2023 Honda Civic

The representative LX/Sport naturally aspirated 2.0-liter produces 158 hp. The regular sedan peaks at 180 hp with the 1.5-liter turbo, while the separately tuned Si sedan reaches 200 hp.

The volume 2.0-liter/CVT powertrain makes 138 lb-ft. Turbo sedans provide materially more low-end torque, but they are not substituted for the representative mainstream configuration.

Honda does not publish a 0–60 time, so the representative figure comes from an instrumented test of the same eleventh-generation Sport sedan powertrain carried into 2023. The turbo Touring is considerably quicker but is not the volume configuration.

The naturally aspirated four is smooth, linear, and free of turbo lag, with well-judged throttle response, but modest torque means it becomes vocal and strained during hard acceleration. The optional 1.5-liter turbo is stronger and similarly smooth.

Honda's CVT is smooth and unusually natural in ordinary driving, with G-Design Shift and simulated ratios reducing the classic rubber-band sensation. It can still hold high revs and drone under full load, keeping it below the seamless top band.

Every 2023 U.S. Civic sedan is front-wheel drive; AWD or 4WD is unavailable on all trims, including Si.

The 2023 sedan offers two mainstream gas engines—a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter and turbocharged 1.5-liter—plus a performance-tuned 1.5-liter in the Si. That covers economy and sport needs, but there was no U.S. hybrid, PHEV, EV, diesel, or AWD option for this model year.

The Sport is the representative 2023 volume trim and became the entry trim when Honda initially removed the LX; its naturally aspirated 2.0L/CVT combination returns 33 MPG combined. Honda later restored the LX during the model year, while the turbo EX is the economy leader at 36 MPG.

The volume Sport earns 30 MPG city, a respectable gas-only compact-sedan result but well below contemporary hybrid alternatives. The turbocharged EX improves to 33 MPG city.

The Sport's 37-MPG highway rating is efficient for a conventional gasoline sedan, although its larger wheels and trim calibration trail every other mainstream Civic sedan trim. The EX reaches a lineup-best 42 MPG.

Multiplying the Sport's 33-MPG EPA combined rating by Honda's 12.4-gallon tank gives 409.2 miles, rounded to 409. The same calculation shows the more efficient EX can approach 446 miles.

EPA's current standard-assumption estimate is $1,850 per year for the 33-MPG Sport configuration. The figure reflects EPA's fuel-price basis at retrieval and may change when that reference price is updated.

Every mainstream 2023 Civic Sedan trim runs on widely available regular unleaded, with no premium-fuel or charging requirement. That makes fueling inexpensive and uncomplicated, though the gas-only lineup cannot exploit lower-cost home electricity.

The 2023 Civic sedan earned NHTSA's maximum overall rating, despite a four-star frontal result.

This carry-over 2023 model is the second year of the eleventh-generation sedan and earned a 2023 Top Safety Pick. Most tests are Good, but Acceptable updated moderate-overlap and updated-side results keep it below TSP+ level.

Every trim has the core Honda Sensing package with AEB, ACC with low-speed follow, lane keeping, road-departure mitigation, and Traffic Jam Assist. Blind-spot monitoring begins on EX, while rear cross-traffic monitoring is Touring-only, leaving volume Sport without either feature.

The standard system delivers class-leading vehicle and daytime-pedestrian avoidance, with still-strong but not top-tier nighttime pedestrian performance.

Blind-spot alerts are available on EX and Touring but absent from LX and volume Sport; rear cross-traffic alert is restricted to Touring. Both are warning systems without active steering or rear automatic braking.

Standard LKAS and Traffic Jam Assist provide useful centering at highway and low speeds, though the camera-only system can lose markings or intervene abruptly and does not match the smoothest rival systems.

Full-speed ACC with Low-Speed Follow combines with LKAS and Traffic Jam Assist on all CVT sedans for capable hands-on highway assistance. It is useful in traffic but can brake abruptly for cut-ins or generate occasional false alerts.

No hands-free highway-driving system was offered on any 2023 Civic sedan trim; Honda Sensing remains a hands-on driver-assistance system.

IIHS-rated Good LED headlights and automatic high beams are standard across the sedan range, avoiding the trim-dependent lighting penalty common in this class.

A low beltline, door-mounted mirrors, and open cabin produce excellent natural sightlines for a compact sedan. The score stops short of the maximum because there is no surround-view camera and lower trims lack blind-spot monitoring.

The Civic earns IIHS's Good+ rating: both outboard lower-anchor sets are visible, require almost no attachment force, and have generous clearance, while the center can borrow anchors. Three tether anchors are easy to find.

All 2023 Civic Sedan trims seat five, the maximum expected for a compact sedan.

