2020 Honda Civic- Wide range of engines, transmissions, and body styles
- High value, strong resale value and reliability
- Long list of standard safety equipment
- Spacious, premium interior
- Fun to drive and comfortable
- Pricing starts at $20,680 (including $930 destination charge) | Price yours
- On sale now | See Civic models for sale near you
Still Best in Class
The Honda Civic continues to be the benchmark of the compact car segment because it can offer something for everyone. And it’s not just about body style, either: Even though the Civic is the only small car that’s available as a sedan, coupe or hatchback, the variety of offerings doesn’t stop there. There’s a choice of two excellent engines that will satisfy most compact-car shoppers, plus feisty versions of the 1.5-liter turbo engine, as well as a 306-horsepower engine in the high-performance Civic Type R.
The Civic’s interior is top-notch: It’s roomy and comfortable, and comes with features you’d find in a class-above vehicle. The Civic offers plenty of value, with a wide range of safety and comfort features that come standard, plus a starting price below $23,000 including destination charges. That value lasts the life of the vehicle, as the Civic is backed by Honda’s reputation for reliability, durability and high resale value.
Where Sportiness and Practicality Meet
One of the best aspects of the Honda Civic is its balance. An example of that is its ability to provide both performance and efficiency. A member of the KBB editorial team described the 2020 Honda Civic as light, lean, agile and fun with crisp steering response, which sums it up nicely. Yet between the excellent suspension tuning and the comfortable seats, this Honda is an easygoing partner for your daily commute. Brake response is linear and firm, and everything about the Civic’s drivability feels well sorted.
Most buyers will choose the 174-horsepower turbo 1.5-liter 4-cylinder engine that’s standard on EX-and-higher mainstream models, which offers rewarding levels of power, while fuel economy is as good as 42 mpg on the highway. The standard 158-horsepower engine is a decent base engine and competitive, but the 1.5-liter offers that sweet spot of response and efficiency. While you can get a manual transmission, Honda’s continuously variable transmission is well tuned and works nicely with the 1.5-liter. And, for those who want the sport/practicality balance to shift a little more toward performance, the Civic Sport offers a little more power, the Civic Si brings more than 200 ponies, and the track-tuned Civic Type R puts out 306 horsepower.
Spacious Interior, Compact Exterior
The Civic’s balance continues inside. Thoughtful, practical features are built into a spacious cabin that uses stylish, high-quality materials with excellent fit and finish. The interior can easily seat five people boasts ample head- and legroom in both rows – confirmed by multiple tall KBB editors. Want to optimize the interior to carry gear instead of people? Fold down the sedan’s rear seats to add about 20 cubic feet to the trunk’s already generous 15.1 cubic-foot trunk. Need more space than that? The hatchback provides nearly 26 cubic feet of volume, which goes up to 46 with the rear seats folded.
There are also class-above amenities, including heated rear seats, paddle shifters and exterior LED lighting, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard. Also standard: the Honda Sensing suite of driver-assist and advanced safety features, which includes collision-mitigation braking, forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning and lane-keep assist. The Display Audio system is a fairly easy interface to use, and we are glad Honda incorporated a volume knob, but if we had our way, we’d add a tuning knob as well.
Value Now and Later
Pricing for a 2020 Honda Civic starts at just under $23,000, with more popular trims costing about $25,000. That price point is right in the heart of compact car prices. The Honda’s value advantage is two-fold: Getting a Civic means you’re buying a car with a long list of standard equipment, and it’s easy to get more tech and luxury amenities without blowing your budget. In addition, there are so many trim levels, body types, engines and transmissions to choose from, you can get a Civic that’s your ideal daily driver.
Over time, you’ll appreciate the fuel-efficient engines that’ll save you money at the gas station. With Honda’s history of excellent reliability, the Civic’s impressive 5-Year Cost to Own numbers, and its historically high resale value, you’ll save money while you own the car and get more for your investment when it comes time to sell.
Photo Tour: 2020 Honda Civic
More 2020 Honda Civic
Build and price your own 2020 Honda Civic to see this week’s Fair Purchase Price, 5-Year Cost to Own and more, or check out the Civics for sale today at dealers near you.
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