Best Honda Civic Year – Which Is the One For You

The Honda Civic is one of those car models that got it right and is among the best success stories of the modern automotive world. The best Honda Civic year can help you minimize car maintenance worries and help you focus on other important aspects of your life.

Sure the Hondas Civics can be thought of as a humble car but it is also synonymous with reliability and economy. Moreover, there are specific models that also offer great driving dynamics and can keep up with some of the best hatchbacks that money can buy on the market.

Maybe the Hondas Civic doesn’t always come with the most stylish interior and interior features or the most eye-catching design. But there are many young drivers that will add large wings, big exhausts, and many other aftermarket kits.

Regardless of what most people may think of one, it does much better with the competition than most.

In our post, we have the latest information about the humble but highly functional Honda Civic which will help you make the best choice when deciding on which hind Civic model is best for you.

For easier navigation, please use our table of contents below.

• Honda Civic Generations
• Honda Civic JDM
• Best Honda Civics
• Problems With Honda Civics
• Frequently Asked Questions

Honda Civic Generations

Younger drivers particularly find the Honda Civic to be a highly functional and reliable vehicle whether it is purchased used or new.

Some generations are even better all-around vehicles, especially whenever they come in certain trims or configurations.

That said there are some generations that are all allowed to part in ways that even the car manufacturer Honda isn’t very proud of.

1st Gen Civic

The first time it appeared was in 1973. Americans took to the Honda Civic very well owing to the new EPA emission rules of 1975 and the 1973 oil crisis.

Americans were looking for cars that were more fuel efficient and many were overlooking the gas-guzzling muscle cars.

The first generation of it was therefore very popular as a hatchback, station wagon as well as a coupe. It was the Honda Civic that allowed the company to get a foothold in the market.

2nd Gen Civic

With the second generation of the Honda Civic, the American automotive market gave it an even greater acceptance. The car market increased in size and now the Honda included the four-door sedan style. This wasn’t a car for offroading though.

This is in fact one of the most identifying features of the second-generation Honda Civic including the FE or fuel economy trim. There was also the sport S trim.

3rd Gen Civic

With the third generation, the Civic was larger and also came with a new body style – the coupe is also known as the Civic CRX.  Even better was an improvement in the fuel economy.

The Honda Civic model also came out with the third generation Civic. Performance enthusiasts were able to get a high-performance Civic.

4th Gen Civic

As the decade came to an end there were some major improvements to the Honda Civic. The major improvement involved the addition of a double wishbone on both the front as well as the back suspension.

This resulted in a great improvement in the handling and it became a vehicle of choice for drivers who wanted to make modifications to their cars.

There was also a notable increase in the size and performance of the Honda Civic. This was also the last time that Honda would release the two-seat CRX.

5th Gen Civic

As the Honda Civic entered the 90s, there were even more modernizations which included airbags on the sides on all the Honda Civic models. There were anti-lock brakes which were a first in the Civic even while this was only available in certain trims.

This greatly enhanced driving experience and safety.

The first generation Honda Civic featured a two-door coupe with four seats, and the CRX would step aside, and in its place was the new S model.

This Honda Civic coupe was also much sleeker than the standard variant. It also came with a removable roof to provide it with a convertible appearance.

Furthermore, the fifth generation hind Civic saw the introduction of the variable valve timing engine.

6th Gen Civic

As the 90s came to an end the Honda Civic also came with much better styling when compare with the previous model years and generations. This was among the Best Honda Civic year.

There is no denying that it has always been the vehicle of choice for many drivers who are fuel-conscious.

That said with the sixth generation of Honda Civic, the company introduced a gas-powered model.

7th Gen Civic

Still, a new change in design occurred with the Honda Civic’s seventh generation. The double wishbones at the front were no more and in their place were the McPherson struts.

The Civic interior of the Honda was also bigger and more spacious. The Civic transformed from a subcompact car to the compact category.

Among the main additions to the seventh generation of Honda Civic was the first Civic hybrid. This was proof that Honda was playing its part in ensuring that its customers had a variety of fuel-efficient models.

8th Gen Civic

In its first model year, the Honda Civic was named the “North American Car of the Year” as well as the “Car of the Year” by Motor Trend. It was one of the Best Honda Civic years.

There was also a hybrid version, a gas version as well as the Si model. That said Honda took a new approach to the design of the couple and the sedan styles.

Honda explored different platforms when it comes to coupes and sedans and the result was new and unique driving dynamics.

9th Gen Civic

Granted the 2012 Civic got inspiration from the previous model’s gear. With the 2013 model, the Civic took on new design features such as Bluetooth, Pandora internet radio, and a rearview camera.

The camera was a first for compact cars.

