Verdict
B
Hatchback · Japan · 1996-Present
Honda Civic
Honda Civic — spec data and generation history.
Years
1996-Present
Generations
7
Segment
Hatchback
Honda's family hatch — six UK generations from 1996, defining the sensible-but-engineered end of the C-segment. EJ/EK (Mk6 1996-2000) was the rounded last of the analogue Civics; EP (Mk7 2001-2005) brought the flat-floor cabin and the Type R; FN2 (Mk8 2006-2011) introduced the spaceship hatch; FK2 (Mk9 2012-2017) was the awkward facelift years; FK7/FK8 (Mk10 2017-2022) went global with sharper handling; FL1 (Mk11 2022-Present) is hybrid-only e:HEV. Type R covered separately. The thinking person's Golf — never the obvious choice, always the durable one.
What changed
Era-to-era deltas
EP 2001-2005 → FN2 2006-2011
BHP +10 bhp
Torque +15 Nm
0-60 mph -0.4 s
Top speed +5 mph
MPG +2 mpg
FK2 2012-2017 → FK7/FK8 2017-2022
BHP +18 bhp
Torque +40 Nm
0-60 mph -0.5 s
Top speed +8 mph
MPG +5 mpg
FK7/FK8 2017-2022 → FL1 2022-Present
BHP +0 bhp
Torque +25 Nm
0-60 mph -0.2 s
Top speed -2 mph
MPG +15 mpg
Generations
Click any generation for the full deep dive
1996-2000
EJ/EK
→
1.6 VTi — 158 bhp, 0-62 in 8.0s.
Verdict
C
BHP
158
0–60
8.0 s
Top
130 mph
MPG
30 mpg
Used
$1,000-$5,700
- + B16 VTi a future classic
- + Bulletproof D-series
- − Rust prone
- − Cabin tiny
2001-2005
EP
→
2.0 i-VTEC SE — 158 bhp, 0-62 in 8.5s.
Verdict
C
BHP
158
0–60
8.5 s
Top
132 mph
MPG
28 mpg
Used
$900-$3,800
- + Flat-floor cabin clever
- + K20 petrol family strong
- − Diesel was the awful 1.7 CTDi (Isuzu)
- − Cabin plastic-fantastic
2006-2011
FN2
→
2.2 i-CTDi — 138 bhp, 0-62 in 8.6s.
Verdict
B
BHP
138
0–60
8.6 s
Top
127 mph
MPG
46 mpg
Used
$1,100-$5,100
- + Spaceship cabin still looks futuristic
- + 2.2 i-CTDi excellent
- − i-SHIFT auto jerky
- − FN2 Type R hatchback chassis criticised
2012-2017
FK2
→
1.6 i-DTEC — 118 bhp, 0-62 in 10.5s.
Verdict
C
BHP
118
0–60
10.5 s
Top
121 mph
MPG
65 mpg
Used
$3,800-$10,000
- + 1.6 i-DTEC class-leading economy
- + Tourer estate added
- − Looks awkwardly proportioned
- − Cabin ergonomics still odd
2017-2022
FK7/FK8
→
1.5 VTEC Turbo Sport — 180 bhp, 0-62 in 7.8s.
Verdict
B
BHP
180
0–60
7.8 s
Top
137 mph
MPG
38 mpg
Used
$13,000-$28,000
- + Sharper chassis than FK2
- + 1.5 VTEC Turbo strong (when not chewing belts)
- − 1.0 VTEC Turbo wet-belt service item
- − Honda Sensing fussy
2017-2022
FK9 saloon
→
1.5 VTEC Turbo saloon — 180 bhp, 0-62 in 8.2s.
Verdict
B
BHP
180
0–60
8.2 s
Top
137 mph
MPG
38 mpg
Used
$13,000-$23,000
- + Saloon body — different proportions to FK7 hatch
- + 1.5 VTEC Turbo strong
- − UK saloon availability limited
- − No diesel on saloon
2022-Present
FL1
→
2.0 e:HEV — 181 bhp, 0-62 in 7.9s.
Verdict
B
BHP
181
0–60
7.9 s
Top
112 mph
MPG
50 mpg
Used
$32,000-$44,000
- + Refined hybrid drivetrain
- + Cabin best of any Civic
- − No manual
- − Top speed limited
Known issues by generation
Common faults reported on each generation — useful when shopping the used market.
2017-2022 · FK9 saloon
- 1.0 VTEC Turbo wet-belt
- Touch infotainment freezes
- Honda Sensing radar misalignment
- Rear-three-quarter blind spot
1996-2000 · EJ/EK
- Rear arch and sill rust
- Distributor failure
- Power steering rack leaks
2001-2005 · EP
- Auto box (1.7 CTDi pre-i-CTDi) torque converter
- Catalyst failure on early petrols
- Climate display pixels
2006-2011 · FN2
- Rear suspension trailing arm bushes
- i-SHIFT auto box (1.8) jerky
- Magic Seat catch wear
2012-2017 · FK2
- 1.6 i-DTEC EGR
- DPF blockage on short journeys
- Infotainment slow / glitchy
2017-2022 · FK7/FK8
- 1.0 VTEC Turbo wet-belt
- Infotainment freezing pre-2020
- Honda Sensing radar misalignment
2022-Present · FL1
- Hybrid 12V battery
- Brake regen squeal
- Software updates on launch units
Rivals
Volkswagen Golf · Toyota Corolla · Ford Focus · Mazda 3