2018 Honda Civic Review: Reliable & Sporty Small Car With A Comfortable Cabin 

The 2018 Honda Civic lasts around 250,000 miles with some minor A/C and wiring issues reported by owners. At $17,075 to $35,250, it’s costly, but worth it for a fun compact car which stands up to the test of time.

Is the 2018 Honda Civic a Good Used Car?

• Overall Rating 9/10 – 2018 is a great year for the Honda Civic since it’s reliable, efficient, and fun to drive, giving it a high overall score. Owner reviews praise the stereo system, comfortable front seats, as well as low maintenance costs.
• Interior, Comfort & Cargo 8/10 – Interior materials are nicer than some other compact cars, the seats are supportive for long trips, cargo space is also great in the trunk.
• Reliability 9/10 – There are no major problems found on the 2018 Honda Civic. In general, models from 2010–2022 are all dependable choices with no serious issues.
• Performance 9/10 – Performance is okay from the base models, while the Type R is the fastest compact car offered in 2018.
• Safety 9/10 – The 2018 Civic is a safe car, earning 5 stars in government crash tests. Standard safety features include a rearview camera. Optional upgrades include a blind spot camera, forward collision warning with brake assist, as well as lane keep assist.
• Gas Mileage 9/10 – Fuel economy is great at up to 36 MPG, giving 446 miles of range from the 12.4 gallon tank. Gas costs are $60 cheaper than average, at $146 per month.
• Value 8/10 – The 2018 Honda Civic is more expensive than many other compact cars, yet low ownership costs paired with slow depreciation give it a high value score.

What Do Critics Say About the Honda Civic?

• Consumer Reports says the 2018 Honda Civic offers a lot of elegant touches for a small car, with high owner satisfaction scores.
• Edmunds rates the Civic at 4.4/5, praising the athletic driving experience, but doesn’t like the slow touchscreen.
• Kelley Blue Book users give the Civic a 4.8/5, enjoying the mix of efficiency and power, but don’t like the lack of all-wheel drive.

What Common Problems Does the 2018 Honda Civic Have?

Common problems found on the 2018 Honda Civic include A/C condenser issues, soy-based wiring chewed by rodents, along with cracked windshields. Overall, these problems are similar to other compact cars, with lower repair costs as well.

A/C condenser issues are the most widespread complaint from 2018 Honda Civic owners at around 25,000 miles. The condenser simply fails quickly in some models, and has to be replaced. Changing out the compressor costs $800 to $1,200, depending on local labor rates.

Soy-based wiring being chewed by rodents has also been reported by some owners in the first 50,000 miles. The soy wiring attracts rodents, which then destroy the wires as they chew on them. Parking in a garage, or using an engine strobe light kit can help deter rodents from crawling around in the engine compartment.

Cracked windshields also show up on some 2018 Civic models at around 15,000 miles. Some batches of windshields simply are weaker than others, which leads to them cracking easier. Replacing the windshield with a new one costs around $400.

There are 4 recalls on the 2018 Honda Civic, which is similar to other compact cars from the same year. The most serious recall covers the fuel pump, which can fail and make the engine stall. Honda will replace the fuel pump in affected models for free. Most of the other recalls cover incorrect information labels, which are not a mechanical concern.

How Long Will the 2018 Honda Civic Last?

A well-maintained 2018 Honda Civic can last around 250,000 miles, which is only slightly shorter than the long-lasting Toyota Corolla. Regular annual maintenance costs are lower than many other compact cars, according to data provided by Repair Pal, at $311 per year.

As a used 2018 Honda Civic reaches 100,000 miles owners should be prepared to replace the spark plugs for $250, timing belt tensioner costing $400, as well as the control arm bushings which cost $250.

How Is the Technology?

Entertainment technology is very good in the 2018 Honda Civic with a standard 5-inch central display. Upgrades include a larger 7-inch touchscreen stereo system with navigation.

Safety technology is similar to other small cars with a standard rearview camera. Optional active safety features include a blind spot camera, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, as well as lane keep assist.

Is the 2018 Honda Civic a Good Value?

Yes, the 2018 Honda Civic is a good value since it’s a dependable compact car with a fun driving experience. The blue book fair purchase price ranges from $17,075 to $35,250, making it more than a Ford Focus or Nissan Sentra. When new, the price range was $18,940 to $34,700. Depreciation is better than other small cars, only losing about 5% of its current value per year.

What are the Different Models of the Honda Civic?

