Model research hub
Honda Civic
TopSpeed says Honda is putting two versions of the Civic Hatchback on sale for 2026, the Hybrid and the Type R, that barely feel like they belong to the same nameplate. MotorTrend says Honda just overhauled its compact car with a midcycle refresh for 2025, so it isn't expecting many changes for the 2026 Civic, which comes with an entry-level 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine developing 150 hp and 133 lb-ft of torque. Car and Driver says Honda did not create the first hot hatch, but it has just about perfected the formula with the 2026 Civic Type R, and expects no significant changes to the Type R for the 2026 model year.
Two versions that barely feel related
TopSpeed (opens in a new tab) says Honda is putting two versions of the Civic Hatchback on sale for 2026, the Hybrid and the Type R, that barely feel like they belong to the same nameplate.
Minor changes, entry-level power
MotorTrend (opens in a new tab) says Honda just overhauled its compact car with a midcycle refresh for 2025, so it isn't expecting many changes for the 2026 Civic, which comes with an entry-level 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine developing 150 hp and 133 lb-ft of torque.
A near-perfect hot hatch
Car and Driver (opens in a new tab) says Honda did not create the first hot hatch, but it has just about perfected the formula with the 2026 Civic Type R, and expects no significant changes to the Type R for the 2026 model year.
Questions buyers ask
How much horsepower does the base 2026 Honda Civic have?
MotorTrend (opens in a new tab) says 150 hp from its entry-level 2.0-liter four-cylinder.
Is the Civic Type R changing for 2026?
Car and Driver (opens in a new tab) says no significant changes are expected.
Research map
Every major decision path.
The 2025 Honda Civic is built around 2.0L gas or two-motor hybrid, rated at 150 / 200 horsepower across its compact car body style.
Explore this topic →02Trims and equipmentThe 2025 U.S. lineup has 7 trims.
Explore this topic →03Towing and capabilityThe 2025 Civic seats 5 and is a Compact car.
Explore this topic →04Safety and ownershipNHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2025 Civic.
Explore this topic →Current model year
2025 Honda Civic
The 2025 Civic family separates sedan and hatchback bodies and adds a 200-horsepower hybrid branch above the 150-horsepower gas engine.
Read specifications, trims, answers and sourcesModel-year archive
3 indexed Honda Civic model years.
| Model year | Trims | Open record |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Honda Civic | 2026 record → | |
| 2025 Honda Civic | 2025 record → | |
| 2015 Honda Civic | 2015 record → |
Background and safety record
What public sources say about the Honda Civic.
The Honda Civic is a series of automobiles manufactured by Honda since 1972. As of 2023, the Civic is positioned between the Honda Fit/City and Honda Accord in Honda's global passenger car line-up. It is one of the best-selling automobiles in history, with over 27 million units sold through 2021.
- Safety
- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in the United States has determined frontal crash test ratings of Honda Civics of different model years. The eighth-generation Civic sedan's crash test performance has been rated highly by both the U.S. government's NHTSA and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
Source: Honda Civic (Wikipedia); safety and recall figures from NHTSA.
Honda Civic at a glance
- Production
- 1972–present
- Class
- Subcompact car (1972–1991), Compact car (1991–present)
- Layout
- Front-engine, front-wheel-drive, Front-engine, four-wheel-drive (1983–2005)
- Predecessor
- Honda N600, Honda Z600
Honda Civic generations
The Honda Civic has been redesigned in 1979, 1983, 1987, 1991, 1995, 2000, 2005, 2011, 2015, 2021, gaps of 7, 4, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5, 6, 4, 6 years, an average of 4.9 years between generations. The current generation (eleventh generation) began in 2021.
