If you want a small hatch that stands out from the crowd, the Civic is for you. Even now, this eighth-generation Civic's futuristic lines still look the part, and the dash is every bit as cutting-edge. Throw in generous equipment levels, a strong structure, lots of safety kit and a spacious, flexible interior and you've got a great family car. Some early examples aren't as well built as you might expect however, so you can't always take that legendary Honda reliability for granted.
Key Dates
9/05 :The eighth-generation Civic debuts, with 1.4 or 1.8 petrol engines or a 2.2 diesel.
1/06 :The Civic IMA hybrid saloon appears, without the radical styling of the hatch.
1/07 :A three-door car arrives, along with the Type S, the latter with 1.8 petrol or 2.2-litre diesel powerplants.
3/07 :The three-door 198bhp Type R goes on sale, along with the high-spec GT.
3/09 :A facelift brings a new 1.4 petrol engine.
9/09 :The high-spec Si joins the range.
3/11 :The BTCC-inspired Civic Ti arrives, with 1.4 or 1.8 petrol engines.
Honda Civic (2005-2012) Checklist
- Door handles can fail, so check each door from inside and out.
- Headlight seals fail, leading to condensation inside.
- If the grille badge isn't intact, you have to replace the whole grille assembly.
- Rear visibility is poor, so check for damage to the rear wings and bumper.
- There's no spare wheel, so check the car isn't being driven on damaged tyres filled with sealant.
- Diesels have no low level warning light and oil consumption can be up to 600 miles per litre.
- The front foglamps, in the front bumper, get damaged from stones.
- The rear window seals fail, letting water into the cabin.
We Like
- Distinctive styling
- Cabin flexibility
- Safe construction
- Equipment levels
- Strong 2.2 diesel engine
- Big boot
We Don't Like
- So-so handling
- Busy dash
- Early cars' fragility
- No small diesel