There are seven main models of the Honda Civic offered in 2018, from the base LX all the way up to the high-performance Type R. It’s also offered as either a two-door Civic coupe, four-door Civic sedan, or five-door Civic hatchback.

LX is the entry-level model with:

• 16-Inch Steel Wheels
• LED Running Lights
• 60/40 Split Folding Rear Seatbacks
• Automatic Climate Control
• 5-Inch Central Display Screen
• Rearview Camera
• Bluetooth
• Four-Speaker Sound System

EX is a step up, adding:

• Sunroof
• Heated Side Mirrors
• Eight-Speaker Audio System
• Dual USB Ports
• Blind-Spot camera
• Remote Start
• 7-Inch Touchscreen
• Android Auto and Apple CarPlay

EX-T has features such as:

• Turbocharged Engine
• 17-Inch Alloy Wheels
• Foglights
• Dual-Zone Climate Control
• Heated Front Seats

EX-L offers upgrades including:

• Leather Upholstery
• Power Adjustable Driver’s Seat
• Auto-Dimming Rearview Mirror

Touring is the most luxurious model which has:

• 18-Inch Alloy Wheels
• LED headlights
• Heated Rear Seats
• 12-Speaker Audio System
• Honda Sensing Safety Package

Si is a sportier model which adds:

• Sport Tuned Multilink Suspension
• Active Dampers
• Limited Slip Front Differential
• Unique Rear Spoiler
• Leather-Wrapped Steering Wheel
• Faux Carbon Fiber Trim

Type R is the flagship model with:

• 20-Inch Wheels
• Bigger Front and Rear Brakes
• Large Rear Wing
• Unique Suspension
• Interior and Exterior Styling Changes

What Engines Come In the Honda Civic?

• The base engine is an average 2.0L 4-cylinder which makes 158 horsepower, which gets up to 34 MPG. It comes standard with a six-speed manual transmission while a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) is available as an upgrade.
• An available upgrade is the more efficient 1.5L 4-cylinder turbo, which generates 174 horsepower at up to 36 MPG. It’s also offered with either a six-speed manual or CVT.
• The Si model comes with a stronger 1.5L 4-cylinder turbo which makes 205 horsepower while getting 32 MPG. It only comes with a six-speed manual transmission. Performance is good, taking 6.3 seconds to go from 0-60 MPH.
• The Type R model has a very powerful 2.0L 4-cylinder turbo which produces 306 horsepower while getting 25 MPG. This engine only offers a six-speed manual transmission as well. Performance is great, taking only 4.9 seconds to make the trip from 0-60 MPH.

What Colors Does the Honda Civic Come In?

How Comfortable Is the Honda Civic?

The 2018 Honda Civic is a very comfortable compact car with seating for up to five passengers. Seating is very nice offering nice contouring to the cushions which makes them comfortable on longer drives.

Passenger room is great in the backseats of the four-door sedan and five-door hatchback models, while there’s limited legroom in the two-door coupe.

How Much Storage Space Does the Honda Civic Have?

Cargo space is great in the sedan and coupe which has enough space to fit 4-5 full size suitcases. There’s even more room in the back of the hatchback which has room for 6-8 suitcases behind the seats, and 8-10 with the seats folded flat.

What Are the Differences Between Years?

The tenth generation of the Honda Civic came out in 2016, and was replaced by the eleventh generation in 2022.

2015: New SE model offered which fits between LX and EX models.

2016: Fully redesigned for the tenth generation with new engines, styling, and technology.

2017: Hatchback model added to the lineup, Si and Type R models also added.

2018: No changes from 2017.

2019: Sport gets a 2.0L engine instead of 1.5L, front bumper changes.

2020: Civic Si gets updated styling, more powerful brakes on the Civic Type R.

2021: Si model discontinued, unique paint choices available on Type R.

How Does the Honda Civic Compare to the Competition?

The Honda Civic is one of the best compact cars offered in 2018 since it offers a sportier driving experience paired with excellent reliability ratings.

The Honda Accord is a larger sedan which costs around $2,500 more. Passenger room and technology are a bit better in the Honda Accord, while the Honda Civic offers a more fun and engaging driving experience. We recommend the Honda Civic for most shoppers, although both are great cars worth taking for a test drive.

The Toyota Corolla is another compact car in the same price range. Where the Toyota Corolla stands out is with a better ride quality due to its smooth suspension, while the Honda Civic has more powerful engine choices. We recommend the Toyota Corolla since it’s slightly more reliable, yet both are great compact cars for 2018.

Do Owners Recommend the Honda Civic?