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2008 Honda Civic

*Est. $14,800 to $23,250

Pros

Design and materials
Excellent fuel economy and safety ratings
Above-average resale value and reliability
Comfortable and fun to drive

Cons

Road noise
Tight back seat
Dashboard design disliked by some
Hybrid and GX versions are poky on the highway

Our Analysis

The 2008 Honda Civic gets accolades for its relatively roomy, comfortable interior, above-average fuel efficiency and strong safety ratings. The Honda Civic is available in sedan, coupe, hybrid, and clean-emission GX versions, as well as a high-performance trim called the Civic Si (*est. $21,110 to $29,500). The unique Civic GX (*est. $24,590 and up) runs on compressed natural gas and can be fueled at home via a special hookup. Although the Civic ranks as the best compact sedan overall, reviews say the similarly priced Toyota Corolla (*est. $15,250 to $19,950) has the advantage of superior reliability. The 2008 Mazda3 (*est. $13,995 to $20,295), including the high-performance Mazdaspeed3, is a well-liked sporty car at a lower price than the Honda Civic Si. The highly regarded subcompact Honda Fit (*est. $13,950 to $16,070) actually has a roomier interior than the Civic.

Good reviews of the Honda Civic are relatively easy to find. Consumer Reports magazine and ConsumerGuide.com use their extensive evaluations to rank the Civic against other vehicles in its class. Motor Trend also offers excellent comparative reviews of the Honda Civic: After an exhaustive performance analysis of the 2006 Civic lineup, the Honda received Motor Trend's coveted Car of the Year award that year; the Civic is also featured prominently in more recent head-to-head tests of popular commuter cars. Car and Driver includes the Civic in its bargain-oriented comparison of small cars. Edmunds.com and CanadianDriver.com provide helpful single-vehicle reviews of the 2008 Honda Civic, with the article at CanadianDriver.com specific to the sport-tuned Civic Si.

Where To Buy

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2008 Honda Civic
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2008 Honda Civic

Our Sources

1. ConsumerReports.orgDetails/Subscribe

Consumer Reports tests virtually every family sedan on the market, including the Honda Civic. The analysis here focuses mainly on ride quality, handling, safety and predicted reliability (based on past-model-year data from reader surveys).

Review: 2008 Honda Civic, Editors of Consumer Reports

2. Motor Trend Details/Subscribe

In the year of the Honda Civic's most recent redesign, Motor Trend's judges evaluated the entire 2006 Civic lineup – sedan, coupe, hybrid, and performance-oriented Si models – in exhaustive road tests before giving the Civic their top prize.

Review: 2006 Car of the Year Winner: 2006 Honda Civic, Editors of Motor Trend

3. Motor Trend Details/Subscribe

The Honda Civic takes top honors in this head-to-head comparison of compact, fuel-efficient "commuter" cars. Reviewers praise the Civic for its good all-around balance of comfort and performance.

Review: Comparison: 2007 Honda Civic vs. 2007 Hyundai Elantra vs. 2007 Mitsubishi Lancer vs. 2007 Nissan Sentra, Todd Lassa

4. Car and Driver Details/Subscribe

In this head-to-head test of compact sedans with manual transmissions, the judges say the 2006 Honda Civic LX is a good performer, but they have mixed opinions about its unusual design.

Review: Sensible Shoes, Patrick Bedard, Dec. 2006

5. ConsumerGuide.com

ConsumerGuide.com performs road testing on many of the top-selling vehicles in the U.S., ranking them against a class average. The 2008 Honda Civic's performance is above-average for its class, earning it a "Best Buy" designation.

Review: 2008 Honda Civic, Editors at ConsumerGuide.com, Sept. 3, 2008

6. Edmunds.com

This single-car review asserts that "the 2008 Honda Civic sets the bar for the small car segment." Editors evaluate the Civic's performance, design and safety, with a narrative analysis of the results.

Review: 2008 Honda Civic Review, Editors at Edmunds.com

7. Canadian Driver

In this one-vehicle evaluation, Chase is enthusiastic about the 2008 Honda Civic Si. He cites its engine performance, its smooth six-speed transmission', and the layout of its dash.

Review: Test Drive: 2008 Honda Civic Si Sedan, Chris Chase, Nov. 12, 2007

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