| Generation | Code | Began | What changed |
|---|---|---|---|
| First generation | n/a | 1972–1979 | The first-generation Honda Civic was introduced on 11 July 1972, but sold as a 1973 model in Japan. |
| Second generation | n/a | 1979–1983 | The second-generation Civic was introduced in June 1979 as a 1980 model. |
| Third generation | n/a | 1983–1987 | The third-generation Civic was released in September 1983 for the 1984 model year. |
| Fourth generation | n/a | 1987–1991 | In September 1987, the fourth-generation Civic was introduced with increased dimensions and a lower hood line. |
| Fifth generation | n/a | 1991–1995 | Introduced in September 1991 for the 1992 model year, the fifth-generation Civic featured increased dimensions, as well as more aerodynamic styling. |
| Sixth generation | n/a | 1995–2000 | Introduced in September 1995 for the 1996 model year, the sixth generation featured updated styling, although less radical than previous redesigns. |
| Seventh generation | n/a | 2000–2005 | The seventh-generation Civic was released in September 2000, for the 2001 model year. |
| Eighth generation | n/a | 2005–2011 | The eighth-generation Civic was released in September 2005 in the North American market, for the 2006 model year. |
| Ninth generation | n/a | 2011–2015 | The ninth-generation Civic consists of four body styles, which are sedan, coupe, hatchback and station wagon marketed as the Civic Tourer. |
| Tenth generation | n/a | 2015–2021 | Based on an all-new Honda compact global platform, the tenth-generation Civic marked the unification of the Civic range globally. |
| Eleventh generation | n/a | 2021–present | The eleventh-generation Civic sedan was revealed as a prototype in November 2020. |
Recent recalls (4 campaigns across the latest model years)
- November 2024, Seats:Critical Fasteners. Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Honda Accord, Accord Hybrid, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Pilot, and 2024 HR-V, Acura Integra and Acura Integra Type S vehicles. The driver's seat cushion frame may not have been tightened properly, which can… Consequence: An unsecured driver's seat may not adequately restrain the driver during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
- October 2024, Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump. Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Honda Accord, Accord Hybrid, 2023-2025 Honda CR-V Hybrid, and 2025 Honda Civic and Civic Hybrid vehicles. The high-pressure fuel pump may crack and leak fuel. Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
- October 2024, Steering. Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Acura Integra, Civic Type R, CR-V Hybrid, CR-V, HR-V, 2022-2025 Civic, Civic Hatchback, 2024-2025 Acura Integra Type S, 2025 CR-V Fuel Cell EV, Civic Hybrid, and Civic Hatchback Hybrid vehicles. The steering gearbox… Consequence: Difficulty steering can increase the risk of a crash.
Year by year
The Honda Civic across 12 model years.
| Model year | Combined MPG/MPGe | EPA annual fuel cost | EPA records | NHTSA recalls | NHTSA complaints | NHTSA overall rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Honda Civic | 24–49 | $1,300–$3,300 | 7 | 5 stars | ||
| 2025 Honda Civic | 24–49 | $1,250–$3,250 | 7 | 2 | 5 stars | |
| 2024 Honda Civic | 24–36 | $1,750–$3,250 | 12 | 3 | 5 stars | |
| 2023 Honda Civic | 24–36 | $1,750–$3,250 | 12 | 4 | 5 stars | |
| 2022 Honda Civic | 29–36 | $1,750–$2,500 | 11 | 4 | 881 | 5 stars |
| 2021 Honda Civic | 25–36 | $1,750–$3,100 | 8 | 4 | 142 | 5 stars |
| 2020 Honda Civic | 25–36 | $1,750–$3,100 | 16 | 5 | 222 | 5 stars |
| 2019 Honda Civic | 25–36 | $1,750–$3,100 | 16 | 4 | 348 | 5 stars |
| 2018 Honda Civic | 25–36 | $1,750–$3,100 | 15 | 6 | 598 | 5 stars |
| 2017 Honda Civic | 25–36 | $1,750–$3,100 | 15 | 6 | 589 | 5 stars |
| 2016 Honda Civic | 30–35 | $1,800–$2,100 | 6 | 5 | 1,077 | 5 stars |
| 2015 Honda Civic | 25–44 | $1,400–$3,100 | 7 | 1 | 379 | 5 stars |
Year-to-year changes
What changed in the Honda Civic, one model year at a time.
