If you want a mid-size family car that’s utterly dependable and great value, the Honda Civic could be the car for you. It’s one of the most distinctive-looking cars of this type, so you’re unlikely to lose it in a car park. Most models come well equipped and all of them are very fuel efficient, especially the diesels. The high-performance Type R models are seriously fast and a lot of fun to drive.
The latest Civic has been sold new since 2017. It’s available with hatchback or saloon bodies and you can choose from 1.0-litre or 1.5-litre petrol engines, or a 1.6-litre diesel engine. All three engines are available with either a manual or automatic gearbox. There are a number of trim levels to choose from, of which the value-focused EX and sporty looking SR are the most popular.
The previous version of the Civic was sold new from 2012 to 2017. It’s available with hatchback or estate bodies, the latter called the Civic Tourer. Again, it’s available with a choice of petrol and diesel engines with a manual or automatic gearbox, so you should be able to find one that suits your needs. There’s also a wide range of trims covering every budget from value-focused to rather luxurious.
There’s also the Civic Type R, a very high-performance sporty model of both versions of the Civic covered here. The Type R has a lot of power, race-car-like styling details and is great fun to drive.
In the latest version of the Civic, standard features fitted to most models include air con, cruise control, Bluetooth and front and rear parking sensors. Some models also have sat nav, a rear-view camera and a wireless phone charging pad while top-of-the-range models get heated leather seats and an opening panoramic roof.
The older version has similar features though being an older car, its tech isn’t quite as sophisticated as that in the latest version.
The latest version of the Civic can give you an average fuel economy of 34-60mpg with a petrol engine and as much as 80mpg with a diesel engine, according to official figures. The older version gives you 38-52mpg with a petrol engine and 65-78mpg with a diesel. Estate models use slightly more fuel than hatchbacks because they’re a bit heavier.
Type R models cost the most to run because they use the most fuel, incur the highest annual Vehicle Excise Duty charge (car tax) and cost the most to insure. Otherwise, Civics cost relatively little to run.
There are a lot of other mid-size hatchbacks like the Civic that you might want to consider, including the Skoda Octavia, the Hyundai i30 and the Ford Focus. The Skoda is more spacious than the Honda, the Hyundai is even better value and has a longer warranty, and the Ford feels better to drive. But the Honda’s distinctive style, its feeling of being very well made and practical features are very appealing.
Both versions of the Civic covered here have generous passenger space for four adults, though it’s worth noting that the latest version sits quite close to the ground, which could make getting in and out a bit tricky for some. Any Civic works well as a family car, helped by a boot that can easily hold a week’s worth of food shopping plus a pushchair and school bags. The latest hatchback has a slightly bigger boot than the older version, though the older one has more space if you fold down its back seats. The latest saloon isn’t quite as practical as the hatchback because it’s more awkward to load in bulky things like suitcases.
Of all the Civics, though, the older estate is the most practical. You wouldn’t have to worry about packing light for that family holiday and you can fit a large fridge in the boot if you fold down the back seats. The older Civics also have clever back seats with a base that folds up against the backrest, creating a space on the floor that’s useful for carrying tall things like pot plants or bicycles.
As of 2022, the Civic is the bigger of the two ‘conventional’ cars that Honda sells new in the UK – the smaller being the Jazz hatchback. In absolute terms, the Civic is smaller than Honda’s large SUV model, the CR-V. In the past, Honda has sold bigger conventional cars than the Civic in the UK, including the Accord and Legend – models that are still available elsewhere in the world.
Both versions of the Civic covered here were awarded a full five star-rating by safety organisation Euro NCAP. Driver safety features available on the latest Civic include automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, traffic-sign recognition and adaptive cruise control.
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Honda Civic
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