In a hotly contested class, it’s the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/golf/hatchback/review/n17371">VW Golf</a> that perhaps stands out as the Civic’s biggest rival. It’s brilliant to drive, well equipped, refined and comparatively cheap to buy and run, even as a used car.

The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/octavia/hatchback/review/n39">Skoda Octavia</a> is also a great family car. It features a spacious and classy interior and some punchy and economical engines. It’s great to drive and competitively priced new and used. If that weren’t enough, its boot is a class-leading 590 litres.

<a href="https://pages.haymarket.com/whatcar/wcar-form.html">For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? Newsletter here</a>

If you're interested in finding a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/honda/civic?yearFrom=2017&amp;used=true&amp;nearlynew=true">used Honda Civic</a>, or any of the other family cars&nbsp;mentioned here, head over to the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars">Used Car Buying</a> pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.

Page 5 of 5

What is it like?

Ownership cost

Advice for buyers

Our recommendations

Alternatives

<h3 dir="ltr">Fuel pump </h3>

An issue has been found with the fuel pump module on Civics manufactured from the start of production up until 5 March 2019. Check this with your local Honda dealer because a new module will need to be fitted to sort the issue.

<h3 dir="ltr">Side airbags</h3>

A small number of examples built between 12 April and 31 July 2017 might not deploy as intended in a collision, so speak with your Honda dealer to&nbsp;establish if your car is affected by this.

<h3 dir="ltr">Emissions</h3>

Some Civics made from the start of production up until 23 May 2018 could have a problem with the engine's emission control software that would require an update to be performed by a Honda technician. Find out if your example is affected by this by contacting your&nbsp;dealer.

Though it's performed well in previous surveys, the Civic was below average in our most recent What Car? Reliability Survey. It placed 28th&nbsp;out of 36&nbsp;cars in the family car class. Honda as a brand managed a respectable 12th place finish out of 32&nbsp;manufacturers featured.&nbsp;

If you would like to see the full reliability list, head to the<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/2021-what-car-reliability-survey/n23397"> What Car? Reliability Survey</a> pages for more information.

Page 3 of 5

Hatchback

Honda is a company that doesn’t like to follow the crowd. So, while it competes in most of the traditional sectors of the car market, in each case it does something a little bit different.

The Jazz, for example, might look like just another rival to Britain’s best-selling car, the Ford Fiesta, but it’s actually much more practical than its rivals, with a flexible boot and Tardis-like interior.

The bigger Civic is also a practical choice, but it’s mainly distinguished by having eye-catching, love-it-or-hate-it styling, despite competing in a sector of the market that’s usually more conservative than a blue rosette.

And while it may not seem so radical now, Honda’s large SUV, the CR-V, was one of the first to forego any pretence of being an off-roader and instead focus on on-road driving dynamics.

HONDA

CIVIC

The Honda Civic is good to drive and used prices are competitive. Its infotainment system is poor, though

Used Honda Civic 2017-present

Used Honda Civic 2017-2022

The Honda Civic is good to drive and used prices are competitive. Its infotainment system is poor, though


Prices for this generation of Civic start at around £10,000, this for an early 2017 model with an average mileage for the year and a full service history.&nbsp; It'll probably be a 1.0-litre version in the popular SR trim. Expect to pay between £10,000 and £12,000 for a 1.5 version. Pay between £12,000 and £14,000 for a 2018 or early 2019 car, and £14,000 to £16,000 for a 2020 car. At the top end, 2021 and the last 2022 examples can often rise above £24,000.&nbsp;

The hottest Civic – the Type R – is covered in a separate review that you can<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/honda/civic-type-r/hatchback/used-review/n17893"> read here</a>.&nbsp;

Check the value of a used Honda Civic with<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/valuations/"> What Car? Valuations</a>

Find a used Honda Civic for sale<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/honda/civic?used=true&amp;nearlynew=true"> here</a>

<h3>&nbsp;</h3>

<h3>MPG</h3>

On paper, the most economical Civic will be the 1.6 diesel at 64.2mpg, according to the newer WLTP tests (although this drops quite a lot to 54.3mpg with the nine-speed auto). Both manual versions of the 1.0 and 1.5-litre&nbsp;petrol engines manage at 46.3mpg and drop to 43.5mpg and 42.8mpg, respectively, for the CVT auto versions. The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/honda/civic-type-r/hatchback/used-review/n17893">Type R</a>,&nbsp;obviously, is the thirstiest at 33.2mpg.&nbsp;

<h3>Road tax</h3>

Most Civics will be registered after the tax changes of April 2017 came into force, so will be charged at the current flat rate rather than on CO2 emissions, as before. This is currently £165 per year. To find out more about the current<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/car-tax-changes-in-2021-what-do-i-need-to-know/n1153"> road tax system, click here</a>.

