Why Are Honda Civics So Popular?
Written by DriveAxis.ca December 22, 2021
No other car has captivated the hearts of Canadian drivers quite like the Honda Civic. Since this car debuted in 1973, it has continued to perform well in sales, hitting its annual high of 71,479 in 2008 and reaching a total of 1.3 million units sold over a 20-year span.
Honda Civics enjoy a high reputation among consumers as an enduring product that continues to improve with each new generation. As it inches towards its 50th year on the Canadian market, we thought it prudent to explain the reasons why it is such a popular car.
Here are ten reasons why the Honda Civic continues to be so popular among Canadian drivers.
1. Attractive Design
We know that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and that some readers may take offense at calling the Honda Civic an “attractive” car. At the same time, it’s worth leading off a discussion about the Civic’s popularity by talking about one of this car’s more distinctive features.
First conceived as a modest compact, the Honda Civic’s meteoric rise to prominence has seen it evolve into a fun compact with a decidedly more sporty flair. With its chiseled aesthetic, the Civic modern look has carved out a distinctive niche in the style department that has made it a hit with mainstream consumers.
Love it or hate it, the Civic has its own specific look, something that has endeared it with Canadian drivers.
2. Safe and Stable
Even in a market that shows its preference for larger cars, the comparatively smaller Honda Civic is still well known for being a safe car to drive. The Civic continues to perform well on safety ratings, regularly receiving five stars for its sedan model. In fact, Honda’s sedan, coupe, and hatchback have all been chosen as top safety picks by the IIHS for 2020.
To add to this, Honda has gone ahead and made its Honda Sensing safety technology standard on all Civics. This means that all new Civics will come equipped with safety features such as lane-keeping assist, road departure mitigation, and pedestrian detection with automatic braking.
Peace of mind can be a hard sell with some vehicles, but it’s definitely part of the package with the Honda Civic.
3. Affordable
The Honda Civic features a relatively low cost as a personal vehicle, making it a hit with budget-minded commuters. The 2022 Civic LX has been revealed to have a $24,465 CAD price tag, putting it at a higher price point than competitors like the Kia Forte and the Toyota Corolla. However, the Civic makes up for the expense with better performance, a fancier interior, and other features you’ll be reading next on this list.
4. High Resale Value
If buying a good car at a great price wasn’t enough, the Honda Civic turns the market on its head with incredibly high resale value that make them sought after as investments. By retaining their after market value well, Honda Civics are in the enviable position of being high in demand for both the new and used car market.
5. Reliability
When it comes to cars, consumers will often agree that they want a vehicle that won’t just take them from Point A to Point B, but will do so reliably on a daily basis. And when it comes to reliability, the Honda Civic continues to perform admirably, continually earning “better” reliability ratings from Consumer Reports throughout the past generation.
And it’s not just critical acclaim, either. Word-of-mouth has done wonders for the Honda Civic, making its reliability an oft-quoted talking point for many conversations.
6. Fuel Efficient
Even though the Civic has evolved into a sportier incarnation of its previous life as a compact car, it has never forgotten its roots as a fuel-efficient car. Although its performance has emerged as one of its strong suits, the Honda Civic continues to do very well on fuel consumption, offering a rate of 6.9 L/100 km for an estimated yearly gas bill of $1,794.
7. Engineering
The Honda Civic continually offers a high standard on performance, safety and efficiency throughout its many iterations, and that’s because its engineering continues to improve with each new generation.
Never one to rest on their laurels, the engineers at Honda dared to unveil each new generation with more new changes. By tinkering with their winning formula, Honda has continued to improve on excellence, making the Civic nothing short of an engineering beauty.
8. Aftermarket Mods
Due to its high market availability and the opportunities offered by its lightweight chassis, the Honda Civic is one of the most tuned cars in the world. It is extremely popular with tuners, and enjoys being the focus of numerous aftermarket mods that can turn a factory showroom model into a beast on the streets.
Although this is something that may not impact mainstream drivers, the modding community has definitely made its presence felt with the Honda Civic, leading to even more popularity for this crossover vehicle.
9. Retail Exclusivity
Honda Civics are a ubiquitous sight throughout the world, but one place you will never see a Civic is within a taxi stand. That’s because Honda Civics can never be used as taxi cabs.
Warranties for Honda Civics will be voided if the vehicles are ever used for public utility or other commercial purposes. As explained by Honda executives, the Japanese car manufacturer’s strategy is to prioritize their customer's ownership experience of their vehicles over non-retail sales. According to this source, this retail exclusivity is part of the reason why Civics enjoy such a high resale value.
10. Customer Satisfaction
Civics have changed so much over the years, but the one thing that hasn’t changed is the way they satisfy customers. Over each new generation, the Civic has continued to please its target base with new features that complement older ones. Even though the newest version bears no resemblance to its first-year models, the Civic has continued to find its own customer base, evolving to give them what they want.
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