If you’re in the market for a fuel-efficient, cost-friendly compact sedan, the 2012 Honda Civic HF is a great option. This version of Honda’s entry-level sedan featured a host of aerodynamic goodies, which resulted in better overall fuel economy than its siblings at the time. But now, in the used market, the Civic HF presents a great value proposition for any budget-minded buyers.

The 2012 Honda Civic HF debuted after a redesign

Nowadays, it’s easy to find a compact sedan that can fulfill all of your basic needs and the 2012 Honda Civic HF is no exception. This particular Civic sedan debuted when Honda redesigned the model in order to make it more efficient and attractive.

While many critics at the time didn’t have too many nice things to say about the Civic’s redesign, they did like the fuel-efficiency numbers that it was capable of. For example, the 2012 Civic EX was able to achieve up to an EPA-estimated 28 mpg in the city and 38 mpg on the highway and the Civic HF was able to achieve up to 29 mph in the city and 41 mpg on the highway.

According to Honda, the Civic HF was “the most fuel-efficient gas-only Civic,” and a closer look reveals why. The Civic HF features a 1.8-liter, four-cylinder engine that produces 140 hp and 128 lb-ft of torque, but that’s not the main reason for its gas-sipping abilities. Instead, the Civic uses a bevy of aerodynamic features to obtain its stellar economy ratings.

The Honda Civic HF’s wind-cheating features

When designing the Civic HF, Honda engineers added a few aerodynamic tweaks to the car’s futuristic design. The Civic HF shared the same aforementioned 1.8-liter engine with its brethren but added wind-cheating features like extra underbody cladding for more aerodynamics and a rear decklid spoiler.

According to MotorTrend, the Honda engineers worked closely with Bridgestone for the 2012 Civic HF’s low rolling-resistance tires. By designing a set of ultra-efficient tires, the collaboration equated to a rolling resistance coefficient that was 21 percent less than the previous model year. To further enhance the car’s gas-saving abilities, those special tires were wrapped around a set of lightweight 15-inch alloy wheels.

On the inside, the Civic HF has a basic interior that’s available in either gray or dark gray. In addition to a handy two-tiered dash design, the Civic HF also features an AM/FM radio, manual climate controls, a five-inch i-MID screen, and an auxiliary input. As we said, it’s basic, but it is quite functional if you don’t need all of the luxuries present in the higher Civic trims.

How much does a Civic HF cost now?

A nationwide search on CarGurus reveals that you can currently buy a 2012 Honda Civic HF for anywhere between $5,000 and $12,000 depending on the car’s condition and location. There are plenty for sale right now and since this particular trim level is not the most popular, you might be to get a bit of a discount on one.

Just to note, the Civic HF was available from 2012 to 2015, so you might find more expensive models as well. And lastly, you can get a Civic HF in any color that you want, as long as it’s white or silver.