View All Media
Stylish and filled with the latest tech and safety features, the 2018 Honda Civic is perfect for anyone looking for a spacious, fuel-efficient and reliable commuter car that’s fun to drive. Enthusiasts will like the 205-horsepower Civic Si Coupe or Sedan, and the 306-horsepower Civic Type R Hatchback is destined to become a legend.
Despite its numerous body styles and powertrains, the Civic does not serve all. If you need all-wheel drive, look to a Subaru Impreza. For a diesel sedan or hatchback, turn to the Chevy Cruze. And if a hybrid is what you’re looking for, check out the Toyota Prius, Kia Niro and Hyundai Ionic.
Last year Honda added the hatchback body style as well as the 306-horsepower high-performance Type R to the Civic’s extensive lineup. There are no changes or updates for 2018.
A perennial best-seller, the roomy and fuel-efficient 2018 Honda Civic has become the benchmark for the compact class, which includes the Toyota Corolla, Chevy Cruze, Ford Focus, VW Golf and Jetta, Mazda3, Hyundai Elantra and Kia Forte. The new Civic is offered as a sedan, coupe or hatchback, and its available turbocharged engines produce as much as 306 horsepower. It’s also rated a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The new Honda Civic is offered in seven trim levels including the base Civic LX, which starts around $21,000 for a hatchback, the Civic Si performance model and the legendary Civic Type R (reviewed here), which battles the Ford Focus RS and Volkswagen Golf R for hot-hatch supremacy. With its variety of models, excellent-yet-efficient driving manners, and an enviable history of reliability and resale value, it’s little wonder the Civic was crowned KBB.com’s 2017 Best Buy Award overall winner.
The Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price for any individual used vehicle can vary greatly according to mileage, condition, location, and other factors, but here's a general idea of what buyers are currently paying for used 2018 Honda Civic models when purchasing from a dealership.
Original MSRP | KBB Fair Purchase Price (nat'l average) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
$20,635 | $15,646 | |||
$21,045 | $15,568 | |||
$21,635 | $10,971 | |||
$21,845 | $17,428 | |||
$22,045 | $17,210 | |||
$22,235 | $17,352 | |||
$22,845 | $13,087 | |||
$23,235 | $12,754 | |||
$23,395 | $18,886 | |||
$23,445 | $15,262 | |||
$23,495 | $15,969 | |||
$24,145 | $17,600 | |||
$24,395 | $14,195 | |||
$24,620 | $14,057 | |||
$24,895 | $17,711 | |||
$24,995 | $19,026 | |||
$24,995 | $19,345 | |||
$25,145 | $16,266 | |||
$25,895 | $16,161 | |||
$25,895 | $16,536 | |||
$26,645 | $18,512 | |||
$27,320 | $16,901 | |||
$27,645 | $17,210 | |||
$27,695 | $19,827 | |||
$29,645 | $20,053 |
For reference, the 2018 Honda Civic originally had a starting sticker price of $20,635, with the range-topping Civic Sport Touring Hatchback 4D starting at $29,645.
Honda says its vast and longtime involvement in auto racing improves its street cars. Although it’s hard to draw a direct line from the Honda that won the 2017 Indy 500 to the new Civic, although both cars are turbocharged, a big part of the Civic’s winning formula is the way it combines practicality, efficiency and everyday comfort with modest to maximum dashes of sportiness. The Civic is highly satisfying to drive, even a base model with the naturally aspirated 2.0-liter 4-cylinder and 6-speed manual transmission. The smaller but more powerful turbocharged 1.5-liter offers good if not blistering acceleration and nary a hint of turbo lag. Most buyers will choose the automatic transmission, and the Civic’s CVT (continuously variable transmission) is among the best at mimicking a traditional one. A standard Civic can’t quite match a Mazda3 in cornering dynamics, but it’s still among the best in its class, as is its steering feel.
The 2018 Civic’s interior is full of premium materials and top-notch plastics. Ergonomics is a volume knob shy of perfection, as using the new Honda Civic’s touch screen to crank up the Taylor Swift can be frustrating and distracting. This is a problem Honda has already addressed in other models. The large, easy-to-read screen also serves as the control center for audio, Apple CarPlay and the optional navigation system. The Civic boasts some of the best interior volume among compact cars. Rear-seat legroom is impressive in the sedan, but beware of the wide sills when entering and exiting. At 15.1 cubic feet, the Civic sedan’s trunk is huge. Hatchback Civics boast 25.7 cubic feet of space with the rear seats up and some 20 additional cubic feet with them down.
Honda took chances with the design of the 2018 Honda Civic and they have paid off. The Civic’s shape is daring and innovative, with an aggressive front end, a long, low and wide stance and unique C-shaped taillights. The Civic Sedan and Coupe feature elegant sloping rooflines, while the Civic hatchback stands out with its bulbous rear end, high-mounted spoiler and the gaping fake vents on either side of its rear bumper. Sport and Sport Touring hatchbacks can be spied via their center-mounted dual-exhaust outlets, while the new Si boasts its own edgier exterior cosmetics. The Type R gets a hood scoop, three exhaust pipes and a gargantuan rear spoiler.
