2018 Honda Civic

The 2018 Honda Civic is offered for a price of $18,940. The car comes standard with a 6-speed manual and a 2.0L I-4 engine, with more powerful engines up the trim ladder. The car's base engine lacks punch, but the optional engines offer tremendous performance and agility. The Civic has a reputation for fuel economy, which remains its strong point no matter which engine you choose. The car is rich on the inside, with advanced technological features, roomy seating, and a long list of standard features. The Civic as a package has everything right: looks, performance, interior, and safety.

The Civic, however, also has a few issues. The infotainment system is not the simplest to use, and nor is it any good in terms of interface usage. Also, the deck of the car prevents the proper loading of items in the spacious cargo space. The forward collision system does go overboard sometimes as well. In light of these flaws also, the Civic still stands tall against some strong rivals in this segment such as the 2018 Toyota Corolla sedan, the 2018 Mazda 3 sedan, and the 2018 Chevrolet Cruze sedan. 

The 2018 Honda Civic is offered in a total of 6 trim levels: the LX, EX, EX-T, EX-L, Touring, and the Si. The Si is a performance variant and will be covered in a different review. Pricing for the cars starts at $18,940 and goes up to $26,800 for the top trim. The car is available with either a manual or a CVT transmission. The base car is powered by a 2.0L engine, whereas higher trims get a turbocharged 1.5L I-4 engine. Some features seen on the trims are:

In the optional equipment, every Civic gets the Honda sensing safety package as an optional feature, that will cost a thousand dollars more. Also, the EX-L trim gets the optional navigation as well.

We Recommend

The 2018 Honda Civic EX--T trim is the one we recommend. It is powered by a turbocharged 1.5L engine that not only has good performance on offer but also delivers a good fuel economy. The Civic EX-L trim also has all the necessary equipment to enhance the interior experience. The Honda Sensing package is a must-have. This trim however does not get a manual gearbox.

"Pedestrian to punk rock, the 2018 Honda Civic has a wide variety of powertrains to satisfy. There's a common thread: a very capable and quiet ride." TheCarConnection

2018 Honda Civic sedan Engine and Transmission

The 2018 Honda Civic sedan is powered by a 2.0L I-4 engine that outputs 158 hp @ 6500 rpm and has a torque output of 138 lb-ft @  4200 rpm. The car comes mated with a 6-speed manual. The Honda Civic EX-T, EX-L, and Touring trims get a turbocharged 1.5L I-4 engine that has a power output of 174 hp @ 5500 rpm and a torque output of 167 lb-ft @ 1800 rpm. A CVT gearbox is available on all trim levels, whereas some trims do not come with a manual gearbox at all.

The 6-speed manual transmission is nothing extraordinary- with the 2.0L engine, it's mostly suited for daily commuting and city spins. However, it is refined and has slick shifts. The CVT is a completely different model, and is precise with shifts, and does not have any major lag. The CVT does lag with the turbocharged 1.5L engine.

All four cars come with FWD and have a manual transmission as standard. The Toyota Corolla does not match the rivals in terms of output power and torque. The Cruze is the only car here with a turbocharged engine and is also the most affordable car in this lot. The most power output is on the Civic, whereas the Cruze has the most torquey engine, and peak torque kicks in as early as 2000 rpm.

2018 Honda Civic sedan Acceleration

The 2018 Honda Civic powered by the 2.0L I-4 engine does not perform anything like its turbocharged counterparts. It takes a slow 8.5 seconds to reach 0-60 mph, and covers the quarter-mile in 16.5 seconds with the manual. The CVT performs better, with a 0-60 mph time of 8.3 seconds and a quarter-mile time of 16.4  seconds. Top speed is rated at 130 mph. However, this performance is decent for city conditions.

The turbocharged 1.5L engine with the CVT is way faster. The car sprints from 0-60 mph in 7.8 seconds (0.7 seconds quicker than the 2.0L) and the quarter-mile comes up in just 16.1 seconds. The top speed also sees an improvement of 6 mph, at 137 mph. 

The Cruze is the quickest of the lot, with a 0-60 mph time of 7.5 seconds. The extra power and the strong low-end and mid-range proper the Cruze forward ahead. The Mazda takes 8.7 seconds whereas the Corolla is the slowest at 9.5 seconds. In the quarter-mile run also, the results are the same. The top speed of the Mazda 3 and the Cruze is the highest at 132 mph. The Corolla tops out at 116 mph.

2018 Honda Civic sedan Handling and Steering

The 2018 Honda Civic handles like a charm, irrespective of the engine and gearbox combination. The ride quality is smooth, thanks to the soft suspension setup of front struts and rear multilink. Trims EX-L and above get hydraulically filled rear bushings which improve the quality even more. The handling is sharp. Turns are met with immediate responses, with supreme control over the chassis which helps inspire more confidence.

The steering duties are performed by a power steering that has undergone a few changes for better responses. As a result, the steering is now more stable, more responsive, and precise as well. There is a consistent output from this steering and turns do not take much effort at all.

