2021 Honda Civic Review

Name: 2021 Honda Civic Review
Brand: Honda
Price: 15015 USD

2021 Honda Civic Touring Sedan Exterior Shown

+278

The Honda Civic is as good as it gets. It tops our small sedan segment in most of our categories. Fuel economy and acceleration are particularly impressive, as are interior space and build quality.

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2021 Honda Civic Review

byCameron Rogers^{Manager, News
Cameron Rogers has worked in the automotive industry since 2013. He has tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Today, he leads the news team in developing cutting-edge news articles, opinion pieces and sneak peeks at upcoming vehicles. Favorite cars that he's driven during his tenure at Edmunds include the 991-era Porsche 911 Turbo S, Rolls-Royce Ghost and several generations of Honda Odyssey (really).}

Pros

Excellent fuel economy and performance from turbocharged engine
Ride quality expertly balances comfort and athleticism
Many standard advanced technology and safety features
Roomy cabin with high-quality materials

Cons

Overly vigilant forward collision warning system is frustrating
Slow-responding adaptive cruise control system
Blind-spot camera is harder to use than a typical blind-spot monitor

What's new

No significant changes for the sedan or hatchback
Coupe body style and Si trim level dropped from lineup
Type R Limited Edition features special paint, unique wheels and tires and lighter weight
Part of the 10th Civic generation introduced for 2016

Overview

New small sedans come out every year, but none has been able to unseat the Honda Civic as our favorite model car since it was introduced back for the 2016 model year. Things aren't much different for this year's model — not surprising since Honda vehicles change very little year over year. The 2021 Honda Civic continues to offer a compelling mix of performance, comfort and practicality at a price point that is in line with the rest of the class.

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2021 Honda Civic LX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl CVT) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.50 per gallon for regular unleaded in Ohio.}

Monthly estimates based on costs in Ohio

$130/mo

$181/mo

Avg. Midsize Car

Calculate my fuel costs

The mix outside the core Civic lineup, however, does see a shakeup. The coupe body style and sporty Si have been axed for 2021, while the high-performance Civic Type R hatch adds a new Limited Edition model. The Type R Limited Edition enjoys revised steering and suspension tuning, BBS wheels with more aggressive performance tires, and reduced sound deadening to save weight.

Check out our Expert Rating to get our in-depth review of this year's Civic. We anticipate a new Civic for 2022, so if you're enthralled with the current model, pick one up now before it's gone.

What's it like to live with?

The Honda Civic has long been one of the better compact cars, but its 2016 redesign was nothing short of game-changing. Not only did it help revitalize the Civic nameplate, but it also shifted our expectations of what a compact car could be. This generation Civic is well regarded for its spacious cabin, excellent ride quality, upscale interior materials and superb handling. We're also smitten with its powerful and efficient turbocharged engine. We liked it so much, in fact, that we plunked down our own money to buy one. To read about our experiences with a top-of-the-line Touring sedan, read our long-term Civic test. Note that while we tested a 2016 Civic, all of our observations still apply to the 2021 model.

Edmunds Expert Rating

Our Verdict^{The Edmunds Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.}

Great

8.4

out of 10

edmunds TESTED

The Honda Civic is as good as it gets. It tops our small sedan segment in most of our categories. Fuel economy and acceleration are particularly impressive, as are interior space and build quality.

Rated for you by America's best test team.

Performance

8.5/10

How does the Civic drive? The optional turbocharged 1.5-liter engine delivers quick performance and excellent fuel economy. You have to upgrade to at least the EX trim to get it, but it's worth the cost. The 0-60 mph sprint took 6.7 seconds in Edmunds testing, which is remarkable for a non-performance car in this class.

The rest of the Civic's abilities are also standouts. The brake pedal is pleasantly firm and easy to control, and it brings the car to a halt quickly when you need it to. Steering and handling are also precise, which means the Civic is relatively fun to drive around turns.

Comfort

8.5/10

How comfortable is the Civic? The Civic has a lot of the midsize Accord's strengths but in a smaller package. Impacts from rough roads are very well damped, and overall the ride is smooth and controlled without being too floaty. The seats are similarly pleasant, and even the rear seats are well cushioned.

Another comfort-enhancing element is the dual-zone automatic climate control. It does a great job of regulating the temperature and provides even coverage from the air vents. The Civic sedan is also fairly quiet overall, though it lets in a little too much road noise when you're driving on coarse road surfaces.

Interior

8.0/10

How’s the interior? The Civic's interior is cavernous. The sleek roofline reduces rear headroom somewhat, but otherwise the cabin is so spacious that four adults will have no problem fitting comfortably for long road trips. Up front, the Civic offers easy access through the light doors with large openings. The rear doors open wide, making entry easy, but the sloped roof might require tall people to duck in.