<h3>Insurance and servicing</h3>

Insurance groups range between 15 and 22 for the regular cars, but the Type R is in group 40, so expect high premiums. Servicing costs are reasonable and a number of plans are available for spreading the cost.&nbsp;All&nbsp;examples are&nbsp;less than three years old at the time of writing, so for petrol models,&nbsp;it’ll cost you £235 for the first year, £310&nbsp;for the second and £290&nbsp;for the third, with an additional £90&nbsp;charge if your CVT automatic gearbox needs a fluid change during the second or third service. Diesel models cost a little more at £260, £330 and £310, respectively.

Page 2 of 5

<h3>Engine</h3>

In everyday use, the 1.0-litre petrol is all the engine you'll ever need, which is handy because it's also the easiest engine to find in the Civic; there are plenty around on the used market.

We'd look elsewhere if you want an automatic Civic, though; there are better gearboxes out there than the CVT you'll find on petrol versions.

<h3>Specification</h3>

We'd pay the extra you'd need to get into an SR model too. It gives you a decent amount of equipment, without costing quite as much as the top-end Civic versions.

Our favourite <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/honda/civic/hatchback/review/n82">Honda Civic</a>:&nbsp;1.0 VTEC SR

Page 4 of 5

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Plenty of practical space </li> <li>Low running costs </li> <li>A comfortable ride </li> <li>A healthy equipment list </li> <li>Quality materials and thoughtful touches inside </li> <li>Rock-solid reliability</li></ul>

Family cars arguably have the toughest brief of all: they have to be good at pretty much everything. They’re used as the daily drive, on the school run or work commute (often both), and have to be able to cope with a family’s clutter on weekends and holidays.

The Skoda Scala is a relative newcomer, but it's&nbsp;already carved out a name for itself in this segment.&nbsp;If you're looking for a moderately priced car that combines a supple ride, neat handling, a spacious interior and a capacious boot&nbsp;it's well worth a look.&nbsp;Alternatively, if you're looking for entertaining handling then the&nbsp;BMW 1 Series may well be for you. It's great to drive, rides well&nbsp;and also comes with a top-notch interior, featuring one of our very favourite infotainment systems.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Toyota Corolla&nbsp;is another great choice. This latest version of one of the world's best-selling cars of all time can be had with a choice of two different petrol-electric hybrid engines, both of which should mean&nbsp;potentially lower fuel bills. It's comfortable, well equipped and should be very reliable, too.&nbsp;

Family

<h3>Brakes</h3>

Some Civic owners have complained of squealing brakes; Honda is said to be aware of the problem and working on a fix, though it's worth keeping in mind that any Civic you test drive with noisy brakes may not be easy to fix.

<h3>Electrics</h3>

It'll also pay you to check the electrics carefully, as some owners have also described electrical niggles. And cast a keen eye over the paintwork and lights, because both of these areas have caused concern too.

<h3>Bodywork</h3>

Check the bodywork for any dings picked up in car parks or stone chips from motorway driving, too, and look at the alloy wheels to make sure there are no signs of kerb damage. It'll also pay you to look closely around the interior; Civics are family cars, so they may have been trashed by unsympathetic owners.

It’s fair to say that Honda threw the kitchen sink at this 10th-generation <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/honda/civic/hatchback/review/n82">Honda Civic</a> in 2017, having been stung by criticism that the previous model was not competitive with its rivals in a number of key areas.

Hence here is a car that is&nbsp;longer, lower and wider than the ninth-generation&nbsp;car, with more room between the front and rear wheels for passengers, as well as a range of new&nbsp;engines and a more sophisticated rear suspension.

Its looks are as striking as they are divisive, and its interior quality is thankfully much improved on the older version. It all adds up to a truly impressive car that not only cuts a dash in the family hatchback class but also meets its closest rivals head-on in nearly every area.

