Used 2008 Honda Civic Consumer Reviews
See Edmunds pricing data
Has Your Car's Value Changed?
Used car values are constantly changing. Edmunds lets you track your vehicle's value over time so you can decide when to sell or trade in.
Drive Fast or Slow? Can't Decide...
Leased for my commute to work, but knew this would be a fantastic weekend car. Whether to tackle everyday tasks or to have a nice Sunday drive to the beach, the smooth shifting 6-Spd is a pleasure to drive. The clutch is quite an upgrade from the DX, LX, and EX trim. Happy about the performance, comfort, looks, reliability, and handling. Interior is eye catching, and the mp3 capability is welcomed. A/C vents need to be moved as they are behind the steering wheel. The black cloth seats with red stitching are extremely comfortable, but impossible to keep clean since every piece of lint or dog hair shows. Leather should have been an option. Need to fix creak on windshield/dash!
Expected Better Gas Mileage
I absolutely love the way the car handles. It feels like a sports car. At first glance, I did not like the new dash, however, it really grows on you. The only item I was disappointed in was fuel mileage. I was expecting at least 30 to 31 mpg in city/highway driving, but I am only averaging 27/28 mpg. I do drive for fuel economy; so hopefully when the car is broken in more, the mileage will improve.
- EX SedanMSRP: $4,81093 mi away
- LX SedanMSRP: $6,575148 mi away
- EX-L SedanMSRP: $4,500179 mi away
Civic good be better
I found the styling good, the performance is great, but I'm disappointed on the fuel economy. The comfort level is great. The road noise is not quiet. Needs work on that.
Battery problems
Have been having battery problems. During the winter had problems driving car. Dealership said not using the car a lot and going on short trips would probably do it. At stop lights the car cuts out - I thought it was just me but anyone who has driven the car said the same thing. Drove to New Glasgow 200 km trip - When heading back car wouldn't start - had to call roadside assistance - which I must say are excellent. I have Sirius Satellite in my car - they said that it is a serious drainage on my battery using it. I contacted Sirius on this and they have never heard of this being a problem. My boss has his plugged in all the time and never had a problem.
First Honda Ownership
This is my first Honda vehicle and so far it has been a great pick. I picked the 2008 Honda Civic because it has great features. My last car was a 2002 Chrysler Sebring (what a mess!!). After driving a Chrysler Sebring, I wanted a car that was dependable; especially after dealing with the transmission problems for five years. I searched several nights on the internet about Honda products and have seen great comments about their products. So, there I was on a Honda dealership lot and I know I have made a great choice. The only problems I have so far, is the key not having the trunk release button on it and for some reason when the windows are down, the air is not circulating properly.
My favorite car
I recently bought the 2008 Honda civic sedan LX and i love it. I have bought a lot of cars and this one has to be my favorite. I drove the accord it was great but i was just liking the civic more. The a/c isn't too great as everyone else says but i like to ride with the windows down anyway. The radio works really good. It has some get up and go when it's needed but definitely not the si. Other than the a/c the car is great!
2008 Honda Civic Mugen Si
Perhaps a little expensive for a Civic, but once you drive it, you completely forget. It's a super fun to drive pocket rocket that looks awesome and works great as a daily driver.
Just a work car
I bought this coupe(A/T LX) for my drive to work (130 miles round trip ). I'm always running late and drive an average of close to 80-90 mph in the morning and around 75 on the way home. Checked my mileage this evening for the first time and found it to be slightly above 30 mpg. I had to learn to not overdrive the steering wheel, because this thing changes direction quickly. I love it.
So Much Fun
As a recent college grad, this was my first new car purchase. I spent months (literally) trying to find a something fun/practical/economical/sporty/stylish /etc. all wrapped into one. Before, I drove a '95 Mazda Millenia which was great. My first Honda experience has been amazing so far. I was warned the Si was a true sports car. This is not a lie. Gears 2 through 5 really have some power, especially in the higher RPM's (redlines at 8000). With a little time, the clutch is fairly user friendly. Navigation system is easy to use and the sound system is better than advertised (built in sub really kicks hard). I bought this car to have some fun and so far Honda has delivered.
