Summary
The Honda Civic is a medium-sized family car that has now been sold in different guises for over 50 years. This is the latest 11th-generation Civic, which is only available as a hybrid.
Officially titled ‘Civic eHEV’ by its manufacturer, this brand-new liftback is now available to order here in the UK, and has received unanimously positive reviews from the British motoring media so far, described by Top Gear as “one heck of an upgrade” when compared to the outgoing Civic generation.
The majority of reviewers agree that the new Civic’s biggest strength is just how well-rounded it is as a family car. “It’s tidy to drive, has a generous boot and lots of standard kit”, What Car? concludes, while Parker‘s Tom Wiltshire adds that the car has the best ride comfort and handling in its class.
Buyers can expect running costs to be low, thanks to the Civic’s petrol-electric hybrid engine, but it costs more to buy than its key rivals – notably the Toyota Corolla hybrid, and mild hybrid versions of the Ford Focus and Mazda 3.
Nevertheless, Richard Ingram of Auto Express believes that the Civic will be an appealing option to those who are looking for an efficient family car and don’t want to fork out extra for a plug-in hybrid or all-electric model. “Honda’s approach could see it score well, undercutting PHEV rivals but offering stronger fuel economy than pure-petrol models.”
As of February 2024, the Honda Civic holds a New Car Expert Rating of A with a score of 78%, which is a marked improvement over the score held by the outgoing model.
- Honda Civic (2017 to 2022) – Expert Rating
- More Honda ratings, reviews, news and features
Civic highlights
- Low running costs
- High-quality interior
- Class-leading driving dynamics
- Large boot
- Punchy performance
Civic lowlights
- Only one engine option on offer
- More expensive than key rivals
- Limited rear headroom
- No plug-in hybrid version
- Not as interesting to look at as the last Civic
Key specifications
Body style:Medium liftback
Engines: petrol-electric hybrid
Price: From £36,495 on-road
Launched: Autumn 2022
Last updated:N/A
Replacement due:TBA
Image gallery
Reviews, road tests and comparisons from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.
Auto Express
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Model reviewed: 2.0-litre petrol/electric hybrid Advance
Score: 8 / 10
“The Honda Civic is a spacious hatchback that can give many SUVs a run for their money. It’s better built and even sharper to drive than before, and the hybrid powertrain should prove usefully frugal when we’re all placing greater focus on the rising cost of living. If you don’t want an EV, the new Civic is a very strong contender in its class.” (Richard Ingram)
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Model reviewed:
Score: 8 / 10
“The hybrid-powered Honda Civic is a frugal, well-equipped family hatchback that really impresses.”
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Auto Trader
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Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“Honda has dramatically changed the Civic hatch by making it, well, less dramatic. In appearance, at any rate. The new Civic gets simple, sober styling but the biggest changes are under the skin, where there’s just one hybrid engine available and the cabin has been given a high-quality makeover.”
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Autocar
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Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The Honda Civic slots into being one of the best to drive in the class just like that. Like recent drives in a Kia Ceed and a Citroën C5 X, it’s a reminder that a simply proportioned car retains lots of appeal, in terms of chassis dynamics and also economy. A car with a big frontal area wouldn’t return such low fuel consumption.” (Matt Prior)
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Model reviewed: 2.0-litre petrol/electric hybrid Sport
Score: 8 / 10
“Honda has pulled off this car with aplomb. It has no major weaknesses and all the elements work together to offer the dynamics, practicality and comfort that buyers of hatchbacks typically want – and more besides.”
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Business Car
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Model reviewed: e:HEV
“The Honda Civic is now hybrid only – but it’s also fantastic to drive!” (Richard Bush)
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Model reviewed: Sport
Score: 8 / 10
“Honda sees the latest Toyota Corolla as this Civic’s keenest rival. We like the Toyota, having most recently driven the GR Sport, which is closest in spec to the Sport, and we think the Honda is the better car.”
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Car
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Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The Honda Civic is very well equipped and a damn sight better built than its key VAG rivals, the Volkswagen Golf and the SEAT Leon. Most importantly, it’s a nicer place to be than its main sparring partner, the Toyota Corolla.”
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Carbuyer
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Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8.6 / 10
“The Honda Civic e:HEV is a hybrid family car that’s good to drive, comfortable and well equipped.” (Richard Ingram)
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Carwow
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Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 9 / 10
“The latest Honda Civic is great to drive, well put together and is fuel efficient too, but it just looks a bit dull.”
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Daily Mirror
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Model reviewed: 2.0-litre petrol/electric hybrid Advance
“Why don’t all hybrid cars work as well as as the Honda Civic?”
Author: Gareth Butterfield
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Driving Electric
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Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“It drives well, packs some impressive engineering and impresses especially when it comes to interior quality and real-world efficiency. Company-car users may rue the lack of a plug-in hybrid option, but private buyers will find lots to like here.”
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Evo
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Model reviewed: Civic e:hev Sport
Score: 8 / 10
“It looks more resolved than before, has a big jump in quality, drives extremely well and has all the performance you could reasonably want paired with an impressive set of economy figures. Save for a firm ride and some higher-than-average levels of road noise, it’s an impressive package.” (Jordan Katsianis)
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Heycar
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Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“It might not look like a radical departure from the old one, but much has changed including a classier, more user-friendly interior, smooth and efficient hybrid-only power and better ride and handling.”
