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10 Best Used Cars Under $8,000

2011 Honda Civic

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Overview

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2011 Honda Civic Review

By KBB.com Editorial Staff

As Honda's best-known and best-loved car line, the 2011 Civic Sedan and Coupe continue to set the bar in the compact-car arena. Long considered the standard by which all other compacts are measured, the Civic is able to lure buyers thanks to its impressive fuel economy, unrivaled reliability and repair history and class-leading resale values. And, despite its five-year old design, the Civic's exterior styling is still one of the car's most appealing attributes. With its sharply raked windshield and low profile, the sleek Civic Coupe looks like nothing else on the road. The car's appeal to younger drivers has put Honda back into the good graces of the tuner and aftermarket crowd.

You'll Like This Car If...

If you appreciate world-class refinement (along with impressive mileage), and you're looking to spend anywhere from $16,000 to $25,000 for a new car, your test-drive schedule might not continue past the Honda dealer.

You May Not Like This Car If...

If the Civic's $16,000 starting price is the most you want to spend, you might be disappointed to find out the least-expensive DX model doesn't include a factory-installed audio system, air conditioning or power locks. Shop around and you'll find your money goes a lot further at a Hyundai or Kia dealership.

What's New for 2011

The Honda Civic sees no major changes for 2011.

Driving the Civic

Driving Impressions We drove the Civic in both Coupe and Sedan form and found them both notable for what you don't hear or feel – the ride is smooth and quiet, while...

cornering and acceleration are easy and nearly effortless. The whole experience is more in line with what you'd expect from a bigger or pricier vehicle. The refined 140-horsepower engine never overwhelms you with power, but even when you run the tachometer up to its redline you don't feel like you're bullying the car. The Coupe version gets a slightly sportier suspension to go with its decidedly sportier posture, but we found it to be still comfortable after hour-plus drives. Whether you're in the driver's seat or one of the Civic's other seating positions, the 2011 Honda Civic is a perfectly enjoyable way to travel.

Favorite Features

Audio Options
Listen to MP3s on CD. Listen to MP3s on a memory card. Listen to MP3s on an iPod. Listen to XM Satellite Radio. Listen through a 350-watt system with a subwoofer (Coupe only). When you're feeling nostalgic, you can even listen to AM and FM radio broadcasts.

Two-Tier Instrument Panel
While some non-traditional instrument panel layouts come across as gimmicky, the Civic's two-tier execution seems to make all the sense in the world.

2011 Honda Civic Details

Dashboard, center console, gear shifter view photo

Interior

In addition to offering more in-cabin technology than we've come to expect, the 2011 Honda Civic also features one of the most visually futuristic interior of any non-hybrid vehicle on the market. Take a seat behind the wheel and your first impression is dominated by a uniquely sculpted steering wheel and an unconventional two-tier instrument panel. Technological highlights include an available navigation system and a broad array of digital audio options, although the standard audio system itself could make due with some more power. Third, fourth and fifth passengers would be happier in the Sedan's backseat than in the Coupe's, because the Sedan features about four more inches of legroom and two more inches of headroom than the cozy Coupe. The fit, finish and design found inside the Civic are first-rate.

Exterior

Although the 2011 Honda Civic Coupe and Sedan are both distinguished by a low-profile front end, short hood and long, laid-back windshield, the two models have never been more different. The taller Sedan rides on a longer wheelbase than the sleeker, sportier Coupe that also includes a decklid spoiler as standard equipment. Small gaps between the tires and body contribute to each model having a stance with better proportions and more balance. Beneath the sheet metal, the Civic features an advanced body structure designed to better absorb and distribute collision forces, especially in impacts involving taller sport utility vehicles and the like.

Notable Equipment

Standard Equipment

Notable standard equipment on the base Civic Sedan and Coupe models includes power windows, a four-way adjustable steering column, height-adjustable driver's seat, fold-down rear seatback and an impressive list of safety equipment such as front, front-side and side-curtain airbags, active head restraints, anti-lock brakes (ABS) and more. The DX-VP adds to the base DX trim an AM/FM/CD stereo and air conditioning, but still lacks power locks/mirrors.