The rest of the cabin is user-friendly as well. For the most part, the controls are clearly labeled and within reach. It's easy to find a good seating position thanks to the generous range of the steering wheel and driver's seat adjustments. Doing so also provides you with a clear view out of the windshield and to the sides.

Technology

8.5/10

How’s the tech? All but the base LX feature two USB ports and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. Information is beamed to a 7-inch touchscreen. In general, the system is a little sluggish and the graphics dated, but the Touring trim's 10-speaker audio system provides crisp sound, and the navigation system is easy to learn.

We like that the Honda Sensing package of safety features is standard. But false alarms from the overly sensitive forward collision system are common and quickly become tiresome. You can adjust the system's sensitivity, but even in its least intrusive mode it's still a problem. We also find the absence of a blind-spot monitor odd, and the LaneWatch camera is an ineffective substitute.

Storage

8.5/10

How’s the storage? The Civic sedan features clever interior storage solutions. And at 15.1 cubic feet, its trunk is one of the largest in the class, so you'll have no problem fitting sizable bags inside. The seats don't fold flat all the way, but the opening between the trunk and the cabin is large.

Finding a spot for your personal effects in the cabin is also easy. There's a useful two-tiered cubby in the center console that features a cord pass-through for tidy smartphone storage and charging. There's also lots of room under the front armrest. For family duty, it's easier to install a car seat in the Civic's roomy back seat than in many rival small sedans.

Fuel Economy

9.5/10

How’s the fuel economy? The Civic sedan with the turbocharged engine and CVT automatic is rated at 36 mpg combined (32 city/42 highway). These are exceptional numbers, especially considering the Civic's class-leading performance. In our own testing, we've found the Civic comes pretty close to matching the EPA estimates in real-world driving.

Value

8.5/10

Is the Civic a good value? Apart from an unremarkable warranty, the Civic delivers a good value. For a competitive price, you get a pleasing amount of equipment plus build quality that punches far above the standards for this class. And we can't ignore the Civic's excellent reliability history.

Honda offers typical automaker warranties: three-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty, identical coverage for roadside assistance, and a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty.

Wildcard

8.5/10

The continuously variable automatic transmission saps some of the fun out of the Civic, but it's hard to argue with the acceleration and above-average handling. The Civic doesn't have the style or refinement of the Mazda 3, but it's close on both fronts.

Which Civic does Edmunds recommend?

Two trims in the Civic sedan lineup stand out. The Sport is a no-brainer upgrade from the LX; if you want a desirable small sedan but need to keep costs low, this is the one to get. Conveniences such as keyless entry and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto will pay dividends for years to come. But if you have some flex in your budget, the EX is undoubtedly the sweetheart in the lineup. It comes with a ton of great features in addition to the superb turbocharged engine.

2021 Honda Civic models

The 2021 Honda Civic sedan is offered in LX, Sport, EX, EX-L and Touring trims. The LX and Sport are driven by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 158 horsepower and 138 lb-ft of torque on tap. EX and above models come with a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder (174 hp, 162 lb-ft) that we think is far superior. Both engines drive the front wheels via a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT).

LX
The base Civic is lightly equipped with:

16-inch steel wheels
Automatic climate control
Height-adjustable driver's seat
5-inch central display screen
Four-speaker audio system
Single USB port

Every Civic comes with Honda's suite of advanced safety features, which the automaker calls Honda Sensing. Features include:

Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)
Lane departure mitigation (warns you of a lane departure when a turn signal isn't used and can automatically steer to maintain lane position)
Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Honda and the car in front)

Sport
The Civic Sport adds a few appearance-related upgrades including:

18-inch alloy wheels
Gloss black decklid spoiler
Center exhaust
Steering wheel-mounted shift paddles

The Sport also includes additional creature comforts, such as:

Remote engine start
Foglights
Dynamic guidelines for the rearview camera
Keyless entry and ignition
Leather-wrapped steering wheel
60/40-split folding rear seats
7-inch touchscreen
Eight-speaker audio system
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration
USB charging port

EX
The EX includes all of the Sport's comfort upgrades, plus:

Turbocharged engine
17-inch alloy wheels
Heated mirrors
Body-colored decklid spoiler
Sunroof
Dual-zone automatic climate control
Power-adjustable driver's seat
Heated front seats
Rear armrest and cupholders
Satellite and HD radio
Blind-spot camera (displays an image of the vehicle's blind spot in the instrument panel when you activate a turn signal)

EX-L
The Civic's penultimate trim further adds:

Auto-dimming rearview mirror
Leather upholstery

Touring
The most luxurious Civic in the lineup is the Touring. On top of EX-L content, it adds:

18-inch wheels
LED headlights
Automatic windshield wipers
Chrome exterior accents
Steering wheel-mounted shift paddles
Power-adjustable passenger seat
Heated rear seats
Navigation system
10-speaker audio system

Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

4.5/5Excellent

#3 out of 46 among Compact Cars

RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.

