Pros: Cool and well-made interior; very spacious; powerful and efficient turbo engine; well-balanced driving dynamics
Cons: Pricey point of entry; no hybrid (yet); Si interior is a bit tacky
Even if you could spend a lot more than the 2023 Honda Civic costs, there’s a very good chance you should still consider it. This not-that-compact sedan and hatchback are just that good. Thinking about getting a midsize sedan or small SUV? Consider a Civic, too, it’s surprisingly spacious. Entry-level luxury car? The Civic is surprisingly luxurious. Weekend sports car? The Civic Si (and even the Sport Touring with a manual) is a blast. The latest-generation Civic, introduced last year, is just so well-rounded and so well-executed that it really does transcend its simple compact car segment and open itself up to all sorts of buyers.
Now, those on a tighter budget may admittedly not be among them this year as Honda nixed the old LX trim level and jacked up the prices. Still, when you consider just how much car you’re getting for your money, the Civic still offers tremendous value given its mix of space, equipment, refinement, performance, fuel economy, safety … we could go on. Again, it’s well-rounded.
It’s also worth pointing out that it looks pretty darn good, especially the ultra-cool interior with its full-width honeycomb air vents. Frankly, if you thought the Civic Hatchback looked better inside and out than the mechanically related Acura Integra, we wouldn’t argue. Ditto its various traditional competitors, the Hyundai Elantra, Mazda 3, Nissan Sentra, Kia Forte or Toyota Corolla. Beyond aesthetics, none of those can really match the blend of positive attributes and/or model variety offered by the 2023 Honda Civic. Seriously, it’s just terrific.
