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Honda Civic — Buyer's Guide

Reliability, safety, running costs and what to check before you buy.

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Honda Civic overview

With 252,034 currently licensed in the UK, the Honda Civic is one of Britain's most popular cars.

Euro NCAP awarded the Civic 5 stars in 2022, with 89% adult occupant and 87% child protection scores.

It has a 81.5% first-time MOT pass rate — above the UK national average of 72%. Common MOT failure areas include suspension, brakes, tyres.

Annual running costs are estimated at £3,319 for a typical 5-year-old example, breaking down to £277/month or 45p/mile.

Theft risk is rated low at 2.9 per 1,000 registered vehicles.

NCAP Safety

2022

MOT Pass Rate

81.5%

280,000 tests

Monthly Cost

£277

est. annual total

New From

£34,325

Safety rating

Euro NCAP tested the Civic in 2022 and awarded it 5 out of 5 stars.

Adult Occupant

89%

Child Occupant

87%

Pedestrian

89%

Safety Assist

83%

Safety recalls

There are 76 known DVSA recalls affecting the Honda Civic. Enter a registration number to check whether a specific vehicle is affected.

R/2026/025

On affected vehicles the alloy steel bushes may be missing in all five positions of the alloy wheel. This may result in the wheel nuts falling off or in the worst-case scenario wheel detachment.

Build dates: 2017-02-07 to 2018-05-14

R/2026/025

On affected vehicles the alloy steel bushes may be missing in all five positions of the alloy wheel. This may result in the wheel nuts falling off or in the worst-case scenario wheel detachment.

Build dates: 2018-05-21 to 2019-04-30

R/2026/025

On affected vehicles the alloy steel bushes may be missing in all five positions of the alloy wheel. This may result in the wheel nuts falling off or in the worst-case scenario wheel detachment.

Build dates: 2019-05-22 to 2019-09-26

R/2026/025

On affected vehicles the alloy steel bushes may be missing in all five positions of the alloy wheel. This may result in the wheel nuts falling off or in the worst-case scenario wheel detachment.

Build dates: 2019-10-08 to 2020-07-08

R/2026/025

On affected vehicles the alloy steel bushes may be missing in all five positions of the alloy wheel. This may result in the wheel nuts falling off or in the worst-case scenario wheel detachment.

Build dates: 2020-08-07 to 2021-06-29

+ 71 more recalls. Check a specific vehicle to see the full list.

Reliability & MOT

Based on 280,000 MOT tests, the Civic has a first-time pass rate of 81.5% above the UK national average of 72%.

This is a positive sign for reliability. The Civic is less likely to have issues at MOT time than the average car on UK roads.

Running costs

Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old Honda Civic are estimated at around £3,319 per year, or £277 per month.

Fuel

£1,208

/year

Road Tax

£195

/year

Depreciation

£1,386

/year

MOT

£55

/year

Estimated annual running costs based on available data. Excludes insurance, parking, and finance costs. Actual costs depend on your driving habits and circumstances.

Fuel economy

The Civic achieves a combined fuel economy of around 47.9 mpg (37.2 mpg urban, 57.6 mpg extra-urban).

VariantFuelCombinedEngine
CIVIC 06PETROL47.9 mpg1.3L
CIVIC 06PETROL44.1 mpg1.8L
CIVIC 06DIESEL55.4 mpg2.2L
CIVIC 2018PETROL42.2 mpg1.0L
CIVIC 2018PETROL42.2 mpg1.5L
CIVIC 2018DIESEL53.3 mpg1.6L
CIVIC 2018PETROL33.2 mpg2.0L
CIVIC 2019PETROL42.2 mpg1.0L

Depreciation

Starting from £34,325 new, a Honda Civic typically retains about 56% after 3 years and 46% after 5 years.

AgeRetainedEst. ValueLost
1 year75%£25,750−£8,575
2 years64%£21,900−£12,425
3 years56%£19,250−£15,075
4 years50%£17,350−£16,975
5 years46%£15,950−£18,375
6 years43%£14,850−£19,475
7 years41%£13,950−£20,375
8 years39%£13,250−£21,075
9 years37%£12,600−£21,725
10 years35%£11,950−£22,375

Theft risk

The Civic has a theft rate of 2.9 per 1,000 registered vehicles, rated low compared to the national average of 5.5 per 1,000.

How common is the Civic?

There are currently 252,034 licensed and 46,462 SORN Civics in the UK (298,496 total). This makes it a very common vehicle on UK roads.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Honda Civic reliable?

The Civic has a 81.5% first-time MOT pass rate based on 280,000 tests — above the UK national average of 72%. This suggests good overall reliability.

How safe is the Honda Civic?

Euro NCAP awarded the Civic 5 out of 5 stars when tested in 2022. It scored 89% for adult occupant protection, 87% for child occupant protection, 89% for vulnerable road users, and 83% for safety assist features.

How much does a Honda Civic cost to run?

Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old Civic are estimated at around £3,319 per year (£277/month). This includes fuel, road tax, depreciation, and MOT fees — but excludes insurance, servicing, and repairs.

Are there any recalls on the Honda Civic?

There are 76 known safety recalls affecting the Civic. These are issued by the DVSA when a safety defect is found. You can check if a specific vehicle is affected by entering its registration number.

Is the Honda Civic likely to be stolen?

The Civic has a theft rate of 2.9 per 1,000 registered vehicles, which is rated low compared to the national average of 5.5 per 1,000. Standard security precautions should be sufficient.

How much does a new Honda Civic cost?

A new Civic starts from around £34,325. After 5 years, a typical example retains about 46% of its original value.

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