Honda Civic
Honda Civic is the small car that put Honda on the map in America, and more than 50 years later it's still the compact a lot of people buy without shopping anything else. It started in 1972 as a tiny, frugal hatchback, then picked up VTEC engines, the Si, the first Civic Hybrid and eventually a 315-hp Type R. Today's 11th-generation Civic comes as a sedan or hatchback, with a 150-hp gas engine, a 200-hp hybrid, the 200-hp Si or the Type R. Pick your year below to jump to the right generation, or read on for the history and which one suits you.
Honda Civic at a Glance
First sold 1972 Japan in July; the US for 1973
Total sold 27 million+ Honda's worldwide count
Markets 170+ Countries and regions
Generations 11 From the 1st gen to today's FE/FL
US power range 150–315 hp 2.0 gas to the Type R
US sales, 2025 238,661 Honda's top-selling car
Honda Civic Generations
Years shown are US model years. The Civic went on sale in Japan in July 1972 and reached the US for the 1973 model year. Codes are the chassis codes owners use most, though Honda used several per generation. Pick a card to open its full guide.
1973–1979
SB1 / SG / SE
1st gen7 model years
The original tiny hatchback. Its CVCC engine (1975 in the US) passed emissions rules without a catalytic converter.
Guide coming soon
1980–1983
SL / SS / SR
2nd gen4 model years
Bigger and roomier, with a sedan added for 1981 and CVCC engines up to 67 hp.
Guide coming soon
1984–1987
AG / AH / AK
3rd gen4 model years
Boxy and clever, with the Shuttle wagon, the CRX and the first US Si, the 1985 CRX Si.
Guide coming soon
1988–1991
EF
4th gen4 model years
Fully independent rear suspension, fuel injection on every US car and a 108-hp Si for 1989.
Guide coming soon
1992–1995
EG / EH / EJ
5th gen4 model years
VTEC reached US Civics in the EX and Si, a coupe arrived, and the VX was rated up to 55 mpg highway.
Guide coming soon
1996–2000
EK / EM
6th gen5 model years
The tuner-era favorite: the 160-hp 1999–2000 Si coupe and the first natural-gas Civic GX.
Guide coming soon
2001–2005
ES / EM2 / EP3
7th gen5 model years
The first Civic Hybrid arrived for 2003, and the Si became a 160-hp hatchback.
Guide coming soon
2006–2011
FA / FG
8th gen6 model years
Futuristic two-tier dash, a 140-hp 1.8-liter and a 197-hp Si coupe or sedan.
Guide coming soon
2012–2015
FB / FG
9th gen4 model years
Rushed out and quickly reworked; the Si got a 2.4-liter, and a CVT arrived for 2014.
Guide coming soon
2016–2021
FC / FK
10th gen6 model years
Turbo 1.5, a hatchback back in the US and the first US-sold Type R in 2017.
Guide coming soon
2022–present
FE / FL
11th gen5 model years
Today's Civic: sedan and hatchback, a 200-hp hybrid from 2025 and the 315-hp FL5 Type R.
Read the 11th gen guide →
Honda Civic History
The Civic went from a tiny economy hatch to one of the best-known nameplates in the car world. Here are the moments that shaped it.
- 1972 The Civic goes on sale in Japan in July as a small two-door with front-wheel drive.
- 1973 The Civic reaches the US. Then, after the 1973 oil crisis, its fuel economy makes it an easy sell.
- 1975 The CVCC engine arrives in the US. It meets emissions rules without a catalytic converter, a first.
- 1985 The CRX Si brings the Si badge to the US, and a Civic Si hatchback follows for 1986.
- 1986 Honda starts building Civics in Marysville, Ohio. Since then, more than 11 million have been built in North America.
- 1992 VTEC comes to US Civics in the EX and Si, while the VX hatch is rated up to 55 mpg highway.
- 1998 The Civic begins a 24-year run as Canada's best-selling car, a streak that lasted through 2021.
- 2002 The first Civic Hybrid arrives as a 2003 model, with a 93-hp 1.3-liter IMA system.
- 2017 The Type R goes on sale in the US for the first time in June, after a front-drive Nürburgring record.
- 2021 The 11th generation launches, and it's named North American Car of the Year for 2022.
- 2022 The Civic turns 50. In addition, the new FL5 Type R reaches US dealers in October with 315 hp.
