Honda Civic

Honda Civic at a glance

First three generations (1972–1987): CVCC

The first Civic went on sale on 11 July 1972. It had a 1,169 cc four-cylinder engine and front disc brakes. Bodies included two- and four-door fastbacks, three- and five-door hatchbacks and a five-door estate. In December 1973 Honda introduced the CVCC engine, its first lean-burn design for the Civic. The Civic won the Car of the Year Japan award three times in a row, from 1972 to 1974.

The second generation of June 1979 brought 1,335 and 1,488 cc engines and a third valve per cylinder. Motor Trend gave it the 1980 Import Car of the Year award. The third generation followed in September 1983. It added the two-seat CRX coupé and the Civic Shuttle, a tall estate that replaced the earlier hatch and wagon. The new D-series 1.5-litre CVCC engine produced 57 kW, and the Japanese Si used a 1.6-litre DOHC engine with 96 kW. Four-wheel drive arrived in 1984.

Fourth to seventh generation (1987–2005): VTEC

The fourth generation of September 1987 had a lower bonnet line and fully independent rear suspension on every version. The Japanese SiR received the B16A twin-cam engine with VTEC variable valve timing. Honda's plant in Alliston, Ontario built its first Civics during this generation.

The fifth generation (September 1991) had a more aerodynamic body and added a two-door Civic Coupé. North American buyers could choose an Si with a single-cam VTEC engine or the frugal VX with VTEC-E. The sixth generation of September 1995 introduced the GX, which ran on natural gas. Its engines ranged from the 86 kW D16Y5 VTEC-E and the 95 kW D16Y8 to the 119 kW B16A2 of the Si and SiR. Brazilian production began at Sumaré in 1997. The Honda Civic Si page follows the sporty line through these years.

The seventh generation of September 2000 had a flat rear floor, MacPherson struts at the front and the new K-series engines. It also brought the first Civic Hybrid with a 1.3-litre engine. In 2005 the Civic EX won the International Car of the Year title.

Eighth to tenth generation (2005–2021): Swindon

From September 2005 the eighth generation split into two cars: a saloon and coupé, and a separate hatchback designed for Europe. North America lost the hatchback. East Liberty in Ohio and Alliston built the saloons and coupés. The North American Civic was named North American Car of the Year 2006.

The ninth generation went on sale in the US on 20 April 2011. Its hybrid saloon used a 1.5-litre i-VTEC engine rated at 67 kW. After criticism of its quality, Honda updated the car for 2013. Europe also received an estate called the Civic Tourer.

The tenth generation, unveiled as a saloon in September 2015, unified the range worldwide with a fastback shape. The five-door hatchback was built in Swindon, UK, and exported to North America as well. Car production at Swindon ended in 2021, with the Type R of this generation among the last cars built there.

Eleventh generation (since 2021): e:HEV only in Europe

Honda revealed the eleventh-generation hatchback, sold as a liftback, on 23 June 2021, and sales in North America began that month. Japan followed in September. The hybrid e:HEV was revealed on 23 March 2022 and reached Europe in autumn 2022. For Europe the car comes from Yorii in Saitama, Japan, as a liftback with hybrid drive only.

The e:HEV system combines a 2.0-litre direct-injection petrol engine with two electric motors. Autonotizen gives the engine as 105 kW (143 PS). A 1 kWh battery weighing 36 kg stores recovered energy. The hybrid reaches 100 km/h in 7.8 seconds and 180 km/h. Its WLTP consumption is 5.0 l/100 km; Autonotizen measured 6.1 l/100 km in its December 2022 test.

The liftback is 4,549 mm long and 1,801 mm wide, with a 2,736 mm wheelbase, and the saloon is 4,674 mm long. Kerb weights range from 1,305 to 1,460 kg. A facelift was revealed on 21 May 2024. In North America the hybrid then replaced the 1.5 turbo and the 2.0-litre petrol engines. Euro NCAP gave the European e:HEV five stars in November 2022. Adult protection scored 89 percent, child protection 87 percent and the protection of vulnerable road users 82 percent. Eleven airbags are standard.

German prices at launch were €31,900 for the Elegance, €33,200 for the Sport and €36,600 for the Advance (2022). In the UK, Parkers named the e:HEV its Car of the Year 2023, and Scottish motoring writers gave it their Car of the Year 2022 title.

Civic Type R

The Type R is the fastest Civic and has been built since 1997, first for Japan and from 2001 for Europe. The current model has 242 kW (329 PS) from a 2.0-litre turbo engine and a six-speed manual gearbox. It is covered on its own Civic Type R page, with all generations from the EK9 to the FL5. In 2022 Honda marked 50 years of the Civic and 25 years of the Type R.

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