Is the Honda Civic 8th Gen reliable?

Our reliability score for the Honda Civic 8th Gen is 9/10 (90/100), which puts it as one of the most reliable vehicles in our entire database. RepairPal rates it 4.5/5.

How much does it cost to own a Honda Civic 8th Gen per year?

Total estimated annual ownership cost for a Honda Civic 8th Gen is approximately $2,008 for a 25-year-old male driver. This includes fuel at current US average prices, insurance, scheduled maintenance, tires, and oil changes. The 40-year-old female estimate is $1,808.

What is the Honda Civic 8th Gen gas mileage?

EPA combined fuel economy for the Honda Civic 8th Gen is 31 MPG, with 26 MPG city and 34 MPG highway.

What years does the Honda Civic 8th Gen cover?

This generation of the Honda Civic was sold from 2006 to 2011.

Is the Honda Civic 8th Gen safe?

Our safety score for the Honda Civic 8th Gen is 9/10 (90/100), which means it is genuinely safe by current data. IIHS rates the crash protection good. NHTSA gives it 5 stars overall.

Is the Honda Civic 8th Gen a good first car?

Not according to our criteria. Good first cars need a safety score 7.5+, insurance under $2,200/yr for a 25-year-old male, repairability score 7.0+, low rollover risk, and compact dimensions. The Honda Civic 8th Gen misses on at least one of these.

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Honda Civic 8th Gen

06-11 · Honda Civic

90out of 100

The Honda Civic 8th Gen is the most reliable used commuter car on the market — 45% reach 250k miles and average repair costs are $368 per year.

Scores last updated: January 1, 2025

Score breakdown

90/ 100Reliability×2.5 92/ 100True Annual Cost×3.0 90/ 100Safety×2.0 81/ 100Practicality×1.5 100/ 100Repairability×1.0

58/ 100Long-Distance Comfort

48/ 100Enthusiast Appeal

Best reliability and repairability scores on the list. True annual cost is excellent. Practicality limits the composite — small trunk, no features.

Our take

What it really is

The most reliable commuter car sold in America during this era. The R18 and K20 engines will run 250k miles on regular maintenance.

Why it's on this list

A 45% chance of reaching 250k miles, $368 average annual repair cost, and parts available at any auto store. It is the benchmark for ownership cost.

The honest trade-offs

No driver assistance technology. The 2006 first-year and some 2008 automatics have reported issues. Interior material quality is basic. The Si is fun but costs more to insure.

What to buy and what to avoid

The 2009, 2010, or 2011 1.8L EX with a 5-speed manual. Avoid the 2006 first year. Check for AC compressor noise and test the power windows.

Annual cost of ownership

Regular fuel. One of the lowest annual cost vehicles on the entire list.

Fuel (12k mi)

$1,350 (USD)^[5]

Maintenance

$368 (USD)^[1]

Tires (prorated)

$400 (USD)

Insurance (25yr male)

$1,180 (USD)^[8]

Insurance (40yr female)

$980 (USD)^[8]

Total (25yr male)

$2,008 (USD)

Total (40yr female)

$1,808 (USD)

Key specs

MPG combined

31^[5]

MPG city / hwy

26 / 34^[5]

Tank

13.2 gal^[5]

Engine

1.8L I4 / 2.0L I4 (Si)

Horsepower

140 hp

Torque

128 lb-ft

Seats

Cargo (behind 2nd row)

12.5 cu ft

Cargo max

12.5 cu ft

Tow capacity

0 lbs

Ground clearance

5.4"

Stock tires

195/65R15

Body

Sedan (trunk)

Rear seats

60/40 split

Also available in coupe. The score reflects the primary body style listed above.

Safety

NHTSA overall

5/5 ★^[2]

Rollover risk

19%^[2]

IIHS rating

Good^[4]

ESC standard

Driver assists

None standard

Rust vulnerability

Overall severity

Minimal

Frame rust risk

Minimal

Salt belt impact

Moderate

Door panels can rust in heavy salt belt use. Rocker panels worth inspecting on older examples. Generally excellent corrosion resistance.

Known issues by mileage

60,000-100,000 Miles (97,000-161,000 KM)

AC compressor failureModerate$1,000 (USD)

Most common repair. $800-1,200 at a shop.

60,000-100,000 Miles (97,000-161,000 KM)

Engine mount wearMinor$300 (USD)

Vibration at idle. Common on high-mileage automatics.

60,000-100,000 Miles (97,000-161,000 KM)

Power window regulator failureMinor$200 (USD)

Window falls into door. Common Honda failure, cheap to fix.

Best and worst years

Best years

2009Refined suspension; strong reliability record; best value year
2010No known model-specific issues; excellent reliability
2011Final year; all issues addressed; great long-term record

Years to avoid

2006First year; some auto transmission issues reported
2008Some automatic transmission complaints; inspect before buying

Reliability data

RepairPal annual cost

$368 (USD)^[1]

Industry avg annual cost

$652 (USD)^[1]

RepairPal rating

4.5/5^[1]

Unscheduled visits/yr

0.2^[1]

Severe issue probability

9%^[1]

250k-mile survival

45%^[7]

Repairability

Headlight type

Halogen

DIY replacement cost

$15 (USD)

At major retailer

Yes

Headlight benchmark

10/10

Some of the cheapest and most widely available parts of any car. DIY-friendly engine layout.

References

Sources used to research and score this vehicle. Superscript numbers in the sections above link here.

[1]dataset
RepairPal
Annual maintenance cost, reliability rating, unscheduled visit frequency, severe issue probability
[2]government
NHTSA Crash Test Ratings
Overall crash test stars, rollover risk %, rollover stars, frontal and side ratings
[3]government
NHTSA Technical Service Bulletins
Manufacturer-acknowledged technical issues and dealer fixes
[4]dataset
IIHS Safety Ratings
Small overlap, side impact, overall safety rating, Top Safety Pick status
[5]government
EPA Fuel Economy Guide
MPG city/highway/combined, fuel grade required, tank size
[6]forum thread
CarComplaints
Most complained-about model years, common failure patterns by year and mileage band
[7]dataset
iSeeCars Long-Term Reliability
250k-mile survival rate, depreciation curve, best age to buy used
[8]publication
Bankrate / Insurify Insurance Estimates
Insurance cost estimates by vehicle class and driver profile

Before you buy

Looking to buy a Honda Civic?

Start with our fully customized pre-purchase inspection checklist for you or your mechanic. Three versions: one for buyers who are not mechanics, one for enthusiasts with tools, one for handing off to a professional. Print or save as PDF.

Get the checklist