Exceeds Expectations
I traded in my 4wd SUV for a 2008 Civic EX w/nav for the purposes of reducing my monthly payment and cutting my fuel consumption. Mission accomplished. I figure to save around $400 a month (about $150 on payment and $250 on gas). I fully expected to sacrifice power, comfort, and cargo space. While I did lose a little power, the Civic is surprisingly and deceptively roomy on the interior. And the large trunk and fold-down rear seats allow for more than adequate cargo capacity. Adequate power, plenty of room (even for me at 6' tall and 220 lbs), and an interior (with voice activated navigation and digital gages) that gives off a "luxury car" feel leaves me with no regrets whatsoever.
Enjoying my cute lil Honda Civic Coupe!
I just traded my 2006 Honda Civic SI coupe in for something that was cheaper, less to insure, and something I didn't have to put premium gas in. So I decided to get a new Coupe LX civic. I got it in an automatic, I was getting a little tired of driving a stick anyways. Very nice for the price. I got mine at less than invoice price, thanks to my helpful Honda dealership. Love the tan interior, although I think it will get dirty fast. Only thing I don't like is when I put the car in park my door unlocks itself. I mean what if I was shopping and someone came up and mugged me as soon as I parked? Just don't think it's a great feature, since I would think most people who buy this car are female.
More Than Happy
I was initially skeptical of the hybrid vehicles because I thought I would have to sacrifice so much for the sake of better fuel mileage. I couldn't have been more wrong. Now that the car has "broken in," I not only enjoy my daily drive, but I enjoy a minimum 44 MPG (even at $4/gallon fill-ups are less that $40) with top fuel mileage topping out at over 49 MPG. As far as performance, the car handles great and I don't feel like I've sacrificed anything on the road - acceleration is better than adequate and the car rolls nicely at 80-85mph. Part of me wants to be selfish and steer people away because increased supply will only drive up prices, but ultimately we'll all be better off. Get one!
Luv R Si Sedan
This car is one of the best compromises between performance and practicality that exists today. I am getting 27 mpg during break in. Quiet as a lamb when driven normally but roars like a lion when you drive it with performance in mind. Excellent ergonomics, a shifter right out of a race car and the best driving position I can remember in any car I've owned. Buy one, you'll love it too.
good enough
I'm coming from Z4 with manual tranny. I wish it had lil more power but I wished the same thing when I had Z4 also.. It handles much better than you would expect from Civic. feels as responsive as 3 series I test drove before Civic. I always had issue with Honda's seat. I owned TL- S, Accord, CR-V, and MDX... all of them had lumbar support in wrong position. Even 2008 Civic sedan has weird lumbar support but Civic Coupe seats is only Honda car I don't have any problem with. You gotta sit on one of these, you'll understand what I mean. Heated seat heats up little different from other cars I've owned but it is nice feature. Heated seat don't get as hot as other cars even in high mode
Good Car but Not Sure about Gas Mileage
I got a Honda Civic as my second car, got my first when I was 16 and it was a Sunfire with AMAZING gas mileage but it was old and needed a new car. I liked the Civic for all its features but mostly the gas mileage but after 800 miles and 3 tanks later I am only getting 24.5 miles per gallon and don't understand why. I wanted 29 at least like it said! So I'm not happy but wondering if maybe there is a reason and if someone can tell me why I would very much appreciate it! I'm just a young girl who thought she did her research well. But other than that it's a GREAT car!
