2026 Honda Civic

Overview

The Honda Civic is one of the automaker's most impressive vehicles, offering a wonderful combination of practicality, performance and value. Honda refreshed the Civic for 2025, adding an impressive hybrid powertrain and updating its exterior styling. As such, we don't expect major changes for 2026. But as it stands, the Civic is one of the best small sedans (or hatchbacks) on the market today.

Edmunds spotlight: An excellent hybrid powertrain

The Civic's hybrid powertrain churns out 200 horsepower — matching the sporty Civic Si — and bests it when it comes to low-end torque. The hybrid doesn't come with all the performance goodies you'll get on an Si, but it does boast an awesome 49 mpg in the EPA's combined cycle. The potent yet efficient powertrain offers a hard-to-beat blend of performance and practicality. 

Competitors to consider

The Toyota Corolla is the Civic's top competitor, and Toyota took great strides to make sure this generation of the popular compact was more competitive than its predecessors. But the Corolla feels old (it was last redesigned in 2020) and its Hybrid variant doesn't hold a candle to the Civic hybrid. Not only is the Toyota less efficient, it's also significantly less powerful. Other solid picks include the Hyundai Elantra, which comes standard with a ton of advanced driver aids and also offers a hybrid powertrain, and the Mazda 3, which is plenty sporty in its own right. 

We love that our favorite compact car is available in a variety of versions for shoppers of all types. Whether you want a wallet-friendly sedan or a fully loaded hybrid or even a seriously hot hatchback, the Civic has you covered.