Optional Equipment

The Civic's list of optional equipment is highlighted by a navigation system with voice-recognition software and Bluetooth hands-free phone connectivity. An advanced 350-watt AM/FM/XM/CD sound system with subwoofer is available on the \ and EX and EX-L, but there are several iterations of a 160-watt CD sound system – and all audio systems have MP3/WMA CD playback capability and, on DX-VP and higher trims, an auxiliary audio input jack. Getting the navigation system also gives you the ability to play music stored on a variety of digital media cards. More familiar options are included within the various trim levels and include an automatic transmission, one-touch power moonroof, leather seating, power door locks with keyless remote, power mirrors, air conditioning, cruise control and steering wheel-mounted cruise/audio/navigation controls.

Under the Hood

Bridging the gap between the 197-horsepower high-output engine in the Civic Si and the 45-miles per gallon powerplant in the Civic Hybrid, the Civic Sedan and Coupe feature a 140-horsepower unit that delivers impressive city/highway mileage of up to 25/36-miles per gallon. A five-speed manual is standard, but a five-speed automatic mitigates the performance penalty normally associated with combining a small four-cylinder engine and an automatic transmission. Performance fans who can't work a manual gearbox are shut out of the Si, as no automatic is offered.

1.8-liter in-line 4
140 horsepower @ 6300 rpm
128 lb.-ft. of torque @ 4300 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 26/34 (manual), 25/36 (automatic)

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2011 Honda Civic Consumer Reviews

Overall Rating

4.5

Out of 5

Based on 1552 Ratings for the 2006 - 2011 Honda Civic models.

Review this car

Value

4.5/5

Quality

4.4/5
Reliability

4.7/5

Performance

4.3/5
Comfort

4.2/5

Styling

4.6/5

FUN CAR!

By juan (TX) on Friday, February 10, 2012

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 29,336

5 5.0

overall rating 5 of 5rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 5/5
Value: 5/5
Reliability: 5/5
Quality: 5/5
Performance: 4/5
Styling: 4/5
Comfort: 3/5

Pros: "Fun to drive. nice small car. easy to park!"

Cons: "Seats are quite uncomfortable at first..."

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 8

"i just got this car a week ago, and i was thinking of returning it, but i ALWAYS changed my mind as soon as a i entered the car. it rides smooth and i thought it'd be pretty slow since its a 4 cylinder car, but this car accelerates fast! The only thing i don't like about it is the fact that you cant switch the original head unit without having to buy all sorts of adapters and all that stuff. I'm glad i chose this car over the Impala i was also offered. Also, the dealership where i bought it at, only gave me 1/2 a tank of gas on it, the dealership is 45 minutes away from my house, and i still have about 1/2 tank of gas!"

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Honda Lover Feels Let Down

By Geenessa (MO) on Friday, February 10, 2012

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 81,000

5 4.0

overall rating 4 of 5rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 4/5
Value: 5/5
Reliability: 5/5
Quality: 5/5
Performance: 4/5
Styling: 5/5
Comfort: 4/5

Pros: "Drives nice, reliable, affordable, Good MPG's"

Cons: "Does not get 51 MPG, Crummy radio reception."

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"I know, I rated it a 4 out of 5 so you wonder how 'let down' I could feel. Well I only have two complaints. First, this car was rated at 51 MPG's, I have only been able to get to 48 durring my all-highway morning commute, ONCE. I typically average 42.3 MPG's. I purchased this as a 3rd car for my work commute simply for the 51 MPG's and the fact that I cannot achieve that really makes me upset. My Second complaint would be, of all things, the RADIO! Something so simple that has been in cars since the car was invented! I get the WORST FM reception in my Civic. My FM radio signal is worse sounding then my AM signal! WHY IN THE WORLD IS THAT!? I spend 4 hours a day in the car for my work commute, I want to relax and listen to local stations, but I cannot. Unacceptable. I am spending a few hundred dollars this week to have my radio and antenna upgraded so I can listen to the stinkin' radio! What a waste of money. Other than those two complaints, I love my Honda Civic! ;)"

1 person out of 1 found this review helpful

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