Honda Civic Safety Rating: Is It Worth Your Time?

Sandy B
Dec 22, 2020

When you’re thinking about buying a Honda Civic, you’re likely looking for a reliable vehicle, one that’s going to last. You also need to be sure that this is a safe vehicle with a solid safety rating that you can feel good in with your family.

How safe is the Honda Civic?

The 2020 Honda Civic received a 5-star Overall Safety Rating from NHTSA and the highest possible score of “Good” from IIHS. Combine that with a 4.63-Star Owner and 4.6/10 Expert Review rating from Vehicle History for a top safety performer in its class.

Silver 2020 Honda Civic From Passenger Side

These stats should encourage you to look deeper into this vehicle and all it can offer, but that is not enough info. In this piece, we’ll break down the test ratings, provide you with insight into tech features, and answer your questions for more clarity.

2020 Honda Civic Crash Test Rating

Crash tests completed by some of today’s most trusted safety organizations can give you insight into what would happen if an accident occurred. Here’s how well the Honda Civic did in these tests and what you can expect from them.

IIHS Test Results

The IIHS gave the Honda Civic a full measure of “Good” ratings – the highest it offers – for all of its crashworthiness ratings. That includes things like the amount of overlap in the front on both sides, the strength of the roof, and the support of the head restraints and seats.

It also gives it “Superior” ratings in front crash prevention in vehicle-to-person and vehicle-to-pedestrian accidents. It only gives this car an “Acceptable” rating for its LATCH system ease of use. Also notable is the “Poor” rating for the optional headlights.

NHTSA Test Results

The NHTSA provides its highest possible rating to the Honda Civic for the 2020 model year. That includes a 5-star Overall Safety Rating. The vehicle also performed at the top possible level in frontal crash tests, including the front driver and passenger side.

The agency also gave this vehicle a full 5 stars across the board in its side crash tests, including its pole and side barrier tests. What’s even more impressive – and class-leading – is the 5-star Rollover Rating, which includes a rollover risk of just 9.5%.

Available Safety Tech on the 2020 Civic

Honda has added a number of safety features to its vehicles through the use of technology. These services are active, which means they are in place when you’re driving the vehicle. Some of these features include:

  • Honda Sensing: The suite of driver safety features on many Honda vehicles is called Honda Sensing. It’s a combination of intelligent features and driver-assist technologies that alert you while you’re driving to what you may be missing that puts you at risk.
  • DepRoad arture Mitigation System (RDM): This system can help you stay on the road if you’re drifting by adjusting the steering and braking to help you shift back into place. It detects the lane markings to do this.
  • Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS): This feature works to keep you from hitting other cars, people, or objects. If it detects the risk of a collision, the vehicle will apply the brake pressure to stop or slow the car if you don’t take action.
  • Honda LaneWatch: Modern Civics come with this feature, which turns the mirror and displays a live video on your display, so you can safely move from one lane to the next. It gives you four times more visibility than the average mirror.
  • Blind Spot Information System: When you are going to switch lanes, this system will warn you if there is a vehicle detected in the adjacent lane into which you’re moving and creates a blinking light and beep sound to prevent you from moving in front of that car.
  • Cross Traffic Monitor: Using a multi-angle rearview camera, this feature alerts you if there is a vehicle approaching behind your vehicle if you are trying to back up. It can also help minimize risks if there are objects there that you could strike if you keep going.

Other People Also Ask

Most people have some questions about a vehicle before buying it. Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about the Honda Civic.

Is the Honda Civic a reliable car?

The Honda Civic offers a lot of key features that make it a reliable car. That includes good performance from the powertrain and lower costs for maintenance and upkeep on this car. It also is designed to be more affordable to repair when you need it to be.

Is the Honda Civic a good car?

There are a few things that make it a good choice, including the top-rated safety features. This car also offers solid driving dynamics, solid fuel economy, and a powerful-enough engine. You’ll find it is also a good car when you want a competitive price with ample tech on board.

How long will my Honda Civic last?

Some of these vehicles last for decades (yes, decades) if they are well maintained. That may include repairs and significant upgrades over that time. Some of these cars last between 150,000 and 300,000 miles. Civic owners often own their cars for at least 10 years.

Are the Honda safety features on all Civic vehicles?

Honda has upgraded many vehicles with its Sensing package, but not all vehicles have the same number of driver assist features. You’ll want to check out the individual specs of a car before you decide to buy it to learn what’s actually on board that model year and trim.

avatar Sandy B
Sandy B. has written for The New York Times, Cleveland Magazine, and many online publications. She long-ago ditched the minivan life for the off-roading Ford Explorer (and hoping to restore a Shelby Mustang!)
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