Honda Civic sedan 2005-2011 used car review
The Honda Civic offers excellent refinement and handling. It also feels very well built.
The Honda Civic offers excellent refinement and handling. It also feels very well built. The ride is firm for this kind of car.
This Civic is the eighth generation of Honda’s long-running top model. It shares the name of the hatchback version but it is a very different vehicle, with different engines, transmissions, interior and styling. All models are well specified – even the New Zealand-new base model gets premium features.
Inside and out
The Civic sedan looks modern for its age. The headlights are very sculpted and feature projector-style lenses. A single strip of chrome in the grille houses the Honda badge. The taillights are very large and include two huge round brake lights for better visibility. The car has a high boot lid for extra interior space.
This was the first Civic with the innovative dashboard layout the brand still uses today. It splits the gauges into two – with the speedometer, temperature and fuel gauge on top and the rev counter and other information displayed below. The idea is that you don’t need to take your eyes far off the road to read your speed.
The stereo and climate controls are on a section of the dash that comes out towards the driver and is easier to reach. The transmission shifter and handbrake are also higher than normal for the same reason. A handy touch in the passenger footwell is a hook to prevent bags sliding around.
The front seats are reasonably comfortable. They lack much side bolstering, which means they don’t offer much support if you corner quickly. Conversely, the rear seat is quite sculpted and narrow, which means it will not be comfortable for three adults. The centre position will be best for children. Legroom is excellent for a small car.
For a small sedan, the Civic has a healthy-sized boot at 450 litres, big enough for two large and two medium suitcases. The opening is broad and low, so loading items into the boot is easy. The rear seats can fold down for additional space; the rear bench is dropped using a pair of handles in the boot.
On the road
This car is fun to drive. Three engine options are available with this generation Civic sedan: 1.8-litre and 2-litre four-cylinder petrol engines, and a 1.3-litre petrol-electric hybrid. The non-hybrid models get five-speed manual and automatic options, and the hybrid uses a CVT automatic.
The Type R uses a highly tuned version of the 2-litre paired with a six-speed manual. Our review vehicle uses the 1.8-litre engine which produces 104kW and 174Nm. It performs reasonably well and, even with a full load of people on board, doesn’t struggle with hills. We were impressed with how quiet it was. The transmission shifts well and you can change it manually if you prefer.
Handling is good, with lots of grip and quick, responsive steering. The brakes also perform well. The steering can feel a little artificial – the wheel wants to return back to the centre position. The ride is a let-down – it’s unusually firm for a small family car. Honda reportedly improved in the model’s later years.
Visibility in all directions is reasonable from the driver’s seat and the boot lid is high enough that you can see where it is when reversing. We think most drivers will not need a reversing camera.
Honda lists only the one towing weight for this generation Accord – up to 1,000kg braked, a small trailer boat. The manual version can pull an additional 200kg.
Safety
The Honda Civic sedan (2006-2011) is listed on RightCar with a four-star ANCAP rating. Safety specifications for New Zealand-new versions are high. Our review vehicle features driver, passenger, side and curtain airbags. Anti-lock braking, electronic brake-force distribution and electronic stability control are also fitted. Japanese import cars feature only front airbags and antilock braking as standard.
Our review car had no ISOFIX child seat points, with only tether points available, mounted on the parcel shelf. The centre seat has a full shoulder-style seatbelt, which offers more protection than a lap-only type.
Reliability
This generation of Civic is considered to be very durable. The engine uses a timing chain that will not need regular replacement. Honda engines are particularly sensitive to the need for regular and correct service intervals and procedures. Sludge build-up can cause issues with the advanced variable valve timing systems.
Replacement second-hand panel and trim parts cost a lot to source in New Zealand for later model Hondas. We recommend you have comprehensive insurance and leave repairs, in the event of a minor fender-bender, to your insurers.
There have been some problems with the quality of the paint which can be soft and prone to scratching. The red colour is also known to fade and peel. Carefully inspect the paint on any car you are considering because some vendors can temporarily cover the issue with a cut and polish.
Cost of ownership
Honda recommends servicing the Civic every 12 months or 10,000km, whichever comes first. A Honda dealer quoted us $330 for that service. Every three years you need to replace the brake fluid for $90 and the transmission fluid for $140.
RightCar estimates that over 14,000km of driving a year, a Civic will cost $2,020 a year to fuel. At $2 a litre, the 50-litre tank will cost $100 to fill and should take you 555km before the fuel light comes on.
A vehicle licence for a 2006 Civic is $76.92 a year, with the car in the cheapest ACC levy group.
Trade Me Insurance estimates insurance for a car valued at $8,160 will cost $45.75* per month. This is $3 more expensive than a Toyota Corolla.
Buyers' guide
On Trade Me, Honda Civics range from $5,000 to $17,000 for lower mileage vehicles. The Type R is worth more than double that of a standard car and can fetch as high as $55,000 for special edition versions.
New Zealand new models
- S - Features alloy wheels, climate control air-conditioning, front, side and curtain airbags, electronic stability control, electric windows, CD-player stereo, steering wheel audio controls and cruise control.
- S Sport - Adds leather upholstery, rear spoiler, reversing sensors, sunroof and fog lights.
- Hybrid - As per the S Sport but without the leather.
Japanese models
- B - Features steel wheels, manual air-conditioning, front airbags, electric windows and CD-player stereo.
- G - Adds alloy wheels, climate control air-conditioning, front fog lights and steering wheel controls for the stereo.
- GL - Similar to G but with tan interior and reversing camera.
- S - Similar to New Zealand-new S Sport.
- R - Sports version, with performance suspension, high-output engine, body kit, sports seats, alloy wheels, rear spoiler, start/stop button and six-speed manual transmission.
- Hybrid - Same as New Zealand-new hybrid, with only front airbags standard.
Timeline
- 2005 Launched globally
- 2007 Type R version launched
- 2009 Given a subtle facelift inside and out
- 2011 Replaced by new model
Details
2006 Honda Civic 1.8S
$5,500 to $15,000 for models which have travelled 70,000 to 120,000km
1.8-litre four-cylinder, 104kW/174Nm (claimed)
Five-speed automatic, front-wheel drive
Four-star ANCAP rating
10,000km or 12 months
Space saver
7.2-litres per 100km (claimed)
Regular
4488mm
1753mm
1435mm
1000kg (braked)
10m
This review covers the Honda Civic for model years 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011.
Review vehicle supplied by Turners Cars.
*Our insurance estimates are based on a 35-year-old male with no accidents in the last two years, garaging the car in Mission Bay, Auckland. The car is not used for business and will cover 10,000km to 20,000km a year. We estimate with no option add-ons and $500 excess. Customise your estimate at Trade Me Insurance.
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