There's a range of&nbsp;three turbocharged petrol engines: a fruity and efficient 1.0-litre three-cylinder unit, a punchy 1.5-litre four-cylinder or the super-sporty 2.0-litre engine in the explosive Civic Type R hot-hatch model. In 2018, Honda also introduced a frugal 1.6-litre diesel, however, it has been dropped as of the 2020 model updates. You could match any of these engines, with the exception of the 2.0, with an automatic gearbox, should you wish to. For the 1.0 and 1.5 petrols, it's a CVT while the diesel got its own nine-speed 'box.&nbsp;

The model range kicks off with the entry-level S version, which is very basic; this version was dropped soon after it was launched, though, due to slow sales. The SE is much more appealing, with a DAB radio, air conditioning and front and rear parking sensors.

SR then adds a&nbsp;automatic wipers and a reversing camera, while EX gives you a package of extra safety equipment, keyless go and a leather interior. Then there's the Sport version, which adds heated seats, a sportier bodykit and LED headlights, and also a Sport Plus with adaptive suspension, while top-of-the-range Prestige gives you a full leather interior and heated rear seats.

On the road, the 124bhp 1.0-litre&nbsp;petrol&nbsp;engine is very impressive; the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/honda/civic/hatchback/review/n82">Civic</a> delivers perfectly adequate acceleration from low revs and will complete the 0-60mph dash in a reasonable 10.7sec. However, despite having more power than equivalent 1.0-litre versions of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/a3/hatchback/review/n77">Audi A3</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/golf/hatchback/review/n17371">VW Golf</a>&nbsp;the heavier Civic is actually slightly slower than those rivals.

Naturally, with 180bhp, the 1.5-litre offering is faster and has more low-down pulling power – although it doesn’t actually feel dramatically quicker on the road. Likewise, the 1.6&nbsp;diesel&nbsp;has just 118bhp so its acceleration doesn’t feel particularly strong.&nbsp;All engines give you the choice of a six-speed manual gearbox that's both&nbsp;light and positive, but the automatic version in petrol models tends to hold the engine at high revs even when you aren't accelerating particularly hard.&nbsp;

The Civic rides well, with a largely settled ride comfort, and its neutral handling is safe, secure and, helped by its quick steering and slick gearchange, bordering on the positively good fun. Only in the area of refinement is it let down, with quite a lot of engine noise and some road noise making itself known at higher speeds. The former is exacerbated in the automatic version.

The interior is more than spacious enough for four or even five for occasional journeys, while the boot is a good size in either hatch or saloon and has a useful false floor. The low driving position is excellent, the dashboard is clear and logically laid out and the controls are pleasingly weighted and feel of a high quality – as do most of the interior plastics. Only the Civic's dated infotainment system lets it down, with old-fashioned graphics and a slothful touchscreen.

In 2018 the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/honda/civic/hatchback/review/n82">Honda Civic</a> hatchback was joined by the four-door Civic saloon.&nbsp;The Civic saloon’s swooping roofline was&nbsp;lengthened to create a tail and a style that’s a neat alternative to the&nbsp;hatchback. Another happy result is an increase in boot capacity from 478 litres to 519. The engineers&nbsp;also took the opportunity to soften its suspension.&nbsp;

If you're interested in finding a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/honda/civic?yearFrom=2017&amp;used=true&amp;nearlynew=true">used Honda Civic</a>, or any of the other family cars&nbsp;mentioned here, head over to the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars">Used Car Buying</a> pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.

Page 1 of 5

Used Honda Civic 2017-2022 review

Why the overall winner won

Best small SUV

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In a hotly contested class, it’s the VW Golf that perhaps stands out as the Civic’s biggest rival. It’s brilliant to drive, well equipped, refined and comparatively cheap to buy and run, even as a used car.,The Skoda Octavia is also a great family car. It features a spacious and classy interior and some punchy and economical engines. It’s great to drive and competitively priced new and used. If that weren’t enough, its boot is a class-leading 590 litres.,For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? Newsletter hereIf you're interested in finding a used Honda Civic, or any of the other family cars mentioned here, head over to the Used Car Buying pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.Page 5 of 5

Looking for alternatives to the used Honda Civic 2017 - 2022? The expert What Car? review team guide you through some great options.

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Used Honda Civic 2017-2022 review

Honda Civic 1.6 I-DTEC SE Plus Tourer Euro 5 (s/s) 5dr

Honda Civic 1.0 VTEC Turbo SR Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

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