2023 Honda Civic review

2023 Honda Civic Review:

Now in its 11th generation, the compact Honda Civic is one of the automaker's best yet. Edmunds' test team has been so impressed with this Civic that it took Edmunds Top Rated Car honors for 2022 and 2023.

The Civic, available as a sedan or hatchback, boasts a top-notch interior and is fun to drive. The available turbocharged engine makes it even more compelling, as it is both fun to drive and relatively fuel-efficient. And unlike the base engine, you'll rarely really feel the need to floor it. The Civic's continuously variable automatic transmission is well tuned and responsive when you need power for a pass on the highway. The available manual transmission has an excellent clutch, making it easy to use and buttery to shift.

Apart from the hatchback-only Civic Type R variant, there were no other major changes to the standard Civic, as it was only a year removed from its redesign.

What tech does the 2023 Honda Civic have?

Connectivity

Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™, connected via USB, are standard on all Civics. If you want wireless connectivity, however, you'll need to choose the top Sport Touring Hybrid trim. 

When using wireless CarPlay, Edmunds testers experienced lag times of a couple of seconds between icon clicks. This is relatively common when using wireless CarPlay, but the lag time can vary based on the phone and its Bluetooth® connection. Wired connectivity worked well and can be a workaround if this bugs you. Additionally, there are four USB-A ports in the Sport Touring (two in the front above the wireless charger and two in the rear in the back of the center console). All other lower trims only have two front USB-A ports.

Infotainment

Most Civic trim levels come with a small seven-inch touchscreen. It is located high on the dashboard to help you keep your eyes on the road. The graphics for the base touchscreen look dated, but otherwise the system has an intuitive menu structure that makes it easy to use while driving.

The top-of-the-line Sport Touring trim comes with a nine-inch touchscreen with a sharper resolution and built-in navigation. The navigation system may feel a bit dated aesthetically, but the rest of the features look sharp and function as they should. Upgrading to the top trim also gives you access to a premium Bose® audio system. The audio system sounds good, with clear highs, punchy lows, and good bass. The system itself is easy to use and learns your preferences over time. 

Although the larger screen has its own navigation system, it still works seamlessly with Apple CarPlay®, so you can bring in whichever maps you prefer. Edmunds testers noted that the infotainment system would randomly reboot itself, but then resume operation. It might be a software bug in Honda's system, as they noticed the same issue in a CR-V they also tested. 

Driver-Assist Tech

The adaptive cruise control system can be erratic when stopping; it sometimes brakes uncomfortably late when traffic comes to a halt. Increasing the preset distance setting to two car lengths improves its performance. The lane-keeping assistance feature can be overly sensitive at times and struggles with faded lane markings, requiring the driver to briefly countersteer to stay on course. Edmunds testers also experienced a few benign false alarms from the front sensors. It's not a deal-breaker, but it's something to be aware of.

How comfortable is the 2023 Honda Civic? 

Front Seating

The front seats are well cushioned and provide a good amount of support. The absence of a lumbar adjustment is disappointing, but what the seat does have is enough to keep us from deducting too many points. The leather upholstery breathes well, which is a good thing since ventilated seats are not available in the Civic.

Rear Seating

Edmunds testers of various heights had plenty of space in back, even with a tall driver, a good measure of how passengers will fare in the back seats. That's impressive for a small sedan. The seats themselves have decent sculpting for your back and don't feel flat or cheap.

Ride Quality and Interior Noise

While some small cars may offer a slightly more comfortable ride, the Civic strikes a good balance: Its suspension effectively soaks up road imperfections, and the trade-off is its notably sporty handling.

The Civic's aerodynamic shape ensures that wind noise is kept to a minimum, with only a slight amount of buffeting around the mirrors. Road noise, however, is noticeable at almost any speed, and it's especially intrusive on coarse highway surfaces. Aside from that, the Civic's interior remains free of creaks and squeaks when going over bumps. Overall, the Civic really feels like a cut above other small cars in terms of on-road refinement.

Does the 2023 Honda Civic have good storage?

Cargo 

The Civic sedan has 14.8 cubic feet of space, which is more than the rival Toyota Corolla and Hyundai Elantra hybrid models. The hatchback body style increases the cargo space to an impressive 24.5 cubic feet, significantly more than any small sedan and even surpassing the hatchback Toyota Prius. You can fold down the rear seats to provide more space and flexibility for carrying larger items. Due to a slight hump leading into the rear seating area, however, the surface is not completely flat.

Storage

The center armrest bin has a removable tray that can hold several items. The Civic's cupholders are also large, and the rubberized charging pad will keep your phone securely in place. The door pockets are average in size, while the glovebox is on the smaller side.

How easy is the 2023 Honda Civic to use?

Entry, Exit, and Car Seats

Both front and rear doors are sensibly sized to allow easy entry and exit, even when you're parked in a tight spot. Passengers may need to duck slightly to get into the rear seats, but this is fairly typical nowadays in any hatchback or sedan.

The Civic has three upper tether anchors for child seats. On sedans, all three are on the shelf behind the seats. On hatchbacks, two are behind the outboard seats, and the middle is in the center of the cargo floor. Regardless of body style, all of the lower anchors are easily accessible, tucked behind leather seat flaps. Forward-facing seats should fit without any issue, but installing larger rear-facing infant carriers will likely require the front passenger to move their seat significantly forward.

Interior Layout and Visibility

Honda is known for designing cabins that are easy to use, making the driver feel immediately comfortable. Essential controls are conveniently positioned within easy reach, and the steering wheel buttons provide the flexibility to control numerous systems while remaining relatively simple to use. The touchscreen interface is both responsive and simple to operate.

Visibility is outstanding thanks to narrow front pillars and side mirrors mounted on the doors, providing a clear view of the road, especially through tight left turns. Although the rear window is somewhat narrow vertically, it doesn't obstruct any critical views. The multi-angle rearview camera eliminates guesswork when backing up and parking. One drawback with the hatchback model is that the sloping rear roofline creates a slightly larger blind spot in the over-the-shoulder rear three-quarter view and can require a second glance to ensure everything is clear. That said, the Civic's small porthole window behind the rear door provides a slight aid.

What’s the 2023 Honda Civic like to drive?

Driving

It's a tale of two engines here. On the one hand, the Civic's base 2.0-liter engine will disappoint you with its lack of acceleration. It's fine around town, but you'll miss it when you're driving around with your family or traveling with a heavy load of cargo. You'll need to lay heavily on the throttle and time your highway passes to compensate, which in turn will likely impact your fuel economy.

On the other hand, the 1.5-liter turbocharged engine, available in the upper trims, is both quick and efficient. At the Edmunds test track, Edmunds' editors noted that while it may take a bit for the turbo to kick in, once it does, they recorded a 0 to 60 mph acceleration in 7.9 seconds. That's on the quick side within its class, but about a half-second slower than the previous-generation Civic hatch with the turbo engine. Edmunds' editors also noted that the Civic hatchback's sporty handling was confidence-inspiring and would be entertaining to drive on a twisty road.

Fuel Economy/Electric Efficiency

The base Civic is quite fuel-efficient, with an EPA estimated fuel economy of up to 36 mpg. However, the best fuel economy is achieved with the turbocharged powertrain. According to EPA estimates, the Civic EX sedan can get up to 36 mpg in mixed driving conditions.

EPA Fuel Economy Estimates