The Honda Civic is a series of automobiles manufactured by Honda since 1972. As of 2023 it sits between the Fit/City and the Accord in Honda’s global line-up, and it is one of the best-selling automobiles in history, with more than 27 million units sold through 2021.
Honda Civic at a glance
| Maker | Honda |
|---|---|
| Production | since 1972 |
| First model | July 1972, two-door fastback |
| First hatchback | September 1972, three doors |
| First engine | 1,169 cc transverse, front-wheel drive |
| Sold through 2021 | more than 27 million |
| Generations | eleven, the latest since 2021 |
| Sport versions | Si, SiR and Type R |
| Derived models | CR-X, CR-X del Sol, Concerto, Prelude, Shuttle, CR-V |
| Position | between Fit/City and Accord |
| Longest-running Honda car | yes, ahead of the Accord |
Based on one source, the English Wikipedia article on the Civic.
History of the Honda Civic
A small car with space
The first-generation Civic was introduced in July 1972 as a two-door fastback sedan, followed that September by a three-door hatchback. With a 1,169 cc transverse engine and front-wheel drive, it provided good interior space despite its small overall dimensions, and it soon gained a reputation for being fuel-efficient, reliable and environmentally friendly.
Sportiness and derivatives
Later iterations became known for performance and sportiness, especially the Civic Si, SiR and Type R versions. The Civic has often been rebadged for international markets and served as the basis for the Honda CR-X, the CR-X del Sol, the Concerto, the first-generation Prelude, the Civic Shuttle, which later became the Orthia, and the CR-V, which in turn formed the basis of the FR-V.
A design of its time
The Civic became an influential design of the 1970s alongside the Volkswagen Golf of 1974, the Ford Fiesta of 1976 and the Fiat Ritmo of 1978, following the Renault 5 introduced six months earlier. The car is currently in its eleventh generation, produced since 2021, and is Honda’s longest-running passenger car nameplate, ahead of the Accord.
Design and features
- Transverse engine, front-wheel drive: the layout of the original and every Civic since.
- Space-efficient package: the reason for its early success.
- Sporting versions: Si, SiR and Type R over the years.
- Platform donor: the base for several other Honda models.
Honda Civic versions
- First generation (1972): two-door fastback and three-door hatchback.
- Si and SiR: the sporting versions of the range.
- Type R: the high-performance Civic.
- Eleventh generation (2021): the current car.
The Civic is the base of the CR-X, CR-V and CR-X del Sol, and sits below the Accord. More Hondas are in the Honda collection.
Sources
- Honda Civic, English Wikipedia: history, sales, generations, derived models
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