2024 Honda Civic

Overview

It’s fuel efficient, stylish, and fun to drive, all traits that make the 2024 Honda Civic a winner in our book, earning yet another 10Best Cars and Editors’ Choice award winner this year. The Civic is the quintessential small car, and likely the one most people envision when they think of frugal, practical daily transport, even more so than rivals such as the Hyundai Elantra and the Mazda 3. Entry-level models come with a 158-hp 2.0-liter four-cylinder, but a more powerful 180-hp turbocharged 1.5-liter engine is also available. Touchscreen infotainment with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is standard across the lineup, and Honda equips every Civic with a generous list of driver-assistance features too. It might not have the punch of the performance-oriented Civic Si and Civic Type R, but the standard Civic still gives drivers a taste of the good stuff, with crisp handling and refined road manners.

 

What’s New for 2024?

While the Civic carries into 2024 without any significant changes, we had originally speculated that a hybrid powertrain would be added to the lineup this year. Honda says the Civic hybrid will now debut as a 2025 model, offered as both a sedan and as a hatchback, powered by a version of the hybrid powertrain that’s found in the Accord hybrid. That would mean a four-cylinder engine paired with two electric motors for somewhere between 180 and 200 horsepower.

The base trim level is called LX, but high-end models such as the EX-L and Touring offer more features. Our recommendation is the well-equipped EX sedan, which comes with many 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 the Civic was redesigned for 2022, the powertrain options carry over 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 was cut for 2022, so a CVT is 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 Civics’ 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 we appreciated so much in the last-generation model are present and accounted for here. Sporty Si and seriously sport high-performance Type-R variants 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. Fuel economy estimates for the hybrid model are not yet available. 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-pattern mesh design element that cleverly hides the air vents. A wide center console appears less cluttered than the outgoing model’s and features 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, and the 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 offer wireless connectivity when paired with the larger screen. 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 like the Elantra and Kia Forte offering more comprehensive coverage. Buyers of the Civic will find a complimentary scheduled maintenance plan, though, which is something the Toyota Corolla also offers as standard.

• Limited warranty covers three years or 36,000 miles
• Powertrain warranty covers five years or 60,000 miles
• Complimentary scheduled maintenance for two years or 24,000 miles