With the 2014 model year, car buyers had even more choices when it came to performance and design. This was also the case with the 2015 Honda Civic model with the introduction of the SE level trim.

Furthermore, the 2016 model also boasted excellent fuel efficiency of 41 miles per gallon on the highway and 31 miles per gallon in the city.

If you were searching for a reliable Honda Civic that is also incredibly fuel efficient, then you may want to consider the ninth-generation Civic.

10th Gen Civic

The tenth generation of Honda Civic is many years since the first generation Civic yet still retains the vehicle’s top ratings on reliability. It is certainly one of the best Honda Civic years.

The first model of the tenth generation came out in 2015 in North America. This tenth generation also saw the first examples that had a turbocharger under the hood.

And that’s not all. There was also the Honda Sensing safety suite that came as standard with all tenth-generation Honda Civics.

Furthermore, with the tenth generation was the introduction of the Honda Civic Type R and the Civic Si.

11th Gen Civic

2022 saw the introduction of the 11th generation Honda Civic and came with some huge updates compared to previous model years of the Honda Civic. One of the most obvious ones was the size of the Civic.

First, off the Honda Civic 2022 model looks a lot like the Honda accord in comfort as well as styling. It is however quite large considering that the wheelbase is 1.4 inches longer than the previous model year and the previous generation.

Furthermore, the 2022 model year is one of the best Honda Civic year. It’s also wider by 0.5 inches compared to the previous model year.

That said, the powertrain is the same as what you get in the 10th generation Honda Civic these include the 4-cylinder engine that produces 158hp as well as the turbocharged four-cylinder that can produce 180hp.

Both these engine options are connected to a single transmission which is the CVT. The new Honda Civic however saw the change in the positioning of the gear shifter that was brought much closer to the driver and is no longer at the center console.

Honda would also offer the 11th generation Civic Type R as well as the Civic hatchback. The 11th generation Honda Civic also comes with better styling that feels a lot more premium.

Honda Civic JDM

Whenever many JDM car enthusiasts talk about a bad Civic JDM, the Type R EP3 is often a part of the conversation.

Many people called the Honda Civic Type R EP3 the “bread van” owing to the shape of the car’s design. That said, it still has plenty of fanatics who think that the car actually looks good

Despite what many people would consider a basic body design, the Honda Type R has something worth noting under the hood. First off, it features a VTEC 2-liter petrol engine. This engine is capable of going beyond 8000 revs. Check if this car will work on e10 petrol using the E10 Checker.

But the most interesting feature about the Honda engine is that it comes with 2 cam profiles. The first cam profile activates when the engine is performing under 6000 revs.

However when it starts to go beyond the 6000 revs then the second cam profile is activated. This allows the engine to suck in more air and more fuel. The result in outstanding performance.

Best Honda Civic Year, Specs And Features #1: The Interior

The first thing that you will notice when you step inside the Honda Civic Type R EP3 is how different it looks from a conventional Civic or hatchback. The gear for once is set high near the dashboard and close to the steering wheel.

There is a reason for this.

When you are making the most of your ride in the Type R, you want to be able to reach and change gears quickly. You are driving a JDM sports hatchback after all.

You can clearly see the gears and shift to the different gears without the hassle of trying to find the gear at the center console and taking your eyes off the track.

The Type R also features satellite navigation as well as air conditioning as standard. And you will need air conditioning if you plan on steeping on the throttle without any holding back. The great thing is that the throttle is also highly responsive and you are sure to feel the power kick in from the VTEC engine as soon as your foot is placed on the pedal.

On the flip side, many drivers have complained about the seats being too high and a much lower sitting position would feel more comfortable.

Best Honda Civic Year, Specs And Features #2: The Exterior

Sure the Type R does look like well, a loaf of bread. But don’t let this be the reason you miss out on a cool top performing JDM vehicle.

However, it is a good idea to always check the vehicle’s service history before parting with your hard-earned dollars.

Secondly, you want to give the Honda Civic Type R a good thorough inspection of the body including the underside of the car. This is because the car is also prone to rust.

That said, if you are satisfied with the bodywork, let’s talk about how those 7-inch rims and accompanying tires perform on the track.

Best Honda Civic Year, Specs And Features #3: Performance

The Honda Civic Type R EP3 will not disappoint on the track. It offers amazing grip especially when the track is dry. However many drivers have complained of a lack of grip during were conformation.

Power-wise, the Honda Civic Type R EP3 doesn’t disappoint. Sure it can only do 196-newton meters of torque and some may find it a bit lacking. But that VTEC engine does offer 200 horsepower and will propel the car from 0-60mph in under 6.6 seconds.

For a Honda Civic, this is quite impressive and can hold its own against models such as the Subaru Outback.

And that’s not all, the Type R is also capable of reaching speeds of over 146 miles per hour.

