2016 Honda Civic

2016 Honda Civic Overview

Is the 2016 Honda Civic a Good Used Car?

The 2016 Honda Civic is a great option if you’re shopping for a used compact car . Available as a sedan or coupe, the Civic excels in just about all areas. It offers crisp handling, a roomy interior with luxe style, a smooth ride, fuel-efficient engines, and many advanced safety features. We also named the Civic our 2016 Best Compact Car for the Money .

Why You Can Trust Us

We’ve researched 22 Honda Civic reviews, as well as hard data points like reliability scores and cost of ownership estimates, to help you make the best car-buying decision possible.

U.S. News & World Report has been ranking cars since 2007, and our team has more than 75 years of automotive industry experience combined. While we’re passionate about cars, we’re even more committed to providing helpful consumer advice. To ensure our reviews remain impartial, we refuse expensive gifts and trips from car companies, and an outside team handles the advertising on our site.

Pricing

How Much is a 2016 Honda Civic?

Prices for the 2016 Civic range from $14,000 to $22,000, with the average price landing just below $18,000. This data comes from more than 1,700 listings for the 2016 Civic on our site. Actual prices will fluctuate depending on the vehicle's features, mileage, condition, and location.

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How Much Does the 2016 Honda Civic Cost to Own?

The 2016 Civic tends to be slightly more affordable than many of its competitors when it comes to gas, insurance, repair, and maintenance costs. You can expect to pay around $19,900 over five years for these expenses. In comparison, a 2016 Subaru Impreza ’s five-year costs are typically $2,400 more than the Civic’s, while the 2016 Ford Focus ' costs are about $2,000 more.

Is It Better to Buy a Used or New Civic?

Both 2016 and 2018 Honda Civics belong to the same generation. Honda offers the 2018 Civic as a sedan, coupe, or hatchback, while 2016 models only come in sedan and coupe body styles. Beyond these different body types, and the longer warranty that you get with a new car, there are no significant differences between used and new Civic models in this generation. That's good news if you like the styling and usability of the sedan or coupe models: With the MSRP of a 2018 Honda Civic LX starting at $18,840, you'll save almost $5,000 by purchasing a 2016 edition instead. However, shoppers seeking one of the Civic hatchback models need to look to the 2018 model.

Read about the new Honda Civic »

If you'd prefer to buy a new car, there are other 2018 compact cars to consider that won't bust your budget. The Kia Soul and Hyundai Elantra , for example, treat passengers to roomy cabins and high-quality materials. Their base trims also cost less than the average price of a 2016 Civic. For something with a little more spunk, consider the Mazda3 (available as either a compact sedan or hatchback) or Volkswagen Golf . Both boast excellent performance scores in our rankings, and while they have higher MSPRs than a 2016 Civic, current car deals and our Best Price Program may narrow the price difference.

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How Reliable Is the 2016 Honda Civic?

The 2016 Honda Civic has slightly above-average reliability ratings of 3.5 out of five from J.D. Power. Class leaders in reliability include the 2016 Buick Verano and Toyota Prius .

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2016 Honda Civic Recalls

As of this writing, three recalls apply to the 2016 Honda Civic sedan and coupe. One relates to the parking brake, which may not activate after the ignition is turned off. A few vehicles equipped with the 2.0-liter engine may have a faulty piston wrist pin that can cause a fire, and some two-door models may have a side marker light that doesn't work. Before purchasing a used Civic, see if these recalls are applicable to the vehicle you're considering, and if so, make sure they've been repaired.

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Which Model Year of the Honda Civic Is Best?

Honda redesigned the Civic for the 2016 model year, launching the vehicle’s 10th generation. Except for the all-new Honda Civic hatchback and the Civic Type R, which were added to the 2017 lineup, there were relatively few updates to the 2017 and 2018 models, and all three model years score well in our rankings. The hatchback offers more usable cargo room, and the Type R features a potent 306-horsepower engine along with other performance enhancements. However, you’ll save at least a couple thousand dollars – based on average prices – by choosing a 2016 Civic over a newer model.

If you’re willing to accept the more staid interior and exterior styling of the 2013 through 2015 Honda Civics, you can save significant money by choosing an older model. Prices for 2013 models average $12,400; 2014 models average $13,400; and 2015 models average $14,700. Styling isn’t the only difference, however. The 2013 through 2015 Civics have less passenger space in the back, don’t offer Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, and have lower-quality cabin materials.

Compare the 2016, 2017, and 2018 Civic »

Which Used Honda Civic Model Is Right for Me?

The 2016 Civic sedan comes in five trim levels. The Civic LX has a 5-inch infotainment screen, a rearview camera, Bluetooth, a four-speaker stereo, and cruise control. The Civic EX upgrades the display screen to a 7-inch touch screen and adds Honda LaneWatch, proximity keyless entry, a moonroof, remote start, and support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. For most shoppers, this trim level offers the best bang for your buck. The Honda Civic EX-T adds a turbocharged engine, heated front seats, larger alloy wheels, and satellite radio. The Honda Civic EX-L adds leather seats, and the Honda Civic Touring adds heated rear seats, navigation, and Honda Sensing.