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Honest John
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Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The new Honda Civic is a very impressive all-round family hatchback, albeit one that’s not exactly cheap to buy or exciting to look at. It’s hybrid-only, making it smooth and powerful yet cheap to run, while it drives well and has a smart, intuitive.”
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Parkers
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Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 9.4 / 10
“Cheap to run and great to drive – the new hybrid-only Honda Civic is an impressive bit of kit.”
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The Sunday Times
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Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 6 / 10
“The new Civic looks a mite dull on the outside and it’s certainly not the most thrilling car of the year to drive (not in standard form, at least), but it might just be the most sensible thanks to a decent cabin, lots of space and a very frugal hybrid engine.”
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The Telegraph
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Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The latest Civic isn’t quite as good as Honda would have us believe, but it’s a good alternative to the Corolla, if not quite as sharp to drive. And on the face of it, with prices starting at £29,595, it’s pricier than the Toyota rival.”
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Top Gear
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Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“Honda took an interesting tack with this Civic: honing the drivetrain for impatient European tastes first, then adapting it for lazy American driving afterwards. It shows: this is a well sorted, mature and very complete family hatchback, well kitted out and impressively refined. It’s one heck of an upgrade.”
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What Car?
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Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 10 / 10
“There’s very little to fault with the Honda Civic. It’s great to drive, practical and cheap to own. And while a few rivals have more rear seat space and a little less road noise, the Civic compensates by being generously equipped and very efficient.”
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Safety rating
Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP
Overall score: 5 stars
Date tested: November 2017
Read the full Euro NCAP review
Adult protection: 92%
Child protection: 75%
Vulnerable road users: 75%
Safety assist: 88%
Eco rating
Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP
No eco rating
As of February 2024, this latest iteration of the Honda Civic has not been lab tested by Green NCAP.
Reliability rating
Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy
Total claims: 171
Average repair cost: £426.14
Last updated: January 2024
Reliability score
All data based on MotorEasy average workshop costs for extended car warranty claims
The Honda Civic has a very high reliability rating of 80%, according to warranty data provided exclusively to us by our commercial partner, MotorEasy. This score applies to both the current Civic and also to previous generations, which is worth considering if you are considering a used Honda Civic.
Based on more than 170 warranty claims, the average repair cost is about £430 so a used car warranty is well worth considering if you own or are considering an C-Class. The most frequent claimant concern is the braking system, with an average bill of about £150. Engine faults are unsurprisingly the most expensive problems, and are not uncommon in the Civic.
Make sure that any used car warranty you purchase covers all of these problem areas.
Running cost rating
Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data
| Fuel consumption | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
| Hybrid models | 58 mpg | B | 57 – 60 mpg | A – B |
| Plug-in hybrid models | 0 mpg | E | 0 – mpg | E – E |
| CO₂ output | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
| Hybrid models | 112 g/km | A | 108 – 114 g/km | A – A |
| Plug-in hybrid models | 0 g/km | A | 0 – 0 g/km | A – A |
| Battery range | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
| Plug-in hybrid models | 0 miles | E | 0 – 0 miles | E – E |
| Insurance group | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
| All models | 28 | B | 28 – 28 | B – B |
| Service and maintenance | Cost | Score |
| Year 1 | £224 | B |
| Year 2 | £515 | B |
| Year 3 | £803 | A |
| Year 4 | £1,001 | A |
| Year 5 | £1,415 | B |
| Overall | £3,958 | B |
The Honda Civic is a relatively inexpensive car to run, according to data provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our partner, Clear Vehicle Data. As a small note, please ignore the plug-in hybrid scores listed above –there’s an error somewhere in there as the Civic is not available as a plug-in hybrid…
The Civic scores consistently well across fuel economy, road tax (which is taken from the CO2 score), insurance group and servicing costs. If you’re looking for a new car with low running costs, the Honda Civic should be on your shopping list.
Awards
Trophies, prizes and awards that the Honda Civic has received
2023
- Auto Express Awards –Best Affordable Hybrid Car
- Business Motoring Awards – Best Medium Car, Best Hybrid + Best Company Car
- Carbuyer Awards – Best Hybrid Car
- EcoCar Electrified Top 50 –Best Hybrid Medium Car
- What Car? Awards –Best Family Car
2022
- Scottish Car of the Year Awards –Car of the Year + Best Family Car
- Parkers New Car Awards –Car of the Year + Best Medium Family Car
Similar cars
If you’re looking at the Honda Civic, you might also be interested in these alternatives
Alfa Romeo Giulietta|Citroën C4|Citroën C4 Cactus|Fiat Tipo|Ford Focus|Hyundai i30|Kia Ceed|Mazda 3|Mini Countryman|Peugeot 308|Renault Megane|SEAT Leon|Skoda Scala|Skoda Octavia|Toyota Corolla|Vauxhall Astra|Volkswagen Golf
- Honda Civic (2017 to 2022) – Expert Rating
- More Honda ratings, reviews, news and features
More information
More news, reviews and information about the Honda Civic at The Car Expert
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Honda prices up all-new Civic
All-new Honda Civic revealed
Refreshed Honda Civic Type R adds hardcore and stealthier versions
Honda Civic upgraded for 2020 model year
Honda Civic (2017 to 2022)
Twin test: Renault Megane RS vs. Honda Civic Type R
Honda Civic 4 Door review
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Honda Civic diesel review
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