The general consensus says the Honda Civic is the best car for, well, everything. It’s cheap, stylish, comfortable, quick, efficient, and of course, reliable. It would appear Honda has done enough to satisfy its Civic owners. It’s designed a car that’s a pleasure to drive from the base model all the way up to the Type R. However, are owners truly satisfied, especially after the 2022 redesign? Is there any aspect the Civic has failed its owners on? This is what Civic owners had to say about their car. 

Adequately powerful engine in need of a manual transmission

The base Civic LX sedan comes with a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter inline-four, sending 150 horsepower to the front wheels. All sedans only come with a CVT. The only manual transmission Civics come in hatchback form with sport or sport touring trim. Of course, the Type R has it as well, which starts at around $37,000. The Civic LX comes with a turbocharged 1.5-liter inline-four with 180 horsepower. 

Some owners of the previous generation say the engine has enough power, but drivers can’t take advantage of it without a manual transmission. The CVT reportedly provided a lackluster experience that removed any semblance of sportiness. The 2022 edition apparently improved on this. Current owners say the transmission is more refined. 

Massively improved ride quality, owners say

The current Civic has more responsive suspension than previous generations, and in the previous model, was not a great thing. The previous generation made regular commuting an unpleasant experience and did a number on the driver’s back. While not all complained about this, many Civic drivers said the car was decidedly uncomfortable to drive. Depending on the wheel size, the car was more or less capable of absorbing bumps. 

The redesign apparently helped with that. Some owners are now saying Honda improved the seats a great deal. Unfortunately, some taller drivers seem to have issues getting in and out, on account of the cramped cockpit. 

The Civic trips over its trademark reliability

The Civic should provide trademark Honda reliability, however, some owners are experiencing a few hiccups. One owner, in particular, bought a Civic which immediately needed a new windshield, had a disintegrating carpet, leaked coolant, and needed new paint in one spot. A different owner said the defroster stopped working, followed by the air conditioning, within 10 hours of purchasing. Consumer Reports did deliver a predicted 3/5 reliability score, however, according to its own chart, that score is bogged down mostly by previous model years’ climate systems. 

The Civic is well worth it, as long as it’s a hatchback

It appears Civic owners are quite happy with their purchase, for the most part. Including some bizarre issues, the Civic seems to have trouble retaining its trademark reliability. There’s still a manual transmission available which is great. It allows owners to exploit the turbo engine’s full potential. 

The cost is as low as ever, starting at $21,700 for the base sedan LX, and that includes collision mitigation braking, road departure mitigation, a multi-angle rearview camera, and adaptive cruise control. Even with all options selected, the Civic won’t reach past $33,793, and that gets the sportier hatchback with a manual transmission mated to the 180-hp 1.5-liter turbo inline-four.