HONDA SENSING
This comprehensive suite of optional safety features and driving aids costs only $1,000. It’s an incredible value. The package includes adaptive cruise control with low-speed follow, road-departure mitigation, forward-collision warning, lane-keeping assist and the Collision Mitigation Braking System, which can automatically apply the brakes if a frontal collision appears imminent.
HONDA LANEWATCH
Standard on EX, EX-L and the top Sport Touring trim levels, this clever system adds a camera to the passenger-side mirror to eliminate your blind spot. Every time you turn on the Civic’s right turn signal, the camera provides a live shot of the Civic’s flank on the interior touch screen.
The 2018 Honda Civic is offered in an array of trims that range from base LX to top Touring variants as well as the enthusiast-oriented Si and Type R halo models. The least expensive Civic LX sedan includes automatic climate control, rearview camera, folding rear seat, and a 4-speaker AM/FM audio system with USB port, Bluetooth connectivity and 5-inch screen. We think most buyers will prefer stepping up to at least an EX model, which includes an automatic transmission (optional on LX models), remote engine start, moonroof, 60/40-split folding rear seat and upgraded infotainment system with a 7-inch touch screen that is Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatible.
Climbing to the Civic EX-T in the sedan or coupe, or any Civic hatchback, brings the smaller but more powerful turbocharged engine as standard. Other features vary with trim level, including leather interior, heated front and rear seats, navigation system, Honda’s LaneWatch camera-based blind-spot monitoring system, power driver’s seat, and dual-zone automatic climate control. One package we recommend for any Civic (as long as it has the required automatic transmission) is the Honda Sensing system. This suite of active safety features and driving aids described in “Favorite Things” is well worth the extra $1,000.
Two engines and two transmissions are used in the high-volume members of the 2018 Honda Civic. Base sedans and coupes use a 158-horsepower 2.0-liter 4-cylinder available with a 6-speed manual transmission or an excellent continuously variable automatic transmission. Higher trims and all 2018 Civic hatchbacks employ a 1.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder that is more powerful and efficient. This engine can also be connected to a 6-speed manual transmission. Sport and Sport Touring Hatchbacks get a power bump. The Civic Si pairs its 205-horsepower/1.5-liter turbo engine with a 6-speed manual as does the Type R with its 306-horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged engine. All 2018 Civics remain front-wheel drive, but while the baseline models burn regular unleaded gasoline, the Si and Type R require premium to exploit their full performance potential.
2.0-liter inline-4
158 horsepower @ 6,500 rpm
138 lb-ft of torque @ 4,200 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 28/40 mpg (manual, sedan), 28/39 mpg (manual, coupe), 31/40 mpg (automatic, sedan), 30/39 mpg (automatic, coupe)
1.5-liter turbocharged inline-4
174 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm (automatic & manual; sedan, coupe & hatchback)
177 horsepower @ 1,900-5,000 rpm (manual hatchback Sport, Sport Touring)
180 horsepower @ 5,500 rpm (automatic & manual hatchback Sport, Sport Touring)
162 lb-ft of torque @ 1,700-5,500 rpm (automatic; sedan, coupe & hatchback)
167 lb-ft of torque @ 1,800-5,500 rpm (manual; sedan, coupe & hatchback)
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 31/42 mpg (manual, sedan), 30/41 mpg (manual, coupe), 30/39 mpg (manual; Hatchback & Hatchback Sport), 32/42 mpg (automatic, sedan), 31/40 mpg (automatic, coupe & hatchback), 30/39 mpg (automatic, Hatchback Sport)
1.5-liter turbocharged inline-4 (Si)
205 horsepower @ 5,700 rpm
192 lb-ft @2,100-5,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 28/38 mpg (manual transmission only)
2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 (Type R)
306 horsepower @ 6,500 rpm
295 lb-ft of torque @ 2,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 22/28 mpg (manual transmission only)
Our Expert Ratings come from hours of both driving and number crunching to make sure that you choose the best car for you. We comprehensively experience and analyze every new SUV, car, truck, or minivan for sale in the U.S. and compare it to its competitors. When all that dust settles, we have our ratings.
We require new ratings every time an all-new vehicle or a new generation of an existing vehicle comes out. Additionally, we reassess those ratings when a new-generation vehicle receives a mid-cycle refresh — basically, sprucing up a car in the middle of its product cycle (typically, around the 2-3 years mark) with a minor facelift, often with updates to features and technology.
Rather than pulling random numbers out of the air or off some meaningless checklist, KBB’s editors rank a vehicle to where it belongs in its class. Before any car earns its KBB rating, it must prove itself to be better (or worse) than the other cars it’s competing against as it tries to get you to spend your money buying or leasing.
Our editors drive and live with a given vehicle. We ask all the right questions about the interior, the exterior, the engine and powertrain, the ride and handling, the features, the comfort, and of course, about the price. Does it serve the purpose for which it was built? (Whether that purpose is commuting efficiently to and from work in the city, keeping your family safe, making you feel like you’ve made it to the top — or that you’re on your way — or making you feel like you’ve finally found just the right partner for your lifestyle.)