The volume Sport trim lacks a moonroof and uses the roomier 39.3-inch figure; moonroof-equipped EX and Touring trims have 37.6 inches.

Front legroom is identical across the 2023 sedan range and lands in the middle of the sedan normalization band.

Rear headroom is unchanged across trims and is competitive rather than exceptional for a compact sedan.

The Civic offers useful adult rear-seat space for the compact class, although its measured legroom is near the middle of the broader sedan band.

The volume Sport trim has the larger 14.8-cu-ft trunk, while Touring sacrifices 0.4 cu ft; reviewers consider the trunk large for the compact class.

The Civic provides practical conventional storage, including a phone shelf, cupholders, door pockets, and a sliding-armrest console bin, but no segment-changing solution. The Sport's one-piece folding rear seat is also less flexible than the EX/Touring 60/40 split seatback.

Well-shaped front seats and a genuinely adult-usable rear bench are above average for a compact sedan, but the volume Sport has manual cloth/combination seating and no lumbar adjustment. Touring alone adds power front seats, while review opinions on long-stint comfort are mixed.

The multi-link chassis delivers controlled, balanced road manners, but the Sport's 18-inch wheels and low-profile tires transmit more sharp-impact texture than comfort leaders. Reviews range from firm but controlled to uncomfortable on rough pavement.

Road and tire noise are a consistent weakness, especially at highway speed, preventing the Civic from reaching the average comfort band despite generally controlled wind and engine noise.

Automatic climate control is standard, but the volume Sport lacks heated seats and dual-zone control. Those arrive on EX, while no 2023 U.S. Civic Sedan offers ventilated seats, a heated steering wheel, or rear climate controls, keeping the feature set merely adequate.

The LX rejoined the 2023 sedan lineup during the model year and became the entry trim. Honda listed $23,750 before the mandatory $1,095 destination charge.

The broadly equipped Sport is the representative volume trim. Honda's final archived 2023 pricing lists it at $25,350 before destination.

Edmunds' trim-specific projection combines scheduled and unscheduled maintenance with repairs for a Civic Sport sedan driven 15,000 miles annually.

The Civic's projected five-year retention is exceptional for a compact sedan and exceeds the scoring band's upper bound.

Honda provided the mainstream-standard new-vehicle limited warranty, which sits at the bottom of the category band.

The gasoline Civic's powertrain coverage is the mainstream-standard term and the bottom of the category band. No Civic Hybrid sedan was offered in the U.S. for 2023 despite hybrid availability in other markets.

Honda Service Pass supplies multi-year scheduled oil changes, tire rotations, and inspections, while 24-hour roadside assistance runs through the 3-year/36,000-mile basic-warranty period. Coverage is useful but narrower than comprehensive maintenance plans.

$26,445 volume-trim price minus its estimated resale value after 5 years (77.3% retained, or about $20,442) leaves about $6,003 in depreciation. Add the projected $6,546 in 5-year maintenance and repairs, and owning this vehicle for 5 years costs about $12,549 in total.

The 2023 Civic has produced a better-than-average owner-survey record, and J.D. Power's model-level result is firmly above average. It falls short of the top tier because the J.D. Power score is explicitly carried over from the prior year and the car has accumulated several recalls.

Honda's multi-year record is strong but not uniformly elite across methodologies. Consumer Reports placed Honda fifth in its 2023 brand reliability ranking, while the 2023 J.D. Power VDS put Honda below the industry average, so a low-80s score reflects the split evidence.

Five recalls is heavy activity for a three-year-old compact, and the steering defect is systemic rather than incidental: NHTSA opened an investigation after 145 complaints and Honda ultimately recalled roughly 1.7 million vehicles. The absence of reported deaths or injuries and the availability of free remedies keep this above the very bottom band.

The volume Sport sedan's naturally aspirated 2.0-liter four and CVT are mature Honda hardware with a good durability record and less complexity than the optional turbo. The EX/Touring 1.5-liter turbo has a less spotless history, including oil-dilution concerns in earlier applications, so the range does not merit a top-decile score.

The Civic is a compact-sedan cabin benchmark, combining an unusually polished design with convincing trim and tactile physical controls even in lower trims. Some hard plastic remains in low-touch areas, appropriate to the price, but reviewers consistently place the cabin near the top of the class.

Review testing points to tight, solid assembly and a cabin notably free of vibration, while the second year of the generation avoids first-launch tooling risk. Scattered owner reports of rattles, trim and weather-seal issues prevent a higher score.

Honda has a dense nationwide U.S. dealer network, and the Civic's enormous installed base makes trained service support easy to find. Service quality varies by franchise, but Honda's scale and familiarity are clear advantages over smaller import brands.

