If you are considering buying the compact Honda Civic in 2024, you first need to know the worst and best Honda Civic years. It does not matter whether you are going for a brand-new release or a used model. As a buyer, you need to ensure the vehicle and the model year you are choosing are worthy.

The Honda Civic is among the most popular Japanese cars in the American automotive market. However, this model is not fully immune to faults.

The model has been in production since 1972. Since then, it has undergone several changes and has had releases that either turned out to be the worst or best years for the Honda Civic.

To ensure you get your hands on a reliable Honda Civic, we bring you this article that covers all the best and worst years for Honda Civic to date.

Keep reading to learn the various problems Honda Civics has faced over the years and exactly what model years are worth buying.

Honda Civic Generations – All Model Years

Before we explore the best and worst Honda Civic years, we would like to familiarize you with all the Honda Civic generations over the years. The Honda Civic made its debut in 1972. Since then, this compact car has been released in eleven generations.

But in this article, we will talk about Honda Civic Generations from the model years 2001 to 2024 as they are the prominent ones in the market.

• Model Years 2001-2005: 7th Generation
• Model Years 2006-2011: 8th Generation
• Model Years 2012-2015: 9th Generation
• Model Years 2016-2021: 10th Generation
• Model Years 2022-Present: 11th Generation

Here Are The Neutral, Worst, & Best Honda Civic Year

To help you choose the right Honda Civic, we have divided all the years from the seventh generation to the eleventh generation into best, worst, and neutral years.

Here, neutral years are the model years that do not offer the features or problems to an extent that can label them as best or worst. We have done a thorough research and have included data from authoritative sources like:

• Consumer Reports owner satisfaction scores & reliability scores
• J.D. Power ower ratings
• NHTSA ratings, complaints, recalls, & investigations
• Kelley Blue Book owner ratings
• Edmunds owner ratings
• Cars.com owner ratings

Below we have a graph that shows the combined Honda Civic Ratings from all the sources we have mentioned above:

Model Years 2001-2005: 7th Generation

• Best Years: 2004, 2005
• Worst Years: 2001, 2002, 2003
• Neutral Years: N/A

Model Years 2006-2011: 8th Generation

• Best Years: 2009, 2010, 2011
• Worst Years: 2006, 2007, 2008
• Neutral Years: N/A

Model Years 2012-2015: 9th Generation

• Best Years: 2013, 2014, 2015
• Worst Years: 2012
• Neutral Years: N/A

Model Years 2016-2021: 10th Generation

• Best Years: 2019,2020, 2021
• Worst Years: 2016
• Neutral Years: 2017,2018

Model Years 2022-Present: 11th Generation

• Best Years: 2023, 2024
• Worst Years: 2022
• Neutral Years: N/A

Best And Worst Years For Honda Civic – 7th Generation (2001-2005)

Model year 2001 marks the beginning of the seventh generation of Honda Civic. We are exploring the Honda Civic’s best years and worst years from the seventh generation because it became a turning point for the Civic lineup.

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With the seventh-generation Honda Civic launch, there was a noticeable shift in engineering and design, making this compact car more appealing than ever.

7th Generation spans from the model year 2001 to 2005. Of these, 2004 and 2005 are the best Honda Civic years, while 2001, 2002, and 2003 are among the worst.

Best Honda Civic Years (7th Generation): 2004, 2005

The Honda Civics of model years 2004 and 2005 are the best years of the 7th generation. The models were powered by a robust 1.7L SOHC VTEC engine paired with a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission.

As per EPA’s Honda Civic fuel efficiency ratings, you get an impressive fuel economy of up to 36 mpg in the city and 44 mpg on the highway with 2004 & 2005 Civics.

The new improved Civics were now highly reliable, safe, fun to drive, roomy, and filled with many potent safety features like child door locks, airbags on all sides, and more.

Furthermore, with different trims, you can buy the 2004 & 2005 Honda Civic in the used car market for $2000 to $8000.

Worst Honda Civic Years (7th Generation): 2001, 2002, 2003

When it comes to Honda Civic years to avoid, the 2001, 2002, and 2003 model years are from the seventh generation. All these model years came with significant issues related to transmission and costly repairs.

Customers have complained about slipping transmissions, delays in changing gears, and even total transmission failure. 2001 models faced huge issues due to exterior lighting and fuel pumps leading to engine stalls. These issues even got the recalls.

In the 2002 and 2003 models, Honda tried fixing the 2001 issues. However, problems related to the CVT transmissions and electrical elements persisted.