We take each vehicle we test through the mundane — parking, lane-changing, backing up, cargo space and loading — as well as the essential — acceleration, braking, handling, interior quiet and comfort, build quality, materials quality, reliability.
2021 Honda Civic
The 2021 Civic Sedan features aggressive lines and refined features that make it stand out from the crowd. Signature C-shaped taillights, a sleek profile and a bold Sport trim add to its fierce personality.
Curb Weight | 2761 lbs. | ||
---|---|---|---|
EPA Passenger | 97.8 cu.ft. | ||
Fuel Capacity | 12.4 gallons | ||
Front Head Room | 39.3 inches | ||
Front Leg Room | 42.3 inches | ||
Max Seating Capacity | 5 | ||
Overall Length | 182.3 inches | ||
Front Shoulder Room | 57.0 inches | ||
Trunk or Cargo Capacity | 15.1 cu.ft. | ||
Turning Diameter | 35.7 feet | ||
Wheel Base | 106.3 inches | ||
Width with mirrors | 70.8 inches |
Number of Doors | 4 doors | ||
---|---|---|---|
Rear Spoiler | Available |
City | 31 mpg | ||
---|---|---|---|
Highway | 40 mpg | ||
Combined | 34 mpg |
Drivetrain | FWD | ||
---|---|---|---|
Transmission Type | Automatic | ||
Recommended Fuel | Regular | ||
Hill Start Assist | Available |
Horsepower | 158 @ 6500 RPM | ||
---|---|---|---|
Torque | 138 @ 4200 rpm | ||
Engine | 4-Cyl, i-VTEC, 2.0 Liter |
Basic | 3 years / 36000 miles | ||
---|---|---|---|
Powertrain | 5 years / 60000 miles | ||
Corrosion | 5 years / Unlimited miles |
Used 2018 Honda Civic | Used 2018 Hyundai Elantra | Used 2018 Subaru Impreza | Used 2018 Kia Forte | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Price | $11,971 | $12,151 | $14,112 | $12,202 | |
KBB.com Rating | 4.7 | 4.5 | 4.3 | 4.2 | |
Consumer Rating | 4.7 | 4.1 | 4.3 | 4.3 | |
Fuel Economy | City 31/Hwy 40/Comb 34 MPG | City 28/Hwy 37/Comb 32 MPG | City 28/Hwy 38/Comb 32 MPG | City 29/Hwy 37/Comb 32 MPG | |
Fuel Type | Gas | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
Safety Rating | 5.0 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | |
Seating Capacity | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | |
Basic Warranty | 3 years or 36000 miles | 5 years or 60000 miles | 3 years or 36000 miles | 5 years or 60000 miles | |
Horsepower | 158 @ 6500 RPM | 147 @ 6200 RPM | 152 @ 6000 RPM | 147 @ 6200 RPM | |
Engine | 4-Cyl, i-VTEC, 2.0 Liter | 4-Cyl, 2.0 Liter | 4-Cyl, 2.0 Liter | 4-Cyl, 2.0 Liter | |
Drivetrain | FWD | FWD | AWD | FWD |
Americans bought more than 15 million cars in 2023 — not quite back to pre-pandemic levels (which sometimes approached 17…
No one should mistake a car for a solid investment. Cars fluctuate in value, and no one can crash into…
Honda has issued a recall for about 176,000 Civic small cars from models years 2022 through 2024 that may have…
Yes. In fact, the 2018 Honda Civic is a great car, winning the Kelley Blue Book Best Buy Award in its segment.
When it was new, the 2018 Civic started at less than $20,000. As years go by its price naturally falls with depreciation like any other car. Yet the Civic is known to hold its value well. For the most up-to-date pricing, check the Blue Book value at KBB.com.
Yes. Long-term reliability has been a cornerstone of the Civic for decades, and is one of the reasons for its popularity and strong resale value.
The most powerful Honda Civic is the Type R, boasting 306 horsepower. That’s 101 more horsepower than the Civic Si, which itself is hardly a slouch.
If fitted with proper tires, the Civic will certainly tolerate wintry conditions, aided by its front-drive nature. For the best grip, however, you would want all-wheel drive, which is standard on the Subaru Impreza.
The 2018 Honda Civic sedan is made in the United States in Indiana, and Ontario, Canada. The Civic coupe and Si are also made in Canada. The Civic hatchback, including the Type R, is made in England.
No. All 2018 Civic models run on unleaded gasoline. The 2018 Chevrolet Cruze did offer a diesel engine.
Yes. Efficiency is another great Civic trait. Several models attain up to 40 mpg on the highway, with the best scoring a 42-mpg rating from the EPA.
No. While in the past there was a Civic hybrid, it was discontinued after 2015.
No. All 2018 Honda Civics are front-wheel drive (FWD). For all-wheel drive (AWD), look to the Subaru Impreza, which has AWD standard.