2018 Honda Civic sedan Braking

The 2018 Honda Civic brake rotor sizes are among the largest brakes in this segment. uses a setup of an 11.1-inch front brake rotor and a 10.2-inch rear brake rotor. The car uses ventilated front discs and solid rear disc brakes.

This braking setup has efficiently helped the Civic stop from 60-0 mph in a distance of 127 feet.

The largest front brake is seen on the Civic, at 11.1 inches. The Cruze 3 gets the largest rear brake at 10.5 inches. The Cruze is the quickest to stop, with its 10.8 inches and 10.5-inch braking setup taking 121 feet to stop from 60-0 mph. The Civic comes second with 127 feet of stopping distance. The Corolla takes 130 feet to stop. The Mazda 3 is the slowest of them all, taking 136 feet to stop.

"The most fuel-efficient models are those with the 1.5-liter turbo-four engines mated to an automatic transmission. They return 32 miles per gallon in the city, 42 mpg on the highway and 36 mpg combined." -Autoblog.com

The 2018 Honda Civic with the 2.0L engine and 6-speed manual returns 28 mpg in the city, 40 mpg on the highway, and has a combined mileage of 32 mpg. With the CVT, the city mileage improves by 3 mpg to 31 mpg and combined mileage sees an improvement of 2 mpg. The 1.5L powered Civic returns 31 mpg in the city, 42 mpg on the highway, and 35 mpg combined. The CVT-powered version improves city mileage by 1. The Civic has a fuel capacity of 12.4 gallons, which gives it a range of 347.2 city miles and 496 highway miles with the standard engine gearbox combination.

Except for the Mada 3, all cars have the same combined mileage at 32 mpg. The Cruze is the least efficient in the city, at 27 mpg. The Corolla has the least highway mileage of 36 mpg, whereas the Civic and the Cruze shine with their 40 mpg highway mileage. The most range is seen on the Cruze, with a 369.9 miles city range and a highway range of 548 miles. The Civic has the least range thanks to its smaller fuel capacity.

"Rethink what you know about the Honda Civic- its no longer the small car you may remember." -TheCarConnection

2018 Honda Civic sedan Seating and Comfort

The 2018  Honda Civic's interiors are well-finished, with excellent build quality and good fit and finish levels. You will find many plastic bits in and around the interior, but they get along in the interior with the premium finish surfaces. The cabin is done very smart, with a lot of thought going into the placement of buttons and features. This has helped with better control and reach for the driver, with nearly zero adjustments. The driving position can accommodate all types and sizes of drivers, and there's loads of adjustability on offer as well. For a compact sedan, these interiors are sure on the bigger side.

The interior is very roomy, and five people can fit in here comfortably. Overall, the seats have good cushioning and decent support. The front seats are comfortable for tall people as well, despite the padding being slightly on the thinner side. The lateral support and seat bolstering are right in place. The rear seats have good comfort levels, and there's ample legroom and headroom in the back. In terms of visibility, the front and side view is good, but the rear side is slightly comprised due to the sloping roof. Ingress and egress are easy through the wide doors.

All the cars in the comparison seat up to 5 people. The Civic is the roomiest car in the lot. Proportions-wise, these cars go neck-to-neck with each other. The Civic boasts of the most front headroom, whereas front legroom proportions are similar in all four. In the rear, the headroom is similar in all four but the Corolla's rear has tons of legroom. The Mazda 3 has a tight rear space.

Some interior features on the Civic are:

• Rear center armrest
• Leather Upholstery
• Dual-zone climate control
• Heated front seats
• Interior air filtration
• 60/40 split-folding rear seatbacks

2018 Honda Civic sedan Infotainment

The 2018 Honda Civic sedan gets a 5-inch information display screen as standard. The higher trims get a 7-inch touchscreen. There's not much problem with the standard setup, but the 7-inch display is not the easiest to use. The touch responses are on the slower side, and navigating through the complex setup can take a while. The voice control system does not come with natural speech detection, and the phone's voice commands are better. The audio quality has scope for improvement as well. Standard features include AM/FM stereo, Bluetooth, USB port, and a four-speaker system.

Some other features are:

• Voice controls
• Navigation
• Satellite radio
• HondaLink
• Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
• A 10 speaker audio system

2018 Honda Civic sedan Cargo

The 2018 Honda Civic has a cargo capacity of 15.1 cu-ft. This is one of the best in class cargo spaces, and this can be extended as well with the fold-down seats. The seats don't fold down full flat, but the available space is more than enough then. The opening is wide, which aids with easy loading and unloading of bags and other items.

The Civic has the most cargo space in these four cars. The Cruze has nearly the same space but is 0.3 cu-ft less. The Toyota has a decent space of 13 cu-ft,  whereas the Mazda 3's 12.4 cu-ft storage is slightly less in terms of class standards.