Civic parts are exceptionally abundant through dealers, independent suppliers and one of the industry's largest aftermarkets. Repair frequency and annual cost are substantially below compact-car averages, making this one of the model's clearest ownership strengths.

The Sport is the representative volume trim and uses the 7-inch touchscreen. The 2023 sedan is an eleventh-generation carry-over, apart from the LX rejoining the range and revised EX blind-spot availability.

The interface is quick and logically organized, and physical volume and climate controls make it unusually easy to use. The volume trim's small screen and basic graphics keep it short of the class leaders for display sophistication.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard but require a USB cable on LX, Sport, and EX. Wireless compatibility is restricted to the top Touring trim.

The volume Sport has phone-based Siri or Google Assistant through wired projection but no native navigation. Touring alone adds Honda's functional but dated-looking navigation and command-based voice recognition.

The Sport and EX receive an adequate 180-watt eight-speaker system, while Touring offers a meaningful 12-speaker Bose upgrade with a subwoofer. The LX's 160-watt four-speaker base system is notably basic.

LX, Sport, and EX combine an analog speedometer with a configurable 7-inch information display. A crisp 10.2-inch fully digital cluster is available only on Touring, so the volume trim lands in the partial-digital band.

The connected infotainment system can download system updates through an external Wi-Fi hotspot, but Honda makes no claim of broad, feature-adding whole-vehicle OTA updates. Its scope fits the infotainment-only middle band.

HondaLink supports maintenance information and service scheduling, but Honda does not list subscription remote lock, remote start, locator, or phone-as-key capability for this Civic. Remote engine start on equipped trims is handled by the key fob.

The volume Sport provides only one front USB-A data/power port and a 12-volt outlet, with no rear USB ports or wireless charging. Touring adds two rear USB-A ports and a wireless pad, but USB-C and household AC power are absent throughout.

Sport, EX, and Touring include Smart Entry with Walk Away Auto Lock, push-button start, and key-fob remote engine start. The LX has basic remote entry, and no trim offers phone-as-key or a hands-free trunk.

Every trim has a multi-angle rear camera with dynamic guidelines, but the volume Sport lacks parking sensors. Front and rear sensors plus low-speed braking are Touring-only, and no surround-view camera or automated parking is offered.

A head-up display was not offered on any 2023 Civic sedan trim.

A roomy rear seat, easy-to-use LATCH hardware and a wide, low-liftover 14.8-cu-ft trunk make two-child duty unusually easy for a compact sedan. The sloping roof still requires some ducking, and the volume Sport has a one-piece rather than 60/40-split rear seatback.

Every affordable trim gets a strong Honda Sensing suite, rear-seat reminder and excellent child-seat hardware, while the sedan earned a 2023 IIHS Top Safety Pick. It misses the very top because the tougher updated moderate-overlap and side tests were Acceptable, and blind-spot monitoring was not standard on LX or Sport.

The Civic seats four adults more comfortably than most compact sedans and its 14.8-cu-ft trunk handles ordinary family luggage. Rear passengers get no dedicated climate vents and only Touring adds rear USB ports, while tire and road noise reduce long-trip refinement.

Smooth CVT behavior, intuitive controls, good visibility and standard adaptive cruise with low-speed follow make the Civic exceptionally low-effort in traffic. Traffic Jam Assist and automatic brake hold further reduce fatigue, though the naturally aspirated volume Sport is only adequately quick.

The gas-only U.S. 2023 sedan is exceptionally economical: the volume Sport returns 33 MPG combined, while LX and EX reach 35 and 36. Regular fuel, mainstream tire sizes and two years of included scheduled maintenance keep per-mile costs low, although there was no 2023 U.S. Civic Hybrid to challenge 50-MPG rivals.

The compact footprint, low cowl, light variable-ratio steering and standard multi-angle rear camera make the Civic easy to place in town. The Sport's 18-inch wheels expand the turning diameter to 38.1 feet, and surround-view imaging is unavailable; parking sensors are Touring-only.

The U.S. Civic sedan has no factory tow rating, bed or meaningful load-carrying headroom, so it is not a real work tool. Its trunk can carry sales samples or small equipment, but that is ordinary passenger-car utility rather than work capability.

The Civic's simple controls, cloth-trimmed volume model and long fleet/commuter reputation suit high-mileage light service better than most sedans. It remains a low, carpeted passenger car without a heavy-duty cooling, suspension or washable-interior package, so repeated jobsite abuse is outside its design brief.

The sedan offers virtually no jobsite-specific provisions: no bed, factory hitch, onboard AC power, washable cabin or commercial upfit system. A trunk and accessory roof attachments can support very light-duty use, but little more.

