For decades, the Honda Civic has given budget-minded buyers a compact car that makes them feel smart for being frugal. The latest generation, including the 2023 model, carries on this tradition and goes beyond, offering handsome interior trim and several features that very recently were considered luxuries. Sedan and hatchback body styles are available, and you can pick from a quartet of four-cylinder engines and two transmissions—a continuously-variable automatic (CVT) or a six-speed manual. All models come with touchscreen infotainment and a generous list of driver-assistance features, with more desirable options available throughout the lineup. The Civic’s combination of value, efficiency, niceties, and refined road manners make it a no-brainer, even when compared to other similarly well-respected rivals such as the Hyundai Elantra, the Mazda 3, and the Toyota Corolla. Simply put, it’s a great car at a great price.
What's New for 2023?
The Civic was fully redesigned for 2022, so for 2023 Honda has made no changes to the compact sedan and hatchback other than dropping the base LX trim. The high-performance Civic Type R hatchback rejoins the lineup this year, but we review that model separately.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
Our recommendation is the well-equipped EX trim on the sedan model, which comes with a lot of additional features that easily justify the price increase. Those niceties include blind-spot monitoring, a power sunroof, dual-zone automatic climate control, heated exterior mirrors, and heated front seats. It also comes standard with the more powerful 180-hp turbocharged four-cylinder engine. If you're buying the hatchback, we'd direct you to the EX-L, which offers similar equipment and adds leather upholstery.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
Even though it redesigned everything else about the new Civic, Honda decided to carry over the powertrain options from the previous-generation car. Base models come standard with a 158-hp 2.0-liter four-cylinder while the upgrade engine continues to be a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder that now makes 180 horsepower. The new Civic is offered solely as a front-wheel-drive car. Sadly, the manual transmission offered on the previous generation Civic sedan has been cut for 2022, leaving a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) as the sole offering; 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. The manual Sport Touring hatchback we tested did slightly better at 7.3 seconds to 60 mph. Luckily, the nimble handling, communicative steering, and well-balanced ride that we appreciated so much in the last generation model are present and accounted for here. Both a sporty Si and seriously sport high-performance Type-R variant are again part of the family and are reviewed separately.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
According to the EPA, the most fuel-efficient version of the new Civic is the mid-range EX, which earns ratings of 33 mpg city, 42 mpg highway, and 36 mpg combined. On our 75-mph highway fuel-economy route, the 2022 Civic Sport hatchback delivered 36 mpg. For more information about the Civic's fuel economy, visit the EPA's website.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
A streamlined interior design sports clean lines and a dashboard featuring a full-width honeycomb-patterned mesh design element that cleverly hides the air vents. A wide center console appears less cluttered than the outgoing model's and features what looks like a large, deep bin ahead of the shift lever for stashing smartphones, keys, and road-trip snacks. Honda says passenger space is roughly the same is also offered and its cargo bay is more generous.
Infotainment and Connectivity
The Civic comes standard with a 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment display, but a larger 9.0-inch unit is optional, as is a 10.2-inch digital gauge display. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are both standard and also offer wireless connectivity when paired with the larger of the two screens. Other options include in-dash navigation, a Bose stereo system, and a wireless smartphone charging pad.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
A host of driver-assistance features will be offered as standard, including automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection and adaptive cruise control with lane-keeping assist. For more information about the Civic's crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:
- Standard automated emergency braking
- Standard lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist
- Standard adaptive cruise control
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
Honda's standard warranty package is merely average, with rivals such as the Elantra and Kia Forte offering more comprehensive coverage. Buyers of the Civic also won't find any complimentary scheduled maintenance plan, something the Corolla offers as standard.