Civic EX in Galaxy Gray
Although I have only driven my car for a short period of time I have already fallen in love with it. I previously owned a limited edition 2005 VW Jetta GLI, but due to fuel economy and no auxiliary input I got rid of it. This civic is great. This car has the best stock radio system I have ever heard...I didn't even have to put in an aftermarket sub and amp to get the bass that I wanted.
very nice
I love my new Civic because you can chill with it and get great gas mileage or you can give it hell and still get pretty good gas mileage, and it is fun to hit the gas. The interior design is tight esp. With the navi. Overall great car.
A Honda Believer for Life! :O)
I have a 1997 Honda Del Sol and have owned 2 Preludes and I have to say that Honda delivers what others do not and that is a quality car with great handling and performance (more than the hp might suggest) for the money. I was hesitant to consider the new Civic after having had an older model as a loaner when getting my Del Sol worked on and I found it to be flimsy and loud but this new generation Civic is a charmer! I went to the dealership to try out the new Honda Fit as a supplemental car to my Del Sol which has over 100K miles on it and test drove the Civic, too, and fell in love. So far, I've only had it a week but find the ride quality and performance to be great!
I Love Honda Cars!!
This is my 6th time buying a Honda. 9 between my wife and me. I have the civic, navy blue. She has and Accord. I love driving the Civic more so than driving her Accord. It handles quite well and gets great gas mileage. I love the way it feels inside and out.Bought the extended warranty, not like I'll never need it.
Great MPG
I have almost 40,000 miles on this ride. I sold a Mercedes C car because I drive so many miles and was only getting 26 MPG. I routinely get 38.9 mpg, never going below 36 and attaining 41.6 mpg on one trip. A larger tank would be great as I have to fill up every third day. I have had no problems with the engine, drive train, body, or trim. My only disappointment has been the drivers seat which has a one inch tear along a seam. It is very comfortable on good roads, a little less so on bumpy roads. At less than 20 grand for a fully optioned fuel sipper, it is a better deal than one of the hybrids.
Honest Assessment
I really like this car; however, there are aspects that I don't like. Perhaps this will be helpful to others. *Remote doesn't open trunk *Much plastic on this car. Looks good in most places but feels cheap in some. ex. inside door lever, hand break,etc *Don't like fabric on the door handles and console. Waiting to get dirty and stained. * body materials 'very' thin and some plastic. Lightly press or rub roof and it flexes. Doors sound cheap and hollow when closed. * Road noise if that is of concern to you. * cannot use DVD media in stereo to play mp3 and dvds. Only CD media Good car but always room for improvement
So far pretty good
I wanted a small car. All small cars I test drove were only 128 hp. Upgrade to 140 hp for a marginal price increase and similar gas mileage was the main reason for us to buy this car. Milage was low intially but picked to 33 mpg for half freeway and half within city driving conditions. I wish they had remote trunk popup button on the key.
Fantastic
Fun, exciting, love this car, I made the right choice. Do not miss this car It has all in a small sports car. Compare to expensive cars, this one takes the cake.
Need brakes again
I just got a major service (tune up). I was told I need brakes again. In less than 2 years this will be my 4th set of brakes. They say it must be that I drive in the city. Well I have been driving in the city 37 years and never had this many brake jobs in so little time.The car sits low to the ground and scrapes the front bumper when parking head in. The inside frame between the windshield and window is so thick and slanted that you can miss pedestrians in a crosswalk. Even the smallest bump makes a big bang and it is very noisy in the cabin when on the freeway. the paint scratches and chips too easy. Gas mileage is not spectacular. I'm sure there is more. Trading this as soon as I can.
Fuel milage is below expectations
It's a little car that gets about 28 MPG combined driving and around 33 MPG on highway. This is very close to what our 2004 Accord does, and the Accord is 4 years old. I was expecting MORE. It is well constructed and easy to drive. The driver seat is a little hard. I do not like the gas gauge; would prefer one that shows 1/4 1/2, 3/4 and full. Those little dots on the gas gauge leaves much to be desired. The AC is not adequate at low speeds and the split level puts too much on the feet and not enough on the upper level. I may not keep this car very long.
