Honda has a complicated history with the Civic. For most of the car's life in the UK it was a genuinely interesting choice — a compact family car with its own character, built to a standard that took reliability seriously, and priced to undercut the German alternatives meaningfully.
Then came the ninth generation, and Honda forgot what made the Civic worth buying. The ninth-gen Civic was uninspiring to drive, received a cabin that felt cheap against the class, and Honda's UK sales reflected exactly how the market felt about it. It was a low point for a nameplate with a strong reputation.
The tenth generation fixed it. Properly.
This guide focuses almost entirely on helping you get the right car, because the difference between a ninth-gen and a tenth-gen Civic — at similar price points on the used market — is significant enough that generation choice is the most important decision you'll make.
The ninth generation — understand what you're considering
The ninth-gen Civic (2012–2017) wasn't a bad car in any absolute sense. It was reliable, practical, and competently built. But it arrived against a much-improved Golf Mk7, a sharper Focus, and a Ford that was considerably more engaging to drive, and the Civic lost that comparison almost everywhere that mattered.
The interior used hard plastics in places that felt particularly incongruous given the price, the driving experience was disconnected, and the styling divided opinion sharply. Residuals suffered as a result, which means these cars are now genuinely cheap on the used market.
If the asking price is right and you primarily need a reliable, economical hatchback with no particular interest in how it drives or how it feels, the ninth-gen Civic is not without merit. Honda's engines are fundamentally sound, and these cars have proven durable in service. Just go in with eyes open.
What you should avoid specifically within the ninth gen is the 2.2 i-DTEC diesel. It's a capable engine in isolation but the fuel system complexity and the emissions components have been costly for some owners. A high-mileage ninth-gen diesel with incomplete history isn't a car to take risks on.
The tenth generation — this is what you should be buying
The tenth-gen Civic (2017–2021) is a different car entirely. Honda redesigned it from the ground up and the result was a hatchback that could genuinely compete with the Golf and the Focus on terms that mattered to UK buyers.
The interior quality took a substantial leap. The dash design is distinctive — not everyone loves it, but it's genuinely premium in its materials and the quality of its construction. The driving experience became more engaging without losing any of the Honda composure that the brand's reputation is built on. The boot is enormous for the class — 478 litres is class-leading — and the rear passenger space is genuinely useful.
Most importantly, the tenth-gen Civic drove home Honda's long-held advantage over the German competition: it goes wrong less, it costs less to maintain, and the ownership experience is more predictable. That's not a guess; it's borne out by owner satisfaction data and independent reliability surveys consistently over the car's production run.
Which engine in the tenth gen?
There are two meaningful choices.
The 1.0 VTEC Turbo (129PS) is the one most buyers should go for. Three cylinders, turbocharged, and a much better engine than it sounds on paper. It pulls well from low revs, returns real-world fuel economy in the mid-forties on a mixed run, and is genuinely refined at motorway speeds. The character of this engine suits the Civic's everyday usability perfectly. If you're not specifically after the extra performance, this is the right call.
The 1.5 VTEC Turbo (182PS) is the one for buyers who want more. The extra power is noticeable and the delivery is strong — it's quick enough to feel genuinely entertaining without needing to be a Type R to make the point. The fuel economy is slightly worse than the 1.0, and this engine has one specific known concern worth knowing about.
In cold weather and on predominantly short journeys, the 1.5 VTEC Turbo can experience oil dilution — petrol from incomplete combustion entering the engine oil during short trips before the engine reaches full operating temperature. This is a documented issue, not a fringe concern. Honda issued a revised oil formula and updated its guidance, and many owners in warmer climates never see the problem at all. In the UK, where cold mornings and short journeys are routine, it's worth being aware of. A car that's been used predominantly for short trips on cold days without proper warm-up may have suffered oil dilution. Check the oil condition — if it smells strongly of petrol, or the level is higher than it should be, that's a sign.
Skip the Type R unless you specifically want what the Type R is — a seriously quick, focused hot hatch that's been designed around a track rather than a commute. It's a genuinely excellent car on its own terms. But buying one when the 1.0 or 1.5 VTEC Turbo is what your driving actually calls for doesn't make sense, and the insurance and running costs reflect the Type R's performance credentials.
What goes wrong on the tenth gen
The honest answer is that the list is short, which is part of the car's appeal.
1.5 oil dilution. Covered above. More of a concern in cold climates and short-journey use than on cars that regularly see motorway driving.
Infotainment on early tenth-gen cars. The touchscreen system in 2017–2018 cars attracted criticism for response times and occasional glitching. Honda improved it significantly through the production run. Later examples — particularly 2019 onwards — have a noticeably better experience. Test the system thoroughly during the viewing, including Apple CarPlay connectivity if it's fitted.
Tyre wear on Sport and Sport Plus trims. Higher-spec tenth-gen Civics came with 235-section tyres that wear faster than the narrower rubber on lower-spec cars. Not a defect, but worth knowing — replacement costs are higher, and a car due for tyres is a negotiating point.
Minor suspension noise. A small number of tenth-gen Civics have developed clunking or creaking from the front suspension on rough surfaces. It's not universal and it's generally fixable without drama, but it's common enough to be worth listening for on any test drive.
What you should actually pay
- Ninth gen (2014–2017): £7,000–£12,000
- Tenth gen 1.0 VTEC Turbo (2017–2019): £12,000–£17,000
- Tenth gen 1.5 VTEC Turbo (2017–2019): £14,000–£19,000
- Tenth gen facelift (2020–2021): £17,000–£22,000
SR and EX specs represent good value in the tenth gen. Sport and Sport Plus bring the bigger wheels and tyres at a premium — worthwhile if you want the visual difference, less worthwhile if the running cost difference matters.
Before you see it
Check the MOT history and pay attention to mileage consistency. For any 1.5 VTEC Turbo, ask specifically about how the car has been used — a seller who can tell you it was mostly motorway miles is offering more useful information than one who doesn't know. And if the service history shows very short intervals between oil changes, that's often a sign the previous owner knew about the dilution concern and was managing it actively — which is actually reassuring.
Check the MOT history before you go →
Free MOT checker at AllCarsUKRegistration plate only. Every test, every advisory, every recorded mileage. Free, no account needed.
On the test drive: check the infotainment properly rather than just glancing at it. On a 1.5 VTEC Turbo, if you can, check the oil on the dipstick before starting the car — look at the level and smell it. Petrol in the oil has a distinctive smell. And listen specifically for any front suspension noise over rough surfaces.
Should you buy one?
If it's a tenth-gen, yes — unambiguously. A 2018–2021 Civic in SR or EX trim with the 1.0 VTEC Turbo, full service history, and a clean MOT is one of the most complete used hatchbacks on the market at its price point. It does everything a Golf does, it costs less to maintain, and it's more spacious in the back and boot than most of its German competition.
Honda spent years building a reputation for getting the fundamentals right and not charging you for the privilege of their badge. The tenth-gen Civic is the best expression of that philosophy on the current used market.
Also see: Honda CR-V Buying Guide | Most Reliable Used Cars | Best Used Cars Under £10,000 | True Cost of Car Ownership