| Step | EPA records | Combined MPG/MPGe, midpoint | Added | No longer listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 to 2025 | 12 to 7 | 30.0 to 36.5 | Engines: 2L 4-cyl SIDI; Hybrid | Engines: 2L 4-cyl |
| 2022 to 2023 | 11 to 12 | 32.5 to 30.0 | Engines: 2L 4-cyl SIDI | |
| 2021 to 2022 | 8 to 11 | 30.5 to 32.5 | Engines: 2L 4-cyl SIDI | |
| 2020 to 2021 | 16 to 8 | Labels: Civic 2Dr; Size classes: Compact Cars | ||
| 2018 to 2019 | 15 to 16 | Labels: Civic 5Dr - Type R, Civic 5Dr Sport, Civic Si 2Dr, Civic Si 4Dr | ||
| 2016 to 2017 | 6 to 15 | 32.5 to 30.5 | Labels: Civic 5Dr, Civic 5Dr - Type R, Civic 5Dr Sport, Civic Si 2Dr, and 1 more; Engines: 2L 4-cyl SIDI; Transmissions: Automatic (AV-S7); Fuels: Premium; Size classes: Large Cars | |
| 2015 to 2016 | 7 to 6 | 34.5 to 32.5 | Labels: Civic 2Dr, Civic 4Dr; Engines: 1.5L 4-cyl SIDI, 2L 4-cyl; Size classes: Midsize Cars | Labels: Civic, Civic HF, Civic Hybrid, Civic Natural Gas; Engines: 1.5L 4-cyl HEV, 1.8L 4-cyl, 1.8L 4-cyl RNG=193, 2.4L 4-cyl; Transmissions: Automatic (AV-S7), Automatic 5-spd, Manual 5-spd; Fuels: CNG, Premium |
Buying used
What the Honda Civic recalls and complaints are about.
| Model year | Campaigns | Systems recalled | Warnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2 | steering; fuel system, gasoline (delivery) | None |
| 2024 | 3 | steering (rack and pinion); steering; seats (critical fasteners) | None |
| 2023 | 4 | service brakes, hydraulic (antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip); steering (rack and pinion); steering; 1 more | None |
| 2022 | 4 | steering (rack and pinion); air bags (sensor); steering | None |
| 2021 | 4 | service brakes, hydraulic (foundation components); fuel system, gasoline (delivery); air bags (sensor) | None |
| 2020 | 5 | fuel system, gasoline (delivery); service brakes, hydraulic (foundation components); air bags (sensor) | None |
| 2019 | 4 | fuel system, gasoline (delivery); air bags (sensor) | None |
| 2018 | 6 | equipment (other); steering (electric power assist system); fuel system, gasoline (delivery); 1 more | None |
| 2017 | 6 | power train (driveline); air bags; steering (electric power assist system); 3 more | None |
| 2016 | 5 | engine and engine cooling; exterior lighting; parking brake; 2 more | None |
| 2015 | 1 | power train (automatic transmission) | None |
| System | Complaints | Share of all complaints | Worst model year |
|---|---|---|---|
| steering | 1,761 | 41% | 2022 (731) |
| unknown or other | 710 | 17% | 2016 (253) |
| electrical system | 421 | 10% | 2016 (119) |
| power train | 272 | 6% | 2015 (176) |
| engine | 266 | 6% | 2016 (95) |
| service brakes | 229 | 5% | 2016 (94) |
Trim by trim
Every 2026 Honda Civic trim side by side.
| Trim | Drive | Engine | Horsepower | Torque (lb-ft) | Curb weight (lb) | Max towing (lb) | Combined mpg | Base price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LX | FWD | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (i-VTEC) | 150 | 133 | 2,875 | – | 36 | $25,890 |
| Sport | FWD | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (i-VTEC) | 150 | 133 | 2,926 | – | 34 | $27,890 |
| Si | FWD | 1.5-liter 4-cylinder (VTEC, Turbo) | 200 | 192 | 2,952 | – | 31 | $32,690 |
Source: Kelley Blue Book specifications for the 2026 model year; base price is KBB's national base price where its list carries the trim by the same name. A dash means KBB lists no figure.