Great Mileage
I purchased a Civic Hybrid a few weeks ago and have put ~1880 miles on it thus far. The mileage keeps getting better as you learn to drive it. For the 1880 miles I am getting an overall of 46.3 mpg. I do a lot of highway driving, but amazingly, I usually see the mileage go up after I get off the highway. I have curbed my "need for speed" on the highway (usually travel somewhere between 62 and 68 mph - I used to drive my Audi at a steady 74 mph when I wasn't speeding)and am really into trying to get the maximum mileage. I've totally enjoyed driving it while the gas prices keep going up. Makes you feel like you made a good decision in getting it.
Absolutely Superb!
5600 mile trip AMA to NJ to NC to Austin to AMA: 37.54 mpg; highway portion: 38.73; city (incl DC rush hr): 30.42. Seats firm, but even a 700+ mile day was fine. Pushing it on NC 80 from I-40 to Blueridge Pkwy (posted 45 mph; most curves 15-20 mph rec) was fantastic: engine, gearbox, clutch, steering feedback, & stable seats combined for the most fun I've ever had driving a car (I'm 65). Car has 2 personalities: economy or fun. I don't think any other car can do both this well under $20K -- particularly with the EX's safety & Honda's reliability. The beige/ivory color combo & sunroof mean minimal AC use. On hwy, recirc the air, keep heat off, & turn AC on/off as needed. Will incr mpg!
A No Brainer
just bought this car for my wife. after 2 weeks of hopeless negotiation with Toyota, i finally came to my senses. i almost paid 21,700 for a 09 corolla S series, with tax. that blue speckled interior is just childish. i was gonna go with the XLE but I couldn't see paying over 20 grand for a car with hubcaps. i decided to buy this car, and i got it for 22,100 with tax. WITH leather, WITH navigation. vs. the corolla. theres just no comparison. the leather definitely brings the car "to the next level". It's the nicest car you're gonna get unless you can afford an accord, or an acura. bottom line. and the only car for 22,000 you're ever gonna get with leather. open the car door and inhale!
Great Car
I was shocked on a highway trip to get 41mpg on the highway... far better than the 26 I used to get with my last car, a BMW. I am a tall person, 6'2'' and easily fit in the car. I love the sporty styling and well appointed ergonomics. This car has great visibility due to the huge windshield. You will ride very low to the ground... but I'm sure that has something to do with reducing drag.
Don't expect it to be a "Driver's" car
After owning a Mazda RX-8 6spd,(my wife had problems driving a manual after breaking her foot last fall) the Civic was a major step down. It's a nice looking car, but it's weak and handles terribly (very choppy ride at highway speed) compared to what I was used to driving. The speedometer placement is very unnatural and distracting especially at night. If all you need is a reliable high mileage commuter, this may work for you, but if I had another chance, I'd more likely buy a Corolla.
honda rocks!!
it takes 38 dollars to fill this car up - need i say more? and I am getting 30-40 mpg (city/hwy) - this car will pay for itself quickly!!
Sweet Ride
Don't believe those reviews of the car being anything less than great. Honda consistently builds solidly built products. This car really is a joy. I am a college student, so the extra space afforded by the 4 door is helpful, although if anyone is not restricted by space I would recommend the coupe. It is far more attractive and I will most likely go for that when the lease is up. The car is quite low on torque to be honest, but one the cams switch over the car really becomes a beast and the sound is beautiful. If you do not like revving up your engine past 6k then you will never enjoy this car, and you might as well look elsewhere. Great ride, smooth, reliable, decently quick.
Great Commuter Car
Looked at the Corolla S and Mazda 3 before settling on the Civic. Was a toss-up between the Corolla and the Civic but the safety features were slightly better on the Civic. Great little car. Sporty, comfortable, fun to drive, and the mpg is great. My wife drives it as a commuter car and it regularly gets 35+ mpg on the hwy. Overall very pleased so far.
