Yahoo News Honda Civic: Car and Driver 2025 10Best Cars
Developing an affordably priced compact car that doesn't feel like it's affordably priced is one of the most difficult challenges in the auto industry. But you wouldn't know it from driving a Honda Civic. That could be because of Honda's decades-long experience in the arena. The Civic dates back to the first energy crisis—it was introduced as a 1973 model—and is now in its 11th generation. Some Civics have been better than others, but taken as a whole, excellence has been a through line for this nameplate, and this is the 11th time the Honda Civic has appeared on a Car and Driver 10Best list.
We are particularly impressed with the breadth and depth of the current Civic lineup. The base version, offered as both a sedan and a hatchback, serves budget shoppers with polish and poise that belie its econocar pricing. The newly introduced Civic Hybrid, though, is a tempting upgrade; its unique gas-electric powertrain offers impressive drivability that could win over hybrid haters. It marries great fuel economy (up to 49 mpg EPA combined) with straight-line performance that rivals the Si.
For its part, the Si remains a harmonious and well-integrated sports sedan, one that tugs at our heartstrings as it's offered exclusively with a manual transmission. This year it once again adds a summer-tire option, showing Honda's dedication to the model's enthusiast audience. At the top of the lineup is the stupendous 315-hp Civic Type R, where, as senior editor Eric Stafford put it, "Honda's racing pedigree feels baked into every fiber." Indeed, the Civic Type R currently holds our Lightning Lap record for a front-wheel-drive car.
When the Civic was introduced, Americans were clamoring for small cars. Today, that's not so true. Thankfully, Honda has not retreated from this segment, and the rightness of today's Civic is the result.
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