Best And Worst Honda Civic Years – 8th Generation (2006-2011)

Six years comprises the eighth generation of Honda Civic. This next generation was introduced in 2006 and showed a promising Honda Civic with a futuristic redesign.

The exterior outlook was more aggressive than before, and the interior had some noteworthy enhancements, like a two-tier dashboard.

The 2006, 2007, and 2008 were the worst years of the eighth-generation Civic. However, the later years, 2009, 2010, and 2011 showed the best of what this new generation had to offer.

Best Honda Civic Years (8th Generation): 2009, 2010, 2011

2009 and 2010 are the eighth generation’s most reliable Honda Civic year. Meanwhile, 2011 is mainly concerned with enhanced fuel efficiency. The models in these years came powered by 1.8L SOHC i-VTEC engines mated with a 5-speed automatic or manual transmission, giving impressive power output and optimal fuel economy.

In its best years, the eighth generation also introduced the Honda Civic Hybrid, which came with features like an integrated motor assist system and a natural gas-powered variant.

As per EPA’s Honda Civic ratings for model years 2009 to 2011, the fuel efficiency was improved to 40 mpg in the city and 45 mpg on the highway.

Athletic handling, sporty rides, great reliability ratings, advanced navigation systems, stability control, USB audio interfaces, and other technological enhancements make these years the best of the 8th-generation Civic.

Worst Honda Civic Years (8th Generation): 2006, 2007, 2008

The beginning years of the eighth generation are its worst years. They were plagued with engine cracks, which led to coolant leakage and other severe problems.

The suspension problems were also incredible headaches for these years. The problematic rear control arms led to the adverse posterior chamber, which further caused excessive rear tire wear. In addition, the releases saw many recalls due to engine, suspension, and exterior lighting issues.

Best And Worst Years For Honda Civic – 9th Generation (2012-2015)

In 2012, Honda introduced the ninth generation of the Civic lineup. This new generation underwent a significant modification, making it better than its predecessors in every way.

In this generation, 2013, 2014, and 2015 were all the best years of Honda Civic to buy. Only 2012 is the year you need to steer clear of.

Best Honda Civic Years (9th Generation): 2013, 2014, 2015

Regarding the best Honda Civic year to buy from its ninth generation, model years 2013, 2014, and 2015 are the clear winners. The research and ratings from Consumer Reports and Cars.Com clearly state how these three years produced the best ninth-generation Civics.

All the models came with a 1.8L four-cylinder engine paired with CVT or five-speed manual transmission, offering good fuel efficiency and balanced driving performance.

The exterior got a sophisticated facelift, making it more attractive than before. The interior also got upgrades like integrating high-quality materials and better tech and safety features.

With the ninth generation’s best years, Honda introduced an advanced infotainment system called “HondaLink” with features like smartphone integration, audio streaming, navigation, and voice control.

The company also launched the “Honda LaneWatch” blind-spot display in 2014 releases, ensuring more safety than before.

Worst Honda Civic Years (9th Generation): 2012

In the ninth generation, you should avoid the model year 2012. This introductory year came with issues that needed direct addressing and thus is on our list of worst years for Honda Civic.

In 2012, the Honda Civic was criticized for having a boring design. The engine was good when it came to performance. However, the noise and overall ride quality it offered were a letdown.

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Buyers have complained about unexpected electrical snags, occasional transmission glitches, power steering loss, and CVT transmission.

The good years also had issues with CVT transmission’s responsiveness, but 2012 had it worse. However, NHTSA’s overall safety rating for the 2012 Honda Civic is four stars for the coupe and five stars for the sedan variant.

Best And Worst Years For Honda Civic – 10th Generation (2016-2021)

The 10th generation of Honda Civic spans across six model years. Out of them, three are the best years to buy, two are neutral with no significant issues to be considered bad or great features to be considered good, and one is a bad year to avoid.

The 2016 Honda Civic is the worst one to buy. Whereas 2019, 2020, & 2021 are the best ones, whereas 2017 and 2018 are the neutral releases.

Best Honda Civic Years (10th Generation): 2019, 2020, 2021

If you were ever wondering whether the best Honda Civic year 2021 made the cut or not, then you will be happy to know it did. Under the 10th generation, model years 2019, 2020, and 2021 are the best ones. 

All the models came with two engine options. One was a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder that offered impressive fuel economy and thrilling drive.