All that performance would not be possible if it wasn’t for the awesome transmission on which the powertrain is connected though.

One thing to keep in mind is that the engine loves good lubrication so it’s always a good idea to check the engine oil on a regular basis as well as the transmissions fluid.

Best Honda Civics

If you are in the market for a used best Honda Civic year, the first thing that you’ll need to do is find out which model year will offer you the best bang for your buck.

The 2012 model had relatively very few complaints and even those complaints that came up often were relatively easy to fix. We are talking about issues with the exterior paint as well as interior accessory issues.

This made sense as there were several improvements done on the 9^th generation of Honda Civics of which the 2012 medal was part of.

The 2014 Honda Civic also had very few complaints also and similar to the 2012 model most of the complaints were relatively simple to fix. Many of these also had to do with the cars accessories and there were very few complaints on the major issues.

One way that you can find out the best Honda Civic year is to find out which model years are associated with the highest number of theft incidents.

Sure this method can be thought of as a bit strange but thieves prefer cars that have the highest value in aftermarket parts. These are also the cars that show the most durability and reliability. In the case of the Honda Civic, the 1998 Civic had the most stealing incidences.

Even while looking at other performance and reliability stats, the 1998 Honda Civic also features very few issues and is known to be quite the durable and reliable car.

Problems With Honda Civics

Honda Civics may be some of the most reliable vehicles on the market, but they also come with their fair share of issues.

The 2006 Honda Civic for instance was prone to engine block cracks. This could cause the coolant to drain out of the engine which in turn would result in total engine failure.

At this point, the car owners would have to spend over $3000 for a new engine block.

The problem was so frequent that Honda gave out a ten-year warranty.

There were also complaints about bad engine mounts. This would cause vibrations that would reach the steering wheel causing it to vibrate while driving.

The good part thigh is that changing the engine mounts is relatively cheap at around $100. Let’s find out about the main issues with Honda Civics.

Best Honda Civic Year, Common Problems #1: Interior Problems

Honda Civics had plenty of interior issues. Drivers would complain that the interior feels a bit flimsy owing to the peeling of the interior door liners.

Peeling would also occur on the dashboard.

Many drivers also complained about faulty sun visors. It is easy to dismiss a faulty sun visor as a small problem. However other than just protecting your eyes from the sun’s glare, the sun visor also has other highly important functions in your car.

Firstly, sun visors help to ensure that you always maintain good visibility on the road. This can help prevent accidents both for the driver as well as for pedestrians and pets. A sun visor may be small but it plays a critical role in ensuring everyone is safe on the road.

If you have an issue with a faulty sun visor in your Honda Civic, it is important that you have the issue fixed immediately. This is especially critical if you do a lot of daytime driving.

Furthermore, there were also complaints about faulty window buttons that suddenly failed to work.

But perhaps the main issue with the Honda Civic interior was the headliners falling out. This was quite expensive to replace and wood costs around $400 for a new headliner.

Best Honda Civic Year, Common Problems #2: Faulty HVAC

A problem that is often common with Honda Civic models from 2001 to 2004 is issues with the HVAC.

HVAC stands for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. This is a car system that helps to control and regulate the quality of air in the car’s cabin. It also works to regulate the temperature in the car’s cabin either by blowing warm air or blowing cool air.

This problem often occurred when there was a faulty thermal fuse which in turn caused the blower to fail. Sometimes the damaged thermal fuse would cause the blower to overwork.

If this problem came up the car owner would often need to replace the entire HVAC system. This could end up costing anywhere from $90 to $200.

Best Honda Civic Year, Common Problems #3: Airbag Issues

One of the main issues with Honda Civics is problems with the airbags.

First off is the airbag sensor which is prone to turn on and off. The reason for this is a faulty airbag positioning sensor.

Secondly, some earlier Honda Civics were known to throw pieces of sharp metal bits when the airbags were depleted.

The problem was so serious that 16 people died because of this issue. This was an issue that occurred with the 2005 Honda Civic resulting in the famous Takata airbag recall.

If you plan on buying a used Honda Civic, it is a good idea to check if this problem is resolved with your car.

FAQs On The Best Honda Civic Year

Are Hondas Reliable

Honda has a reliability rating of 4.0 out of 5.0 as per Repairpal. It ranked first among 32 car brands. This was after comparing it to over 350 different car models.

How Long Do Honda Civics Last

A Honda Civic that has been well driven and well maintained will last anywhere from 200,000 to 300,000 miles. This means that you can expect a Honda Civic to last up to 20 years.

Who Makes Honda Cars

Honda Motor Company Limited makes Honda cars. The company headquarters are in Tokyo Japan. The Honda Civics are built in a facility in Suzuka, Mie, Japan.