Specifications by year
Power, weight and towing for every Honda Civic model year.
| Model year | Trims | Engines | Horsepower | Curb weight (lb) | Max towing (lb) | Fuel tank (gal) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 3 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (i-VTEC) / 1.5-liter 4-cylinder (VTEC, Turbo) | 150–200 | 2,875–2,952 | – | 12.4 |
| 2025 | 3 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (i-VTEC) / 1.5-liter 4-cylinder (VTEC, Turbo) | 150–200 | 2,877–2,952 | – | 12.4 |
| 2024 | 4 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (i-VTEC) / 1.5-liter 4-cylinder (VTEC, Turbo) | 158–180 | 2,928–3,102 | – | 12.4 |
| 2023 | 5 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (i-VTEC) / 1.5-liter 4-cylinder (VTEC, Turbo) | 158–200 | 2,877–3,077 | – | 12.4 |
| 2022 | 5 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (i-VTEC) / 1.5-liter 4-cylinder (i-VTEC, Turbo) / 1.5-liter 4-cylinder (VTEC, Turbo) | 158–200 | 2,877–3,077 | – | 12.4 |
| 2021 | 5 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (i-VTEC) / 1.5-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 158–174 | 2,771–2,963 | – | 12.4 |
| 2020 | 6 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (i-VTEC) / 1.5-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 158–205 | 2,771–2,963 | – | 12.4 |
| 2019 | 6 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (i-VTEC) / 1.5-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 158–205 | 2,771–2,963 | – | 12.4 |
| 2018 | 6 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (i-VTEC) / 1.5-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 158–205 | 2,752–2,900 | – | 12.4 |
| 2017 | 11 | 1.5-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) / 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (i-VTEC) | 158–205 | 2,751–2,923 | – | 12.4 |
| 2016 | 5 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (i-VTEC) / 1.5-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 158–174 | 2,752–2,900 | – | 12.4 |
| 2015 | 8 | 4-Cyl, NG, 1.8L i-VTEC / 1.8-liter 4-cylinder (i-VTEC) / 4-Cyl Hybrid, 1.5L +1 | 110–205 | 2,749–3,002 | – | 8–13.2 |
Source: Kelley Blue Book specifications for each model year. A range covers every trim KBB lists that year; a dash means KBB lists no figure.
Owning it
Oil, fluid and wheel-nut figures for the Honda Civic.
| Model year | Engine oil | Brake fluid | Wheel-nut torque | A/C refrigerant | Key-fob battery |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0W-20 (3.7 qt) Civic Sedan; 0W-20 (4.2 qt) Civic Hatchback; 0W-20 (4.2 qt) Civic Sedan Hybrid; 0W-20 (4.2 qt) Civic Hatchback Hybrid | – | – | – | – |
| 2024 | 0W-20 | – | 80 lb-ft | – | – |
| 2023 | 0W-20 | – | 80 lb-ft | – | – |
| 2021 | – | – | 80 lb-ft | – | – |
| 2020 | 0W-20 | DOT 3 | 80 lb-ft | – | – |
| 2018 | – | DOT 3 | 80 lb-ft | – | – |
| 2017 | – | DOT 3 | 80 lb-ft | – | – |
| 2016 | – | DOT 3 | – | – | – |
| 2015 | – | DOT 3 | 80 lb-ft | – | – |
Source: the manufacturer's owner's manual for each model year. A dash means that year's manual gave no single value for it, for instance one that lists two oil grades or two key types.
Model-year recall record
Honda Civic: which model years carry more or fewer federal safety recalls.
