Honda Civic road test reports and car reviews

Honda Civic 2005

Car looks great and has some good gadgets - I like the radio volume going up and down depending on speed of car. However, very poor visibility all round, poor acceleration and very noisy, hard ride and dreadful in recent snow. I had to abandon while other cars were managing to get up a slight hill. Would not recommend.

Honda Civic 2.2 diesel 2006

I’ll keep this short... On the plus sides, great trick seating.. boot space very good, handles superb and looks stunning... Now on the down side... We bought the car from a Honda main dealer in Derby for £10,300 last August (2009). It was a Honda Civic 2.2 diesel, full history, 49,500 miles and basically in mint condition. Now, 4k later, it’s required... 2 new tyres, wiper arms and motor, driver’s side mirror as it packed up, cruise control solaniod, reversing sensor and rear bulbs. But most of all it needs a new clutch. This isn’t a gripe at the car because we love it to bits but its reliabilty and customer service need to be looked at for sure. For instance, even though the car’s still under warranty, Lookers in Derby still want us to pay for the clutch!!!! £1200 after 4000 miles!

Honda Civic 2.2 ex diesel 2007

Had my civic for just over a year and on first glance the car was very good but as you drive it more and more you find its faults as listed below; * suspension is loud and unrefined (problem with bump stops) * Some annoying rattles on dash * hands free microphone inadequate * THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE BEING THAT THE 2.2TD HAS A FAULTY CLUTCH WHICH CANNOT HANDLE THE TORQUE OF THE ENGINE FROM 2000 TO 4000 RPM AND WILL SLIP ON MOST. HONDA WILL NOT ACCEPT THIS AND SO YOU COULD BE CHARGED UP TO £1500 FOR A REPAIR. PLEASE SEE THE CIVINFO WEBSITE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS Because of this I have now sold my civic, hope this helps anyone thinking of buying a diesel civic

Honda Civic 2008

I agree with the mpg figures. I struggle to reach 46 unless I drive at a steady 56mph. Once I get onto a motorway it is 44 mpg.

Honda Civic 1.4 2002

I bought my car in Dec 2002 new after my test drive, I thought the gear lever was amazing for my frozen shoulder. Had owned 5 Toyota’s before so expected good reliability from a Japanese maker, although my first Honda. Very impressed. Have had about 7 years faultless, no problem ownership. Car is spacious inside, dealt with 35 mile morning school run with 4 passengers including 3 leggy teenage boys in back with no problem and all their school bags and musical instruments. Very much aided by no transmission tunnel. (Why have Honda changed this?) Still love driving my car and at only 57,000 miles on the clock might just keep her for a while yet. My husband has Toyota Yaris (05) and the build quality is nothing like my Honda. Will definitely look at Honda again when I have to say goodbye.

Honda Civic 2.2 Diesel 2007

This is my wife’s company car, thank goodness. If we’d bought this I’d be really hacked off. I think this is a seriously flawed car, and potentially dangerous. As follows: general visibility awful and rear visibility appalling (I know some one who had to change their route to work as he couldn’t see to pull out at a junction!), not helped by no wiper to remove rain on the daft rear screen, very harsh ride and noisy too, poor access as people including myself/wife keep banging heads getting in, can’t get 47 mpg. Over 20k miles on all types of route (54 advertised), poor boot space, air con very noisy and complicated. The good points: very torquey engine minimises gear changes and gives good acceleration. Overall I wouldn’t touch one again and recommend a very long test drive to weigh up if it suits you. Goodness knows what the design team was thinking of when this was approved!

Responses to this review

Poor boot space you say? Strange comment as it has the biggest boot in its class by far, boosted by the wonderfully flexible "magic seating." I do wonder if you are talking about the same car. You keep on banging your head getting in? That says more about you I'm afraid than the car design. Visibility awful, suggests that your eyes need attention and as for the rear view this has proved to be no problem at all for any competent driver. My comments are based on 3 years ownership of a Civic which has proved to be reliable economical comfortable and great fun. You ask what the design team were thinking of well it certainly wasn't someone like you or the type of person you mention that had to change his route because he couldn't pull out at a junction. It would be safer for all if he used public transport - Alan from Sussex

I totally agree with whoever Alan from Sussex is. The civic is a fine car, This man Arthur, must need his eyes tested because the visibility is perfect. You know what to do if its so bad, GET RID OF IT - Ciaran from County Antrim

Honda Civic 2008

It’s Japanese so therefore quality is as good as you’ll find anywhere. Even being built in Britain doesn’t stop it being one of the most robust cars in its class, and the most user friendly car I have ever had the privilege of owning.

Honda Civic 2001

Great car. Well made. No problems. Only gripe is NO acceleration.

Honda Civic Type R 2005

I have owned a Civic Type R now for three and a half years, and I can safely say without any shadow of a doubt that it is by far the beast car I have ever owned. I get the same thrill driving down country lanes now as I did when I first brought the car. The road holding is absolutely superb, no matter now hard you push the car into a corner it just cries out for more. The six speed gear box means fuel consumption is very good at normal drive speeds giving a respectable 32-34 mpg. Reliability has been second to none with faultless motoring all the way. It is still as taught as the day it left the showroom. Inside there are no squeaks or rattles you would get in some other cars of a similar age, yet again a true example of Honda’s brilliant build quality. The Type R is a car that a person can have even if you are married and need extra family space during the week and still want to have a bit of fun driving at weekends or to take to a track day. The Type R has been at the top of the pile among the hot hatches now for quite some time and shows no sign of letting its crown slip into the hands of the GTI, ST, AND RS’s of this world. And with 2001 models on the market now at sensible money its makes a good fun weekend car too.