A Car of Many Talents: The Honda Civic

The Honda Civic has been an automotive staple for over fifty years. In that time, the Japanese-made compact has spanned eleven generations and sold over 22 million units. It’s a common sight on the road, whether you’re commuting or that road is on the silver screen. The Civic is one of the oldest nameplates in the industry—a name that stands for affordability, quality, and efficiency.

If you’re looking for a Honda Civic for sale, you’ve already made a great choice. Few cars are more suited for commuting than the Civic—but that is just the beginning of what this little car with a big heart has to offer its drivers. Let’s look at some of the attributes that make the Honda Civic the leader of the compact car segment…

A Customizer’s Dream

In the “Fast and Furious” franchise, the Civic is not one of the flashy sports cars that define it, despite being in the first high-stakes driving scene of the inaugural 2001 film. That movie opens with Vin Diesel driving a 1993 Civic EJ1 as he and his crew try to hijack a tractor-trailer. This unexpected film appearance created a group of Civic fans who have focused on the customization and performance capabilities of this model.

The Civic was a popular car for customization long before it found its way to the silver screen. The affordability of this car, combined with its longevity, makes it an attractive choice for veteran customizers and those who want to experiment. The ease of finding cost-effective aftermarket parts makes turning your car into a personalized work of art an achievable goal, not just a daydream.

Some easy customizations include changing up the lights, adding roof and rear spoilers, customizing seat covers and steering wheels, and the creative use of vinyl wraps. If you’re into DIY and crafting, you can bring those skills to the Civic’s interior, making it truly one of a kind. Gearheads can enjoy getting under the hood and upping the performance capabilities of this car. The sky is the limit, as a quick search online of what drivers have done with their Civics will prove.

Going the Distance

A highly attractive attribute of the Civic is its reliability. The website RepairPal, which is dedicated to the transparency of repair costs, rates the Civic four and a half out of five stars for reliability—and out of the 36 compact sedans rated by this site, the Civic is ranked third. RepairPal has also compiled data showing that Civic owners take their car in for unexpected repairs 0.2 times a year, which is half the average score for all vehicle models, which sits at 0.4.

Another part of the combination is longevity. The Honda Civic has the potential to last for 200,000 to 300,000 miles. The caveat to this is you must maintain your car properly to see this kind of mileage. While the Civic is an easy keeper, you will have to stick to a proper maintenance schedule to catch problems in advance and keep it tuned up. Your Civic is worth it, and you deserve to enjoy it for many, many miles to come.

The Joy of Driving

Driving is a big part of modern life. Even if you live in an urban area and use public transit, there will be times that you need to drive or ride in a car. Shouldn’t you be able to enjoy something that we spend so much of our lives doing?

The Honda Civic is quite simply a joy to drive. With intuitive steering and brakes that are an ideal level of sensitivity, you can tackle city streets, highways, and country roads with ease. The suspension handles bumps in the road quite well, leading to a smooth ride, and more recent model years have emphasized sound dampening to keep the noises outside from intruding on the cabin.

Passengers will enjoy a fluid and quiet ride. Drivers will enjoy easy and intuitive handling. No matter what seat you have, it’s an enjoyable time if it’s in a Civic.

It’s Bigger on the Inside

It’s not just the quality of the drive that makes a ride great; it’s also the comfort the car provides. While the Honda Civic is a compact car, the inside is surprisingly roomy. The backseat passengers will be able to stretch their legs. The front seating area lacks the caged-in feeling of some compacts; this is an especially nice trait for road trips when even the most patient passenger feels the urge to fidget.

While the actual cubic feet can vary from model year to model year, what they all have in common is a surprisingly spacious trunk. Whether you’re going on a road trip, moving homes, or have to carry gear for sporting events, the Civic has got you covered. The roomy floor of the backseat will also give you the space to keep the things you need with you instead of in the trunk. Who wants to stop every time they need a drink from the cooler? Not you, and not in the Civic.

Delightfully Efficient on Fuel

Fuel efficiency isn’t just about commuting. Think about your average week, as the time you spend in your car is more than when going to work—it’s taking the kids to school, soccer games, carpooling, dinner, grocery shopping, and date nights. Then expand a little further by a month or a year, because you’re also in your car for vacations, road trips, festivals, concerts, and visiting with family and friends. Then, the holiday season brings even more driving, with shopping, family events, parties, and celebrations to attend.

Every time you get behind the wheel of your car, fuel efficiency matters. It impacts the planet and it impacts your wallet. The Civic is here to help with its excellent fuel economy figures. After all, every mile you can get out of a gallon of gas is another mile that didn’t dip into your budget.

Never Go Out of Style

One very unique part of the Civic’s history is its ability to stay stylish across five decades—and this is no small feat. Even the biggest nameplates in the industry have had a model year or two that just did not work aesthetically.

The original Civic, released in 1973, was a hatchback with a sleek, friendly appearance. As the years went on and the ability arrived to obtain this model as a sedan or coupe, too, it never lost the cheerful, open vibe. Each generation brought changes, with the sixth (beginning in 1992) fully embracing the sedan aesthetic.

No matter what model year your Civic is, you’ll be getting a car that brings an eye-pleasing design with little pops of fun details like roof and rear spoilers, wide expressive headlights, and beautiful body paint colors. Performance is important, comfort is important, but there’s something to be said for walking up to a car that makes you smile.

The Honda Civic: A Small Car That Brings Big Benefits

As you’ve seen, the Honda Civic has a lot to offer outside of its superior performance as a commuter car. Excellent fuel efficiency, a surprising amount of room for cargo and passengers, and pleasing aesthetics are just a few of the many reasons that the Civic has remained one of the most popular compact cars for decades. Whether you’re looking for reliability or customization potential, the Civic makes a great choice.

There are many options, trims, and, if you’re buying used, model years for you to explore to find your perfect Civic. Sometimes, cars maintain their popularity because of a long-ago legacy; other cars maintain their popularity because they continue to reinvent themselves, constantly growing and changing, offering new technology and innovations. It’s not hard to see which category the Civic belongs in.