"Honda took chances with the design of the 2018 Honda Civic and they have paid off.' - KBB

2018 Honda Civic sedan Dimensions and Weight

The 2018 Honda Civic sedan gets no changes to its exterior for 2018. This design on the sedan is one of the most unique and sporty-looking designs in this class. The car's front is aggressive, has a low front profile, and has a wide body that gives the Civic an outstanding profile. The lower part of the front bumper on higher trims gets foglights. From the side, the gracefully arched roofline meets the rear seamlessly, and the low profile and tall wheels make this car look bigger than what it is. The rear features C-shaped taillights and a sharply styled boot lid that enhances the Civic's overall appeal.

The Civic is sporty by looks, but there's grace and elegance to it as well. In terms of dimensions, the Civic is among cars that are changing dimensional definitions for compact sedans. The Civic is 182 inches long, 71 inches wide, and 55 inches tall. It has a curb weight of 2742 lbs, and sits 5.9  inches away from the ground. The car has a wheelbase of 106.3 inches.

The four cars are not very apart in terms of their dimensions, and differences would not be easy to find when placed side by side. The Mazda 3 has the least length of all, at 180.3 inches. The cars have a similar width of 70 inches, and the height revolves around 55 inches for all. The Civic however sits the closest to the ground at 5.9 inches, giving it a comparatively lower profile. Surprisingly, all cars have the same wheelbase. The Civic is the lightest of them all, whereas the Cruze is the heaviest.

Some exterior features on the Civic are:

• Foglights
• Sunroof
• Alloy wheels
• Heated side mirrors
• LED headlights 
• Automatic wipers
• Chrome grille

The 2018 Honda Civic scores excellent in the crash safety tests conducted by the NHTSA and the IIHS. The NHTSA gave the Civic sedan an overall score of 5-stars, with the same rating in all departments as well. The IIHS rated the Civic with their highest rating of 'Good' in most departments. Standard safety features include airbags, traction control, stability control, seatbelts, and a rearview camera. The Honda Sensing package is available on all Civic models for an extra $1,000 and adds driver assistance features. Some noteworthy safety features on the Civic are:

• Forward collision warning
• Lane departure warning
• Tire Pressure Monitoring system
• Remote Anti-Theft Alarm system
• Automatic emergency braking
• Adaptive cruise control

2018 Honda Civic sedan vs 2018 Toyota Corolla sedan

The 2018 Toyota Corolla is a very practical car aimed at mostly daily commuting. The Corolla gets a less powerful engine, has slower performance run times, the handling feels lost, and can do much better in the braking department. It, however, does have a smooth ride quality, a better range, and a decent economy. Coming to the interior, the Corolla will not appeal as much as the Civic will, thanks to the Corolla's lower quality of materials and a bland interior. The Civic also looks much better than the Corolla.

The infotainment system on the Corolla is simple and easy to use. Coming to safety, the Corolla is the clear choice due to its better safety ratings and a better safety equipment list. The Corolla also has the reliability benefit as a Toyota and is $340 cheaper than the Civic in the base trim.

2018 Honda Civic vs 2018 Mazda 3

The 2018 Mazda 3 sedan is a lot like the Civic in a lot of ways. Both the cars have powerful engines, superb handling, precise steering, and a respectable fuel economy. In terms of outright acceleration, the Civic is the quicker car. The Mazda however can use better brakes. The Mazda also benefits from its longer range. The Mazda 3's interiors are great, but the Civic's interiors are better finished, have more appeal, and are premium in a few ways. The Mazda 3's infotainment unit is the better one, due to its simple layout and ease of use.

The Mazda 3 as well as the Civic both get top safety scores and a good reliability rating as well. The Civic's rating is better compared to the Mazda 3. As a result, a choice between these two boils down to who's driving characteristics suit you better. The Mazda 3 is also more affordable as compared to the Civic sedan.

The 2018 Honda Civic offers a very balanced proposition in most of the departments. Right from the base trim to the top trim, the Civic offers something for everyone. Performance seekers and mileage seekers will both find content in the Civic, as there's no compromise in either sector at all. The car's spacious and well-finished interiors, and the big cargo capacity make it a great family sedan as well. And with such strong safety ratings, there's no drought of safety in this beautiful car. At $18,940, the Civic as a package is worth all the money and definitely worth checking out before making a final decision.

Check out some top Honda Civic rivals:

• The 2022 Subaru Impreza: Redesigned and back with more power than ever!
• The Civic's Korean rival: the 2022 Kia Forte

2018 Honda Civic sedan FAQs

Is the 2018 Honda Civic sedan a reliable car?

The 2018 Honda Civic sedan has a J.D. Power score of 82/100, making it pretty reliable.

How much does the 2018 Civic sedan cost?

The 2018 Honda Civic sedan starts at a price of $18,940.

How many miles will the 2018 Civic run?

At a minimum, the car is expected to run 200,000 miles. With proper maintenance, it should last about 250,000 miles to 275,000 miles.

Why does a Honda Civic last so long?

The Honda Civic has high reliability and durability. It also has lower maintenance costs, high resell value, and the engines have superior build quality.

Is the 1.5L Civic or the 2.0L Civic the better choice?

Both the engines offer excellent performance. With the 1.5L engine, the car's more responsive, has better performance, but similar handling.