Shopping for a Used Honda Civic? You Won’t Find a Good Deal for This Sporty Trim Level
It’s no secret that the prices for used cars nowadays are astronomical, some of which are selling for more than their original MSRP. However, in some cases, like the 2016-21 Honda Civic, there are certain trim levels that are priced relatively fair in the used market. That being said, there is one trim level that is not, and unfortunately, it’s one of the sporty ones, too.
This Honda Civic trim level is priced higher than most
If you’re on the hunt for a good used car, then the 10th-generation Honda Civic sedan and coupe, produced from 2016 to 2021, are a great choice. Both body styles of this particular model were available in a few different trim levels — LX, EX, EX-L, Touring, and Si – so fitting the right one to your budget and needs is never too much of an issue. However, if you run a search on used models right now, their prices are all over the place.
For example, a quick nationwide search on CarGurus reveals that many 10th-gen Civic LX and EX models are priced around $10,000 to $12,000, depending on the car’s location and condition, which is pretty fair. You can find EX-L and Touring models for around $17,000 to $20,000, which is also fair. But when it comes to the sportier Si trim level, many of them are priced anywhere from $25,000 to $30,000.
Keep in mind that the 2017 Civic Si had an MSRP of around $24,000 when it was new. In our search, we even saw a couple of different listings where the cars had over 40,000 miles on them and selling for above the original sticker price. In that case, buyer beware.
What’s so great about the 2017-2021 Honda Civic Si?
Aside from the global chip and inventory shortage, part of the reason the prices of this particular generation of the Civic Si is due to rarity. Much like its older sibling, the Civic Type R, the Civic Si is known for its elevated performance over its consumer-trimmed brethren and it’s also a niche car. Bear in mind that the Civic Si has always competed with cars like the Volkswagen GTI and Mazda3 Turbo, both of which really only attract performance-minded buyers on a budget.
What set the 10th-generation Civic Si apart from its competitors, though, is its responsive turbocharged 1.5-liter engine that produces 205 hp and is connected solely to a slick-shifting six-speed manual transmission. The power gets routed to the front wheels, but that doesn’t do much to hinder acceleration as Car and Driver clocked the 2020 Civic Si with a 0-60 mph time of a respectable 6.3 seconds.
Additionally, the Civic Si is spacious enough for five occupants, especially in sedan form. It also has a bevy of safety features and its tech equipment is on point with others, offering buyers Apple Carplay and Android Auto connectivity. To top it all off, the 10th-gen Civic Si is safe too – NHTSA gave it a 5-star overall safety rating in 2020. So we can see why driving enthusiasts are still on the hunt for that particular Civic Si, especially since Honda discontinued it for the 2021 model year.
Is it a good idea to buy that specific Civic right now?
No, we wouldn’t recommend it, unless you can find a really good deal on one. There’s no telling when prices for these Civics – or any used car – will eventually decrease, but it could be a good idea to hold off on the Si trim for now. If you have to buy a used Civic, then you can save some money by going with the lower trim levels or possibly even buying a new 2022 Honda Civic.
