10 Reasons the 2018 Honda Civic is the AutoWeb Buyer’s Choice Best Car of the Year

2018 Honda Civic Hatchback hero ・ Photo by Honda

The 2018 Honda Civic is a two-time winner: Not only did it win our AutoWeb Buyer's Choice Compact Car award, but it's also our winner for the best car on the market — bar none. Our editorial team took to this latest version of the Civic as soon as it was introduced as a 2016 model, the same year it won the prestigious North American Car of the Year award.

As its two AutoWeb Buyer's Choice awards prove, car shoppers were equally fond of it. What makes the 2018 Civic such a standout among its peers? Let's take a closer look.

10) The 2018 Honda Civic will last a long, long time.

Honda built its reputation on reliable cars, and in all the years it's been selling vehicles in the United States, that hasn't changed. The Civic's assembly quality is exquisite, and we've no doubt that it will remain squeak- and rattle-free throughout its service life.

There's no such thing as a sure thing, but a Honda car comes close: We've heard anecdotes about Civics in lasting for 250,000 miles or more with minimal problems, and it's likely that a well-cared-for 2018 model, with its maintenance intervals followed religiously, will lead just such a trouble-free life.

Photo by Honda

9) The 2018 Honda Civic will keep its buyers entertained.

All 2018 Honda Civics except the base LX model get a touchscreen stereo display, and all get Bluetooth phone/audio connectivity and steering wheel-mounted controls. Base models get a 160-watt sound system. Pricier Civics get upgraded to an eight-speaker 180-watt system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity and SiriusXM satellite radio, while top-of-the-line models get a premium 10-speaker 450-watt system with integrated navigation.

Photo by Honda

8) The 2018 Honda Civic is crash-worthy.

The Civic does a good job protecting its occupants in a collision. Not only does it get a perfect five-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, but the 2018 Civic aced all of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's crash tests, including the exceptionally difficult small-overlap frontal collisions. These strong IIHS and NHTSA scores should give drivers confidence. 

Photo by Honda

7) The 2018 Honda Civic is serious about crash-prevention.

Many automakers skimp on safety in their base models; people simply don't expect to get the latest-and-greatest safety hardware when they buy an entry-level car. Honda believes that everyone should have access to advanced safety gear, which is why its Honda Sensing package — which includes collision detection with automatic braking, lane- and road-departure detection with steering assistance, and adaptive cruise control — is optional or standard on all Civic models.

We also love the LaneWatch camera, standard on most Civics, which mounts a wide-angle camera on the right-side mirror that displays on the center screen when the driver uses the right turn signal. It provides a better field of view than you get from looking over your shoulder, and it makes lane changes on busy freeways a breeze. And the Civic's agility is also a safety feature, as its nimble, responsive handling makes it easy to steer around trouble.

Photo by Honda

6) The 2018 Honda Civic has great engines.

Small-displacement turbocharged engines are all the rage; they (supposedly) offer comparable or greater power to bigger engines, while using less gas when cruising. But many of them provide weak low-end power, and trying to make a quick start — say, when making a left turn in busy traffic — can be downright nerve-wracking.

The Civic's optional 1.5-liter turbo shows the others how it's done: It doesn't suffer from "turbo lag," and in fact its low-end power characteristics are very similar to the base model's 2.0-liter non-turbocharged engine. That's one heck of an accomplishment. And speaking of the base engine, it's a gem as well. It's slightly larger than the unit in the old (pre-2016) Civic, and experienced owners will appreciate the added mid-range torque, which helps when merging onto busy freeways or passing on a two-lane road.

Photo by Honda

5) The 2018 Honda Civic is a joy to drive.

Honda made its name building cars that felt nimble and light on their feet. The previous generation of the Civic was starting to feel a bit overweight and lazy, but today's model gets back to Honda's roots — it's a pleasure to drive.

Buyers who want something even sportier will love the Civic Si or Type R, which get more powerful engines, sharper suspensions (now with driver-selectable modes), and racier styling. These models come exclusively with a manual transmission, a signal from Honda that it's are serious about keeping its enthusiast customers happy.

Photo by Honda

4) The 2018 Honda Civic has a great interior.

Few compact cars treat their back-seat passengers as well as the latest Civic. There's also plenty of room for luggage, with the sedan's trunk measuring up to a generous 15.1 cubic feet — very large compared to most of its compact-car competitors — and a useful hatchback also on offer. Thanks to some creative packaging, the Civic offers more headroom than you might expect given its long, low profile, and that holds true for back-seat passengers as well as front-seaters.

The design is great, too — slick and modern, yet easy to learn and mostly easy to use. While we didn't mind the split-level dashboard of the old pre-2016 Civic, the new car's instrument panel is clean, contemporary and handsome.

Photo by Honda

3) The 2018 Honda Civic is a looker.

No question, this is one of the best-looking Civics we've seen in many years. We love the slick hatchback-like styling of the sedan, which echoes many of the so-called “four-door coupes” being offered by German luxury manufacturers. Not everyone will love the looks of the true five-door hatchback, which we find slightly "boy-racer" like, but it's unquestionably useful and easy to park. 

Honda is also one of the few automakers that still makes a two-door compact coupe, and if you want the slickest-looking Civic, that's the one to get. Back-seat access is a bit more tricky than the four-door, but the coupe offers plenty of passenger space and a decent trunk as well.

Photo by Honda

2) You get a lot of 2018 Honda Civic for your money.

With prices starting at $18,740, the Civic isn't exactly the least expensive car in this segment; in fact, its entry-level price is among the highest of its competitive set. But unlike some older Civics, which were downright mean, the least-expensive 2018 Civic is brimming with standard features, including a rear-view camera, power windows and locks, automatic climate control, and Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity.

The base car comes with a manual transmission (a gem of a unit for those who love clutch pedals), but while some compacts gouge for an automatic transmission, Honda asks a reasonable $800. The top-of-the-line Civic Touring is loaded with luxury features including leather upholstery, a premium stereo, navigation, the Honda Sensing safety suite, and heated front and rear seats, all for a down-to-earth $26,600.

Photo by Honda

1) The 2018 Honda Civic is the right size for a lot of car buyers.

For many car buyers, the Honda Civic is the perfect size. Though technically a compact, the current iteration offers the same stretch-out room as mid-sized cars from just a few years ago. That makes it a great car for growing families, as there is enough room to easily maneuver babies into car seats and adequate legroom for ever-growing teens.

But the Civic is not a big car: Thanks to Honda's “man maximum, machine minimum” design philosophy, which dictates stretching out the cabin and squeezing down the mechanical bits, the Civic's exterior dimensions are tiny enough that it offers the easy parking and handling of a small car. That puts the Civic right in the sweet spot: big enough for families and small enough for singles.

Photo by Honda