Lovely, cute
I talked my wife into getting a 4 door Civic for convenience, as she is hauling two grand children. (She was driving an 01 Sunfire GT). We went to the dealer to test drive it. But then, she spotted the 2 door. It was all over. Convenience no longer mattered. She loves it! "It is hugging me" she feels. The salesman also pointed out that it has the big 350W stereo (4 door EX models only have 140W). That was it! Final!
Very economical
Traded out of a V6 Accord due to my long daily commute and gas prices. Got 37 MPG first tank - 80% highway. This is a nice little economy car that is well equipped and reasonably entertaining to drive. I am 6'2" and could use a little more seat travel and the seats themselves won't be fun on long trips but that isn't what I bought the car for. The OEM Goodyear tires were "squishy" and didn't inspire confidence around corners or on the highway. I already swapped them out and am far more pleased with the replacements. My Accord had Michelin Pilot Exalto's and they served me well. The drive train is relatively refined and the 5 speed manual is less notchy than the 6 speed in my Accord.
Great but could use some design changes
Great car. I bought it for the reputation, safety rating and gas mileage. Pros: drove from Los Angeles to Dallas and got 36 hwy and up to 46 when not using the A/C, very zippy and fun to drive. Huge windshield allowing passenger to prop feet up on dash, adequate room inside and trunk. Cons: sometimes acts like it wants to stall when idling. Front brakes replaced at 22,000 miles (not covered by warranty). I was told this was due to driving in LA traffic which I believe; CD player died so entire audio system replaced 8 months after purchase (covered by warranty) and lots of road noise. Locked keys in car due to automatic locking system - very annoying!
Honda rules!
This is my third Honda, and my first Civic. My last two were accords, both bought new. I just sold my '91, with 326k on the odometer, for $1,800! Looked and ran almost as good as new. You take good care of a Honda and it'll return the favor. This Civic is an awesome little car, roomy, zippy, comfortable. The gas mileage is fantastic. I have a heavy foot and it's hot where I live in the summer. I usually set the cruise control at 75, drive 50 miles a day, 5 days a week, with the A/C on, and I've been averaging 34 mpg! The build quality is typical Honda, tight panel gaps, no creaks or rattles. Overall, I have zero complaints. Honda has done it again!
Perfect commuter
I drive about 20k which is mostly commuting and a mix of city and hwy driving. I traded in a Toyota matrix for this car and it's really made the commute much more enjoyable. Although road noise is cited as an issue with this car, I find it far superior to the Toyota in that aspect. Instrumentation very handy and intuitive. It is clean, economical, commuter at a good price. There's plenty of room and it actually feels like a midsize because of the dash and windshield configurations.
The Honda Civic Si Rocks!
I was in the market for a small sedan that that was fuel efficient, reliable, stylish, and would perform with some pep on the road. After doing some extensive research on-line (which included reading Consumer Reports, Edmunds, KBB,etc., I narrowed it down to the 1) Nissan Sentra 2) Mazda 3) Toyota Corolla, and 4) Honda Civic. After completing all of the test drives, the Civic Si was the hands down winner! The Civic fit and finish were best is class, the interior is well laid out and is both comfortable and stylish. The 6 speed manual transmission is smooth as silk and I am thrilled with the overall performance on both the city streets and the highway!
Not all that
I bought this car because of the Civic reliability and mostly because of resale value. I put a lot of miles on my cars and I need a good resale when I go to trade or sell them. I had 2 Hyundai Elantras prior to this car and my Elantra was a lot better car if you ask me. It was much quieter and felt more luxurious, even though it was still sporty and the gas mileage I got was the same. I also had an Accord at one time and it seems Honda cars have a "harder" ride, lots of bumps, lots of noise. Am looking to see what else I can get in 2010 since I'm not too impressed with this car. As someone else said, the struts are noisy, lots of creaks, cabin/wind noise, crappy stereo, etc.