Fewer recalls than this model’s own average
- 2015 Honda Civic : 1 recall on file (average across published years is 4.0).
| Model year | Federal recalls on file | Complaints on file | Recalls most commonly affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | not available | ||
| 2025 | 2 | not available | steering, fuel system |
| 2024 | 3 | not available | steering, seats |
| 2023 | 4 | not available | steering, brakes, seats |
| 2022 | 4 | 881 | steering, airbags |
| 2021 | 4 | 142 | airbags, brakes, fuel system |
| 2020 | 5 | 222 | fuel system, airbags, brakes |
| 2019 | 4 | 348 | fuel system, airbags |
| 2018 | 6 | 598 | fuel system, equipment, steering, airbags |
| 2017 | 6 | 589 | airbags, steering, equipment, powertrain |
| 2016 | 5 | 1077 | exterior lighting, parking brake, engine cooling, fuel system |
| 2015 | 1 | 379 | powertrain |
Method: recall counts and their affected components come from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: Recalls API, queried by exact make, model and model year. Complaint counts come from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: Complaints API, same query pattern. Data pulled 2026-09-04.
Known gap: the NHTSA complaints API did not return data for Honda Civic model years 2023, 2024, 2025 when queried for this page: the request itself failed upstream, not returning a genuine zero. Those years are marked "not available" above instead of shown as clean; recall counts for those years are unaffected and come from the separate recalls API, which returned data for every year listed.
Check open recalls by VIN for one particular vehicle.
Q01Is there a best year to buy a Honda Civic?
Recall count alone can't answer that: it says nothing about a specific vehicle's price, mileage, accident history or maintenance record. What federal data can say: 2015 carried fewer recalls than this model's own average. See the model-year table on this page for the exact counts and what they cover.
Q02Which Honda Civic model years have the cleanest federal recall record?
The 2015 Honda Civic has 1 recall on file: below this model's own average of 4.0. A shorter list on file as of this page's data pull is not a guarantee against a future recall.
Q03What are common recall-related problems on the Honda Civic by model year?
2025: steering, fuel system. 2024: steering, seats. 2023: steering, brakes, seats. 2022: steering, airbags. 2021: airbags, brakes, fuel system. 2020: fuel system, airbags, brakes.
Q04Why do some Honda Civic model years show "not available" for complaints?
The NHTSA complaints API did not return data for Honda Civic model years 2023, 2024, 2025 when queried for this page: the request itself failed upstream instead of the count genuinely being zero. Recall counts for those years are unaffected; they come from a separate NHTSA endpoint that returned data for every year listed.
Diagnosing one of these symptoms? The recalled systems above map to this site’s own ownership desks: general, evidence-first guidance that applies regardless of whether the specific vehicle in front of you was ever part of a recall campaign: Transmission and drivetrain, Climate and electrical, Brakes, tires and steering, Engine and cooling, Buying, records and recalls.
Compared with
Models this Honda Civic is most often compared with.
Nearest Honda models
Other Honda models.
Frequent questions
Answers with their conditions intact.
Q01How many trims does the 2025 Civic come in?
The 2025 Honda Civic (compact car) comes in 7 trims: LX Sedan, Sport Sedan, Sport Hybrid Sedan, Sport Touring Hybrid Sedan, Sport Hatchback, Sport Hybrid Hatchback, Sport Touring Hybrid Hatchback.
Q02What are the 2025 Civic trims?
The 2025 Honda Civic trims are LX Sedan, Sport Sedan, Sport Hybrid Sedan, Sport Touring Hybrid Sedan, Sport Hatchback, Sport Hybrid Hatchback, Sport Touring Hybrid Hatchback, listed from the entry LX Sedan up to the top Sport Touring Hybrid Hatchback.
Q03What engine or powertrain does the 2025 Civic use?
The 2025 Honda Civic is built around 2.0L gas or two-motor hybrid, rated at 150 / 200 horsepower across its compact car body style.
Q04How much horsepower does the 2025 Civic have?
The 2025 Honda Civic is rated at 150 / 200 horsepower (2.0L gas or two-motor hybrid).
Q05Is AWD or 4WD available on the 2025 Civic?
The 2025 Honda Civic is offered with FWD.