Cost

^{The average total annual cost for unscheduled repairs and maintenance across all model years of the Honda Civic from 2008-2022.}

$335/yr

vs. $416/yr
for Average Compact Car

Frequency

^{The average number of times this model is brought into the shop for unscheduled repairs and maintenance in a single year. RepairPal calculates this metric by tracking millions of unique vehicles over multiple years to determine an average number of visits per year (omitting small routine visits, e.g., oil changes).}

0.77x/yr

vs. 1.01x/yr
for Average Compact Car

Severity

^{The probability that a repair will be a major issue, meaning the repair costs 3x the average annual repair cost for all models. This threshold will be higher for vehicles that have higher labor rates and parts costs (such as a premium brand).}

9.3%

vs. 10.4%
for Average Compact Car

powered by RepairPal ^{Based on RepairPal reliability data as of 8/23/2023. Ratings are provided by RepairPal and Edmunds is not responsible for their accuracy.}

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2021 Honda Civic.

5 (79%)

4 (5%)

3 (9%)

2 (0%)

1 (7%)

4.5

53 reviews

Write a vehicle review See all 53 reviews

Most helpful consumer reviews

Eye Catching Sporty

TIPTOP , 06/02/2021

2021 Honda Civic LX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl CVT)

Lots of pep, fun to drive and loaded with great features.

The hatchback with style

Amanda Cardona , 01/05/2021

2021 Honda Civic Sport 4dr Hatchback (1.5L 4cyl Turbo CVT)

This vehicle is a top notch little speed demon. Going from 0 to 60 in 5.8 seconds , you honestly can't go wrong. The drive is very smoothe. The car is very attractive to look at. The trunk is super spacious and you can fit many things back there. The space in the front is a bit smaller than the sedan but, it is a compact car and should be expected. Touch screen features , Push to start …

Tough on the Butt

AM, 02/22/2021

2021 Honda Civic EX 4dr Sedan (1.5L 4cyl Turbo CVT)

Very pretty car, lots of bells and whistles. However, after driving for a few hours my back and Coccyx bone were hurting so badly that I had trouble walking after. This has happened more than once. I've never had that problem before. I guess I'll have to shop for a seat cover with a lumbar support and bottom pad. Otherwise - it's a nice car.

Civic Sport

Honda Ralph, 07/08/2021

2021 Honda Civic Sport 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl CVT)

Reliable car w/ good handling road manners and good gas mileage .

See all 53 reviews of the Honda Civic

Write a vehicle review

2021 Honda Civic videos

Honda Civic Type R vs MINI John Cooper Works GP: 0-60, Price, Specs, Interior & More

In this comparison, Alistair Weaver pits the two hottest hatchbacks you can get against each other: the Mini John Cooper Works GP and the Honda Civic Type R.

Honda Civic Type R vs MINI John Cooper Works GP: 0-60, Price...

2020 Honda Civic Type R Review: Styling, Interior, and Tech ...

2021 Civic Highlights

Type:

Sedan

Trim:

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$21,050
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	33 MPG
Cost to Drive	$130/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	15.1 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles

See all features & specs

Safety

Our experts like the Civic models:

Collision Mitigation Braking System: Applies the brakes automatically to avoid a collision.
Lane Keeping Assist System: Adjusts the vehicle's direction automatically to keep it from drifting out of its lane.
Adaptive Cruise Control: Adjusts the vehicle speed to maintain a constant distance from the car in front.

NHTSA Overall Rating

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Side Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Side Barrier Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front Seat5 / 5
Back Seat5 / 5
Rollover
Rollover5 / 5
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of Rollover9.5%

IIHS Rating

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.

Small Overlap Front Driver-Side Test
Good
Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side Test
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Updated
Not Tested
Side Impact Test – Original
Good
Side Impact Test – Updated
Not Tested
Roof Strength Test
Good
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Good

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2021 Honda Civic Review

2021 Honda Civic Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 Honda Civic LX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl CVT) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.50 per gallon for regular unleaded in Ohio.

What's it like to live with?

Edmunds Expert Rating

Performance

Comfort

Interior

Technology

Storage

Fuel Economy

Value

Wildcard

Which Civic does Edmunds recommend?

2021 Honda Civic models

Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

Cost

Frequency

Severity

Most helpful consumer reviews

Eye Catching Sporty

The hatchback with style

Tough on the Butt

Civic Sport

2021 Honda Civic videos

Honda Civic Type R vs MINI John Cooper Works GP: 0-60, Price, Specs, Interior & More

2021 Civic Highlights

Safety

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Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2021 Honda Civic LX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl CVT) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.50 per gallon for regular unleaded in Ohio.}