The first-generation Honda Civic was not the company’s first car, but it was the first with something bigger than a two-cylinder 600 cc engine. It started on July 11, 1972, but was sold as a 1973 model in Japan.

Honda’s Civic motto was “Get it where you want to go,” and with its water-cooled, 1,169cc, four-cylinder engine, it could do just that, but at a low cost and with incredible reliability. This combination of reliability,
quality workmanship, cost and fuel efficiency has helped Civic and the Japanese automotive industry to reach the top of the automotive industry.

Honda continued its momentum in 1980 with the second-generation Civic. The new Civic was slimmer, taller and more similar to the Civic we met today. All Civic engines now used the CVCC design and the base model was equipped with a 1335 cc engine producing 55 hp. Honda also brought a model with 1,488 cc on the market, which made 67 hp.

The launch of the second-generation Civic offered three transmission options: a four-speed manual transmission (for basic models), a five-speed manual transmission and a two-speed automatic transmission.

The special feature of this Civic generation was the introduction of a special FE model (Fuel Economy), which was developed to improve fuel economy, and a sporty new “S” model. The FE model was rated 41 mpg in the city and an impressive 55 mpg on the highway.

The third generation Civic is really what made the car what it is today. With the introduction of the new generation Civic Honda introduced some new engines for the car. A 1.3-liter 60 hp engine was mounted on the base tailgate, while other models were equipped with a 76-horsepower engine.

The selection of transmissions for the new Civic was the same as for the previous generation, with a four- and five-speed manual and a three-speed automatic transmission.

Honda launched the Base, DX and S models, but it was the CRX who was the true star of the show. The CRX was offered in two models: the 1.3-liter basic CRX and the more powerful CRX 1.5. Due to its light weight and efficient 1.3-liter engine, the CRX achieved astonishing fuel consumption of 51 mpg in the city and 67 mpg on the highway.

If you did not believe that the Honda Civic could produce a great sports car, you would change your mind with the fourth generation. The new Civic was slimmer, more refined and more powerful.

In addition to the redesigned exterior, Honda launched a series of new engines. The DX, LX sedan and Wagon models were equipped with a 1.5-liter 16-valve engine, which made 92 hp. The base model hatchback was equipped with a less powerful 70 hp version of the same engine.

The Honda fuel economy champion, the CRX HF, returned to the galley with a 62 horsepower eight-valve engine and 90 kilometers of fuel. The CRX was equipped with a 92 hp engine as standard, while the CRX Si and the Civic 4WD were equipped with the Honda 105 hp 1.6-liter 16-valve engine.

No Civic before or after embodies the small car performance movement as well as the fifth generation model. Honda has completely overhauled the Civic, giving it a more aerodynamic bodywork that has put the Civic at the forefront of small car design and development.

Honda continued the trend of offering hatchback and sedan models with a range of different powertrains and trim levels. The hatchback versions include CX, DX, VX and Si. CX models were equipped with a 1.5-liter 70-horsepower engine, while the DX had a 102-horsepower engine. The other two models, the VX and the Si, were equipped with the Honda Variable Valve Timing (VTEC) engine. The VX was equipped with a 92 hp VTEC-E (Economy) engine, while the Si had a 125 hp VTEC engine.

Honda brought for the model year 1996, a new generation Civic on the market, which was overall larger than the previous generation.

Again, sedans were offered in the equipment variants DX, LX and EX. Honda replaced the VX tailgate with a new coupe, the HX. Although the HX was designed as a replacement for the fuel-efficient VX hatchback, it only managed to offer 39 MPG in the city and 45 MPG on the highway, which represents a significant reduction compared to the VX. This was partly due to a more powerful 115 horsepower 1.6-liter VTEC E engine and extra body weight.

The revised seventh-generation Honda Civic made its debut in 2001. Apart from a nearly identical wheelbase, the seventh generation Civic had undergone a multitude of changes. The body shape was not only completely different, but also completely changed.

The biggest change was the introduction of a new front suspension design that replaced the double wishbone setup with a more comfortable MacPherson strut design. The new suspension also allowed Honda to cut costs and create more space for the K Series engine.

Most of the models offered were equipped with a slightly larger 1.7-liter 117-hp engine, the EX however with a 127-hp engine and the HX with a fuel-efficient 1.7-liter engine with 115 hp. Buyers could opt for a five-speed manual transmission, a four-speed automatic transmission and on the GX or HX models for a CVT transmission.

The Civic of the eighth generation was available from 2006 and was fundamentally different from the previous generation. The relatively compact bonnet and the high-pitched windscreen gave the coupe and sedan models a spaceship-like appearance. This high-tech look was translated into the interior with a funky-looking dashboard that was ergonomic but had some special features.

Honda split the Civic into two different platforms, one for the saloon and the coupe, and one for a hatchback developed for the European market. The car was offered in familiar trim levels (DX, LX and EX) and powered by a 1.8-liter SOHC in-line quad equipped with Honda’s i-VTEC system. This engine produced modest but respectable 140 hp and 128 lb-ft of torque. Buyers can opt for either a five-speed car or a five-speed manual to accompany the new engine.

The new Civic was slightly smaller than the outgoing model and had a variety of new engines. Offered were the gasoline-powered models DX, LX and EX and a variant with hybrid and natural gas drive. In addition to these models, Honda launched the Civic HF sedan.

The HF sedan received a number of improvements in terms of aerodynamics and fuel efficiency and revived the moniker “HF”, which was last used in 1991 for the CRX HF. This car had a 1.8-liter four-cylinder in-line engine, which was paired with a five-speed automatic transmission and could reach 41 MPG in the city.

Honda’s Eco Assist technology has been used on most Civic models (except the Si) to reduce fuel consumption. Eco Assist is an information system that helps drivers drive more economically and has been proven to reduce fuel consumption by about 10%.

The tenth-generation Honda Civic is based on the company’s brand new compact global platform. It was first introduced in 2015 and continued to show why Honda leads the compact car segment. The tenth generation has a new fastback exterior design, with the rear C-pillar flowing into the tailgate. In addition, the front end has been made futuristic and the interior massively revised.

The engines offered include a 1.6-liter i-VTEC in-line four-liter engine to the 2.0-liter K20C1 type R. The transmission options are limited to a six-speed manual or a CVT transmission.

For more than 40 years, the Honda Civic has been a popular car for riders from all over the world for its reliability, affordability and features.