrived in 1972, two years before the VW. And like the German company, this has given Honda plenty of time to perfect its family car, now in its eleventh generation, the latest model arriving in 2022.
The Civic is among the best cars in its class, being spacious, good to drive, and promising good reliability, just like all its predecessors. It’s a handsome car too, more so than some of the earlier Civics you might have looked at, and its hybrid engine ensures great fuel economy. There’s a Civic Type-R too for hot hatchback fans, though we’re concentrating on the regular car here. The Civic isn’t as affordable as some family car rivals, but it’s arguably worth the money - and buying used can help too.
The latest Honda Civic is an easy car to recommend, for several reasons. It’s among the most spacious cars in the class (in part thanks to also being one of the biggest in the class), it’s good to drive, fuel-efficient, has a high-quality cabin, and also simply that it’s a Honda - and the brand has an excellent reputation for reliability, making a used Civic a relatively low-risk buy.
2022-on Civics are also easier on the eye than their more angular predecessors - some may find the styling a little dull, but it’s handsome and looks relatively upmarket. It’s a sleeker shape than a lot of rivals, lower and longer than most, and this helps liberate plenty of passenger room front and rear, and a 410-litre boot that out-does cars like the VW Golf and Ford Focus. Interior quality is excellent too, both in terms of build integrity and materials, while the 9-inch touchscreen is straightforward to use and there’s plenty of safety tech.
Civic Type-R aside - we’ve covered this hottest of hatches in its own review - all Civics get a 2-litre petrol hybrid engine with the promise of 60mpg economy. It’s got a good turn of pace and it’s refined too, but one of the Civic’s unexpected strengths is that it’s great to drive, with natural-feeling steering, very little body lean, but still an excellent ride.
Only the Ford Focus is possibly more fun than the Civic, but in other respects such as space, quality and efficiency, it can’t match the Honda. The Volkswagen Golf is up there for quality but has some frustrating interior controls and isn’t quite as good to drive - though it does have a much wider range of engines, if you’re not sold on hybrid power. Others to consider are the attractive and high-quality Mazda 3, the ever-reliable Toyota Corolla Hybrid, and the spacious Skoda Octavia.
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No deliberation is required when it comes to engine choice since there’s just the one, an efficient petrol hybrid, so choosing a Civic is more about selecting the right trim level and equipment. And here, you don’t necessarily need to look above regular Elegance trim since it’s already better-equipped than many cars in the Civic’s class. Go for Sport if you like its slightly more dynamic appearance, while Advance is the one if you prefer to sit on leather seats and like the idea of a panoramic glass roof.
Choosing a used Civic should be fairly straightforward, since there are only three trim levels, all comprehensively equipped, and there’s a pretty clear differentiation between each trim, with an entry-level car, a sportier one, and a more luxurious one. Plus of course just the one engine whichever trim level you’re looking at.
The Honda Civic’s exterior dimensions are:
The Honda Civic’s boot space is:
As both a fairly modern car and a hybrid, all Honda Civics are subject to the current flat rate of VED or ‘road tax’, which as of the 2024/2025 tax year is set at £180 per year, a £10 saving over non-hybrids (including the Type-R).
The latest Civic range is differentiated primarily by equipment levels, and clearly insurers don’t see much cause to charge more for higher-spec cars as every current Civic (Type-R excepted) sits in group 28. Consistent, but not especially cheap - a Volkswagen Golf spans groups 14-27 before you even touch the performance models. The Type-R stands alone with a group 43 rating.
£30,604
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£1,502 off£28,786
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£2,000 offWhat is the most popular colour for Honda Civic ?
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What is the average mileage for Honda Civic ?
24780
How many Honda Civic cars are available for sale?
168
