2026 Honda Civic

The Honda Civic has been one of the most trusted names in compact cars for decades, and it upholds its reputation for value, practicality, and overall excellence. That’s why it’s the reigning champ of our KBB Best Buy Award for a compact car. With a surprisingly spacious interior, affordable pricing, class-leading resale value, and variety in its model range that includes two body styles, a hybrid option (reviewed separately), and multiple performance variants, there is a Civic for everyone in the market for a small car. It’s a must-test-drive for anyone shopping in this class.

There are no notable changes to the non-hybrid version of the 2026 Honda Civic following its midcycle refresh in 2025.

Some compact cars have slightly lower base prices, but overall, the Honda Civic’s pricing is about average for a new compact car.

Before buying a Civic, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should really pay. Honda Civic resale value is the best in its segment. Recouping more money when selling a vehicle can mean a bigger down payment and lower monthly payments on the next one.

The 2026 Honda Civic is powered by a 150-horsepower 4-cylinder engine matched with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) and front-wheel drive. In our testing, we’ve found this base engine to be adequate for daily use in an affordable compact car, even with passengers aboard.

The engine doesn’t tell the whole Civic story, though, because we like its responsive nature, which makes it feel quicker than the numbers might suggest. The ride quality, meanwhile, is supple yet with a certain sportiness, in typical Honda fashion.

We’ve found that highway miles pass quickly in the Civic, particularly when the standard adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assistance take on some of the work. Although our owner reviews lean heavily toward the positive, some have mentioned road noise at highway speeds. Honda has given the new hybrid Civic extra noise reduction measures, but not this combustion-only version.

The Civic is easy around town. Its small size and nimbleness allow it to slot into parking spaces that would be challenging for cars just one size class larger. Enthusiasts seeking greater thrills can choose either the 200-hp Civic Si or the 315-hp Type R with seriously impressive performance.

Fuel Economy

The 2026 Honda Civic has an EPA-estimated fuel economy rating of up to 32 city/41 highway/36 combined in the base LX trim. The Sport trim, with its slightly larger wheels, gets 34 combined mpg. These mpg ratings are good for the class, and the even more efficient Civic Hybrid gets up to 49 mpg combined. The turbocharged Civic Si is still pretty efficient at 31 mpg combined, but its thirst for premium gas bumps up its fuel costs.

The Honda Civic’s interior is tasteful and simple. The understated design uses clean lines and a handsome honeycomb-style mesh strip across the dash. We like how it all works ergonomically. Cabin materials are impressive for an affordable compact. One feature we found particularly useful in our long-term test model is the storage pad in front of the gear shifter, where we were able to conveniently set and charge a phone.

One small gripe is that only a 7-inch infotainment screen is available in the non-hybrid Civic. A bigger 9-inch screen (with Google Maps and Alexa built-in), a 10.2-inch digital gauge cluster, and Bose audio are limited to the Sport Touring trim in the Civic Hybrid. This screen is small by today’s standards, but it gets the job done. The good news is that climate controls are handled by satisfyingly tactile knobs and buttons.

The front seats are roomy, even for taller adults, but we do wish there were adjustable lumbar support. There’s enough space for adults in the back as well, with near-class-leading legroom of 37.4 inches. It would be better if those rear passengers had climate vents, but those aren’t available even in the highest trim.

The sedan’s trunk is the biggest in its class (14.8 cubic feet), and the wide opening makes it easy to load and unload. The Civic hatchback has almost 10 cubic feet of extra cargo space compared with the sedan, and even more when the back seats are folded down. For example, in our long-term hatchback test model, we were able to fit a mountain bike in the back without detaching the front wheel.

The Honda Civic has a mature style that reminds us of the larger Accord, which is no bad thing. Many buyers will gravitate toward the Civic sedan, but we think it’s wise to at least consider the hatchback. It offers attributes comparable to a compact SUV, like an already spacious cargo area that expands when the rear seats are folded down. Yet the hatchback retains a stylish exterior design that many of our reviewers prefer over the sedan. Whichever you choose, we love that the Civic still offers a choice of a sedan or hatchback body.

Two body styles
The Honda Civic is available as a traditional sedan or a highly versatile hatchback, with the cargo flexibility to accommodate an adult-sized bicycle.

Honda Sensing
Every Civic comes standard with this array of tech features, making every drive a little safer and more relaxed. These include automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, and traffic sign recognition.

Sport trim
Upgrading to the Sport trim makes the Civic a little more stylish and high-tech while keeping the price reasonable. A few of its features that you don’t get on the LX trim include 8-speaker audio, blind-spot monitoring, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with paddle shifters, Sport mode, a rear center armrest, and more.

USB-C ports
We appreciate that Honda equips every Civic with USB-C ports in front and in back. You and your passengers will be glad they’re there on long trips.

Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are handy phone connectivity features that bring apps, maps, music, and more into the car’s infotainment system. They both come as standard in every Civic.

Performance models
Every Honda Civic is enjoyable to drive, but the sporty Civic Si and ferocious Civic Type R pump up the adrenaline. The Civic Si is affordable fun, and the Type R is a track-ready blast.

The 2026 Honda Civic’s LX and Sport trims employ a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine mated to a CVT automatic transmission, routing power to the front wheels. This powertrain produces 150 hp and 133 lb-ft of torque. The livelier Civic Si uses a turbo version of this engine, producing 200 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque. To the delight of enthusiasts, it comes exclusively with a manual transmission.

Hybrid and Type R versions of the Civic are available, which we review separately.

3-Year/36,000-Mile Warranty

Honda’s new-vehicle warranty lasts three years or 36,000 miles, whichever happens first. Powertrains are covered for five years or 60,000 miles. These terms are typical among mainstream manufacturers. Free scheduled maintenance for two years or 24,000 miles is also included.

Safety Ratings

This generation of Civic Sedan has earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and a 5-Star overall score from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The Civic Hatchback is even safer; it earns the IIHS’s Top Safety Pick+ award.