The second was a 2-liter four-cylinder offering balanced fuel economy and performance. Both these engines come paired with CVT or a six-speed manual transmission, depending mainly on your preference and the trim you choose.

Honda further enhanced the infotainment system. The models now featured a larger touchscreen, intuitive controls, better voice recognition, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto.

In addition, for your safety, Honda introduced the Honda Sensing Suite, which includes features like lane keeping assist, collision mitigation braking, and adaptive cruise control.

All the releases of these three model years were ranked at the top by popular platforms like Kelly Blue Book, Cars.Com, and Consumer Reports. You can explore the Kelly Blue Book review of the Honda Civic and learn what the consumers and experts say.

Worst Honda Civic Years (10th Generation): 2016

The 2016 Honda Civic is the worst release of the 10th generation. It came with frequently occurring issues like sticky and jerky steering wheels, a malfunctioning AC system, and a lagging infotainment system with unexpected glitches.

The uncomfortable drive due to steering wheel issues and the AC system with freon leaks and malfunctions worried consumers.

Out of all the issues with the 2016 Civic, Honda took proactive measures to address AC system issues. The company offered a Condenser Warranty Extension to the Civic buyers. 

Neutral Honda Civic Years (10th Generation): 2017, 2018

Model years 2017 and 2018 are the neutral years of the Honda Civic’s tenth generation. Honda did work on the problems Civic faced in 2016, and thus, the upcoming two years were good for the company.

The offered engines were good, offering good performance like the best years. Honda continued to offer better safety features in its model, like the Honda Sensing Suite.

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Honda mainly worked on refining CVT’s responsiveness, a central concern area. In addition, Honda also reintroduced the Hatchback Civic after a 10-year-long hiatus, offering more style and versatility.

Best And Worst Years For Honda Civic – 11th Generation (2022-2024)

The 11th generation marked the beginning of the new era of the Honda Civic. The lineup is more refined and bold. You can see the years of maturity in the bold outlook and aggressive designs.

With the model year 2022, the Honda Civic entered the 11th generation. For this latest generation, 2023 and 2024 are the best Honda Civic to mod and buy. However, 2022 is filled with more complaints than the others, making it the worst year of the latest generation.

Best Honda Civic Years (11th Generation): 2023, 2024

For the model years 2023 and 2024, the Honda Civic has beaten all its competitors by becoming the best compact car to buy. The models feature a refined exterior, elegant and upscale cabin, good space, minimalist yet clean interior makeover, and plenty of standard advanced tech & safety features.

The models came with two engine options: 2 liters, four cylinders, and turbocharged 1.5 liters, four cylinders, each paired with CVT or 6-speed manual transmission and front-wheel drive, producing up to 180 hp. You also get to enjoy an impressive fuel economy of 33 mpg in the city and 42 mpg on the highway.

In addition, you get to enjoy a 7″ infotainment touchscreen integrated with wired Apple CarPlay & Android Auto, analog gauge cluster, automatic climate control, push-button start, and proximity keyless entry.

Worst Honda Civic Years (11th Generation): 2022

The 2022 Honda Civic is the worst to buy from the eleventh generation. The issues that ruined this model year were the sticky steering wheel that continued from previous generations and had raised serious concerns regarding handling and overall drivability.

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In addition, system glitches related to the Adaptive Cruise Control and Collision Mitigation System, like intermittent activations when not required and not activating when needed, became a huge mess. Thus, because 2022 is a recent model year, do not confuse it with the best Honda Civic year.

Honda Civic Depreciation

The Civic model lineup has one of the best values on the road for years now. The Honda Civic holds its value well down the road, mainly due to its impressive maintenance record and few to no problems.

It does not matter if you buy a brand-new or used car. If you choose to buy the best Honda Civic years and maintain it well, you can sell it years later for a reasonable price.

The chart below shows the expected depreciation of a Honda Civic for the next 10 years. These anticipated results are only for the Civic models in good condition, averaging about 12,000 miles a year, and have a buying price of $30,550 when new.

FAQs About Best And Worst Honda Civic Years

Conclusion

The Honda Civic is an excellent car for anyone under a budget crunch or looking for a ride, offering the best at the price of goods. However, not every release of Civic is worth your time and attention. Thus, you need to learn the worst and best Honda Civic year.

This article covers all the good and bad years for the Honda Civic, from its seventh to eleventh generation, as you will most likely find them in the new and used car market. Go through each model year and find the one that suits your requirements and budget.