The Civic coupe’s five trim levels (LX, LX-P, EX-T, EX-L, and Touring) follow a similar structure, but with a few variations. The major difference is that the touch screen, LaneWatch, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto are standard only in EX-T models and up. Heated rear seats are unavailable in the Civic coupe.

See 2016 Honda Civic trims and specs »

2016 Honda Civic Safety

Score: 10/10

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety named the Honda Civic a 2016 Top Safety Pick+, giving it scores of Good – the highest offered – in all five categories tested. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave the Civic sedan a perfect five-star rating in overall, front, side, and rollover crash testing. The Civic coupe received four stars in front crash testing.

The Civic is available with a number of advanced safety features, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, and adaptive cruise control. These five systems are part of the Honda Sensing package. Sensing is standard in the Touring coupe and sedan models and available in all other sedan trims.

Additional safety features include Honda LaneWatch, which displays a video feed of the car’s passenger-side blind spot when you activate the turn signal. A rearview camera is standard in all models.

2016 Honda Civic Versus the Competition

Which Is Better: 2016 Honda Civic or 2016 Honda Accord?

The midsize 2016 Honda Accord and compact Civic are both great used cars, and you won't go wrong choosing either one. Both cars offer premium interiors with fine creature comforts like heated front and rear seats. You’ll also find the same sleek infotainment systems, advanced Honda Sensing safety features, and roomy cabins. The Accord offers a muscular V6 engine but has a slightly lower reliability score. The Civic, by virtue of its smaller size and lighter weight, returns much better fuel economy. In addition, the Civic's average price is about $2,000 less than the Accord's.

Which Is Better: 2016 Honda Civic or 2016 Toyota Corolla?

The Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic are popular options for used car shoppers. Both ride comfortably, deliver high fuel economy estimates, offer spacious rear seats, and earn the same reliability rating. The 2016 Corolla typically costs less, but the Civic is the better vehicle overall. It’s available with a large array of active safety features, like forward collision warning, and it supports Apple CarPlay; the Corolla offers neither. The Civic is also much more enjoyable to drive.

Which Is Better: 2016 Honda Civic or 2016 Mazda3?

You can’t go wrong with either the 2016 Mazda3 or the Civic. Both provide athletic handling, great fuel economy, and high-quality interiors. The Civic scores higher in reliability and offers roomier rear seats. However, the Mazda3 offers a few more available safety features, including adaptive pivoting headlights and blind spot sensors. It’s also available as a hatchback with a practical 47 cubic feet of cargo space. Both are great options for used car shoppers.

Compare the Civic, Accord, and Corolla »

2016 Civic Performance

How Does the 2016 Honda Civic Drive?

The 2016 Civic has a standard four-cylinder engine that makes 158 horsepower. It’s matched to front-wheel drive and either a continuously variable automatic transmission or a six-speed manual transmission. This engine supplies adequate muscle for daily driving, but the available 174-horsepower, turbocharged four-cylinder has more brawn for passing. The Civic strikes an excellent balance between ride comfort and handling ability. It has direct steering and corners like a sports sedan, yet its suspension soaks up bumps well.

Does the 2016 Honda Civic Get Good Gas Mileage?

The Civic is very fuel-efficient, especially when powered by the available turbocharged four-cylinder. This engine gets 31 mpg in the city and 42 mpg on the highway. That's a higher EPA rating than both the Nissan Sentra and Hyundai Elantra .

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2016 Civic Interior

How Many People Does the 2016 Civic Seat?

The 2016 Honda Civic seats five. There’s ample head- and legroom for taller passengers in the Civic’s plush and supportive front seats. The rear seats are similarly spacious in sedan models, though the coupe’s back seats are noticeably shorter on headroom. Cloth upholstery is standard; leather, heated front seats, and heated rear seats are available. The Civic’s cabin is quiet even on the highway, and it boasts an elegant design with soft-touch plastics and sleek metallic trim.

How Many Car Seats Fit in the 2016 Honda Civic?

There are two full sets of LATCH car-seat connectors on the outboard rear seats and an upper tether on the middle seat. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety rates the Civic’s LATCH system as Acceptable – the second highest score available.

2016 Honda Civic Features

The Civic leads its class with a variety of tech and convenience features. Base LX models have a 5-inch infotainment screen, a rearview camera, a USB port, and Bluetooth. Upgrading to the EX trim (or higher) adds a 7-inch touch screen with support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system responds quickly to inputs and has user-friendly menus, but the touch-sensitive volume slider is awkward to use. A redundant steering wheel button helps sidestep this issue.

See 2016 Honda Civic specs »

Read more about Civic interior »

2016 Honda Civic Dimensions

Honda Civic Cargo Space

The Civic sedan has a large 15.1-cubic-foot cargo space. The coupe offers 12.1 cubic feet.

Honda Civic Length and Weight

The Honda Civic sedan is 15.2 feet long and weighs between 2,742 and 2,923 pounds, depending on the trim level. Coupe models are a little smaller, measuring 14.7 feet in length and weighing 2,739 to 2,900 pounds.

Where Was the 2016 Honda Civic Built?

Honda builds the Civic at production facilities in the U.S. (at its Greensburg, Indiana, plant); in Ontario, Canada; and in Swindon, England.