Supportive seating, stable highway manners and standard ACC/LKAS make the Civic a strong compact mile-eater, while the 12.4-gallon tank yields roughly 409 miles at the Sport's EPA combined rating. Noticeable tire noise, limited rear amenities and no lumbar adjustment on the volume trim keep it below true long-distance benchmarks.

Front-wheel drive, sedan ground clearance and no tow rating make this primarily a pavement car; maintained gravel roads are reasonable, rough access roads are not. Roof-mounted bike or ski accessories add some recreational usefulness, but there is no AWD or camping-oriented power provision.

A wide, low trunk opening and class-strong 14.8-cu-ft capacity handle normal luggage well, and every trim can fold its rear seat. Bulky gear remains constrained by the sedan aperture, and the volume Sport's one-piece seatback forces owners to choose between carrying a long item and using the entire rear bench; only EX/Touring split 60/40.

The volume Sport sedan combines quick responses, disciplined body control, and unusually high grip for a mainstream compact while retaining a well-balanced ride. Its chassis is a class benchmark, though the Mazda3 remains a close rival and the regular Civic is not as focused as the Si.

The variable-ratio electric rack is quick, accurate, naturally weighted, and more communicative than most compact-sedan systems. It provides real driver involvement without nervousness, placing the Civic near the top of its class.

The Sport's brake pedal is responsive and easy to modulate, and its measured stopping performance is strong for the class. The conventional gas-only U.S. 2023 sedan also avoids any regenerative-braking blend issue.

The Sport's naturally aspirated 2.0-liter and CVT behave predictably and smoothly in routine driving, but modest torque and slow acceleration make throttle response feel strained when merging or passing. The turbo EX and Touring are more responsive, but they are not the representative volume configuration; no Civic Hybrid was offered in the U.S. for 2023.

The four-cylinder is unobtrusive in gentle use and the cabin feels solid, but the CVT exposes a buzzy, intrusive engine note at sustained high rpm. This is the weakest part of the Sport's driving experience and trails the Mazda3's more agreeable powertrain sound.

The volume Sport's 18-inch wheel-and-tire package produces a relatively wide turning circle for a compact sedan. LX and EX trims are appreciably tighter, while Touring shares the Sport's figure.

A low cowl, broad glass area, generous seat-and-wheel adjustment, clear instruments, and tactile physical controls create one of the segment's best cockpits. The Sport's manually adjusted seat lacks lumbar adjustment, preventing a truly universal fit.

Excellent steering, grip, brake feel, and chassis balance make even the ordinary Sport rewarding on a winding road. Its slow, buzzy 2.0-liter/CVT powertrain limits enthusiasm, so buyers seeking genuine performance will prefer the Si.

The value-oriented LX includes the full Honda Sensing driver-assistance suite, adaptive cruise control, lane keeping, automatic climate control, LED headlights, a 7-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and push-button start. It is unusually complete on safety and essentials for a mainstream compact, although blind-spot monitoring and richer cabin conveniences require higher trims.

The Civic combines strong standard safety technology, excellent space and efficiency, polished road manners, and available turbo performance at mainstream-compact prices. The Sport volume trim is less richly equipped than its name suggests, but the range as a whole was still a segment-leading blend of quality, capability, and cost.

Four well-spaced mainstream sedan trims (LX, Sport, EX, Touring) cover economy, style, turbo performance, and near-premium equipment, while the sedan-only Si adds an enthusiast configuration. Choice is strong for the class, but every US sedan is front-wheel drive and gas-powered for 2023, with no hybrid or AWD sedan option.

The Civic remained one of America's dominant compact cars: US sales rebounded to 200,381 in 2023 from 133,932 in the supply-constrained 2022 calendar year. That volume and 49.3% year-over-year growth demonstrate exceptionally strong acceptance of the eleventh generation.

Honda and Civic carry unusually strong mainstream-brand equity built around durability, efficiency, resale value, and an enthusiastic owner community. The Si and Type R halo further elevates the Civic above appliance-car status, though Honda is not an aspirational luxury marque.

Demand and constrained Honda inventory kept 2023 Civics commonly near MSRP, with little cash discounting and some dealer markups. Honda occasionally offered promotional APR support, which provided some buyer benefit, but this was not a model buyers could routinely negotiate far below sticker.

The 2023 sedan was only the second model year of the eleventh-generation Civic, whose North American sales began in June 2021. It was fundamentally a carry-over year for the regular sedan rather than a refresh, but its platform, cabin, and safety technology were still very fresh with little redesign risk.

The 2023 Civic was both a Car and Driver 10Best winner and Edmunds Top Rated Car, while receiving top-tier review scores and repeated praise as one of the best small cars available. Few mainstream compact sedans had a stronger combination of major awards and near-consensus critical acclaim that year.