Overview

For many years, the Honda Civic has appeal to those looking for an affordable compact car. The latest generation goes a step further, with features that would have been considered luxurious not long ago. In addition, the 2023 model offers handsome interior trim and several other bells and whistles.

You can choose from a sedan or hatchback model, and four-cylinder engines are available in abundance. You also get to pick between a continuously-variable automatic (CVT) or six-speed manual transmission. Lastly, all models come with touchscreen infotainment capabilities along with an impressive list of driver-assistance features that just keep getting better the higher up you go in the lineup.

The Civic's value, efficiency, features, and excellent road manners make it a clear choice over other well-respected rivals like the Hyundai Elantra, Mazda 3, and Toyota Corolla. Simply put, you can't go wrong with this car.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

Even though it redesigned almost everything else about the new Civic, Honda chose to keep the same powertrain options from the older car. The base model comes standard with a 158-hp 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, and the upgrade still is a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder that makes 180 horsepower.

The new Civic is only available as a front-wheel-drive car. Unfortunately, the manual transmission offered on the previous generation Civic sedan has been discontinued for 2022, leaving a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) as the sole option; a six-speed manual is still available on the hatchback model, though. At our test track, our turbocharged Touring sedan needed 7.5 seconds to reach 60 mph, which is slightly slower than the last generation Civic's result.

Topping out at 7.3 seconds to 60 mph, our test of the manual Sport Touring hatchback was only slightly slower than its predecessor. We're happy to report that the nimble handling, communicative steering, and well-balanced ride we appreciated in the last generation are all still present here. As before, both a sporty Si and seriously sporty high-performance Type R variant are available.

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

The interior design features clean lines and a hidden, honeycomb-patterned mesh dashboard. The wide center console appears less cluttered than the outgoing model's and includes a large bin for stashing smartphones, keys, and snacks. Honda says its cargo bay offers more space than before without sacrificing passenger room.

Infotainment and Connectivity

The standard Civic comes with a 7.0-inch touchscreen display for your infotainment system, but you have the option to upgrade to a larger 9.0-inch unit. You can also choose to get a 10.2-inch digital gauge display instead. Both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are included as standard features, and they offer wireless connectivity when used with the bigger screen size. Other optional features include in-dash navigation, a Bose stereo system, and a wireless phone charger pad built into the dash.

Which Honda Civic engine is the best?

Both the K20 and the K24 have proven to be one of the greatest four-cylinder engines ever built, with affordable parts with vast potential and a following that's led to people swapping them into every type of car you can imagine

Is the Honda Civic a good reliable car?

Over the years, the Honda Civic has consistently earned high scores in predicted reliability ratings. Regardless of the year model, it's one of the most dependable compact cars on the market.

Is Honda Civic better than Hyundai?

The Honda Civic is the stronger of the two with 158 hp and 138 lb-ft of torque, while the Hyundai Elantra falls a little short with its specs of 147 hp and 132 lb-ft of torque. Additionally, the Civic lineup is much more diverse overall with tons of trim levels and options.

Is Honda as reliable as Toyota?

The Toyota vehicles also consistently last longer than any Honda. According to statistics based on consumer reports, Toyota is the second most reliable automaker after Mazda, and Corolla is the most reliable model. Honda didn't even make it to the top 10 for average reliability.