Good commuter car
Very good if have a commuter drive open driving with a few stops but not interstate. Doesn't like 60 MPH+ but 55 and lower does well and gets great gas mileage as long as you drive conservatively. If you try and drive like it was the performance car you traded in you will be disappointed in mileage.
This is a good car
I enjoy this car. I have owned the civic ex 2008 for one day. I previously owned a civic but in August of 2006 I purchased a Mazda6. The Mazda was a nice car but It did not provide me a lot of Mpg. and the interior control panel was bland. Consequently, after owning the Mazda6 for 4 months, I decided to trade the car in yesterday for something more gas efficient. I am happy with my purchase.
Zippy "big" Little Car
First Honda I have ever owned. I have always had trucks (Fords f-150's). Really miss my truck, but man do I like going over 420 miles and only spending $37.00 in gas (just filled up today)! My truck would have cost me over $90.00! Love it!!!!
Everything but the comfort
Yes, true can't expect much comfort from civic, but as previous owner of 00 Civic comparing with 08 can say that 08 civic is below my expectation. Front seats are uncomfortable and hand brake hurt my knee every time I drive it. Still haven't driven it on longer relations but it'll be painful.
Luv Our Hondas
Finally sold off the 93 DX MT model for a 2008 EX AT and couldn't be more satisfied. The EX gets 32 City with AC. Highway mileage is also impressive - we're getting 38 on the highway! Can't ask for a smoother, more quiet ride. Enjoying the keyless entry, remote trunk, 6 speakers, and there's plenty of room for the 6'2" passengers. It's a great value for the money. The dealer installed the low profile spoiler and tinted the windows. Now we really look cool! We researched and test drove a couple SUVs as well as the Corolla and Accord. They couldn't compare to the Civic's ride and reputation for dependability.
Most bang for your buck!
I evaluated the Toyota and Scion models prior to purchasing the Honda Civic. In the end, it was the build quality and my previous knowledge of Honda reliablity (and a great deal of homework and test driving) that resulted in this Honda sale. I enjoy the peppy drive of the manual transmission and the gas mileage is great (so far, 31mpg in mixed driving). If you read this, stop, and go buy one, you will not regret it! It is truly the 'biggest' small car you will ever find.
Fun with svings
Not my first Civic and won't be my last. I have had this Civic for about two months and I am very happy. Getting over 30 MPG.
Best bang for your buck
It was between this car or a 4dr GTI. The ride is amazing. The handling is perfect and responsive. I was in an Altima SER, so going from 261 to 197hp I'm going to have to say it is slow. It has good pick up and it's hard to red-line :). The nav is worth it. I'm a pilot so I have a good sense of direction... thought I'd never use it. Once I played around with it for a while and studied up on it I really learned to enjoy it. The tires could be a little stickier. I do a lot of city driving and I'm getting about 24mpg average and I am shifting around 4500 to 5000 rpm on average. I use the car.
The perfect package!
I traded in my 2002 V6 Mustang for a 2008 EX Civic back in November and it's the smartest thing I've ever done for many reasons. As a former Ford man who always trashed Honda, I have to say I LOVE THIS CAR! The gas mileage is incredible for the amount of fun you can have. I'm 5'11'' and I feel totally comfortable in it driving for hours. Not to mention, the VTEC in it is plenty powerful enough stock - let alone the abundance of aftermarket parts. The 8th generation Civic is a winner for sure.
Just Got Another
Got this one for the wife, who puts about 2000 miles/month on it. I liked it so much I got one too, but manual. Traded an '04 350Z so I could drive all year in Idaho. The stick version feels quite a bit quicker than the auto. A friend and I both have both trannys. The EPA lies, the manual gets 2-3 mpg more (30/35 vs 32/37) if it matters. Drove the Si w/ intent to buy it but this wonderful engine isn't special til over 6 grand up to 8500 rpm. This is not useful unless you're a wannabe racer. I'd like the power in the midrange like my Z. So the Si is a great handling car with nothing to offer mature drivers.