- 2024 The Civic Hybrid returns for 2025 and wins North American Car of the Year, the Civic's fourth win.
Which Civic Generation Is Right for You?
The right Civic depends on your budget and what you want from it. Most used buyers stick to the last three generations, because each one is safer and better equipped than the one before. Here's how they line up.
| Generation | Years | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 1st–6th gen | 1973–2000 | Classic fans, tuners and project-car builders |
| 7th–8th gen | 2001–2011 | Cheap transport; check the transmission (7th) and A/C (8th) |
| 9th gen | 2012–2015 | Simple, durable budget commuter; 2014–2015 is the better buy |
| 10th gen | 2016–2021 | Roomy used value; 2020–2021 are the most reliable years |
| 11th gen | 2022–present | Newest safety tech, a 49-mpg hybrid and the FL5 Type R |
Our take: for most used buyers, a 2020–2021 tenth-gen Civic or any 11th-gen car is the sweet spot. If fuel economy matters most, a 2025 or newer Civic Hybrid is worth the stretch.
Civic Owners Community
Civic owners talk commuting, fuel economy, tuning and track days, plus keeping older Civics alive past 200,000 miles. Share your Civic, ask questions and swap tips with other owners.
- Civic Hybrid real-world mpg
- Si vs Type R: which to buy
- Intakes, exhaust and tunes
- Track days and autocross
- Wheels and tires that fit
- High-mileage Civic stories
- Recalls and dealer service experiences
- Classic Civic restorations
Honda Civic FAQ
What years is each Honda Civic generation?
In the US: 1st gen 1973–1979, 2nd 1980–1983, 3rd 1984–1987, 4th 1988–1991, 5th 1992–1995, 6th 1996–2000, 7th 2001–2005, 8th 2006–2011, 9th 2012–2015, 10th 2016–2021 and the 11th from 2022 on.
Which Civic years are the best used buy?
CarGurus, citing Consumer Reports data, points to 2020–2021, 2022 and newer, and 2012–2015. It suggests caution with 2001–2005 (transmissions) and 2017–2019 hatchbacks (A/C condensers and oil dilution on the 1.5 turbo).
Can you still get a Civic with a manual?
Yes, but only on the Si sedan and the Type R hatchback, which are both six-speed manual only. Honda dropped the manual from the regular Civic hatchback for 2025.
What's the difference between the Civic Si and Type R?
The Si is a sedan with a 200-hp 1.5-liter turbo. The Type R is a hatchback with a 315-hp 2.0-liter turbo, wider body, bigger Brembo brakes and a much higher price.
Does Honda still make a Civic coupe?
No. The coupe ended after the 2020 model year. Today's Civic comes as a sedan or a five-door hatchback.
Is there a Civic Hybrid?
Yes. The Civic Hybrid returned for 2025 as a sedan or hatchback with 200 hp and up to 49 mpg combined in the sedan. Earlier Civic Hybrids were sold in the US from 2003 to 2015.
Keep Exploring
Explore Honda's full lineup, or see how the Toyota Corolla, Mazda and Hyundai take on the Civic.
Photo credits
- Header image: © M 93, CC BY-SA 3.0 de, cropped and resized.
- Black 2025 Honda Civic Hybrid hatchback with…: Alexander Migl, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized.
- White tenth-generation Honda Civic sedan, front three-quarter…: EurovisionNim, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized.
- Rallye Red 2014 Honda Civic Si sedan,…: Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized.
- Tango Red Pearl 2009 Honda Civic DX-G…: Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized.
- White 2002 Honda Civic GLi sedan, seventh…: OSX, Public domain, cropped and resized.
- White 1996-1998 Honda Civic LX sedan, sixth…: IFCAR, Public domain, cropped and resized.
- White 1992-1995 Honda Civic sedan, fifth generation: IFCAR, Public domain, cropped and resized.
- Pale green 1989 Honda Civic GL sedan,…: Jeremy from Sydney, Australia, CC BY 2.0, cropped and resized.
- Silver 1987 Honda Civic GL hatchback, third…: OSX, Public domain, cropped and resized.
- Blue 1980 Honda Civic three-door hatchback, second…: OSX, Public domain, cropped and resized.
- Red 1975 Honda Civic CVCC 1200GL hatchback,…: TTTNIS, CC0, cropped and resized.