Used Honda Civic for sale near Darlington

CarGurus expert rating: 4 out of 5
CarGurus user rating: 4.7 out of 5
Percentage of good/great deals available on CarGurus: 31.7%
Overall CarGurus rating:* 4.4 out of 5
Available Listings: Around 800
Average Price: Around £12,000

Honda Civic (2016-2021) Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
Dependable family transport	Frustrating infotainment
The Type R hot hatch is tremendous fun	Interior quality could be better
Choice of frugal engines	Regular models are rather ordinary to drive

Quick Summary

The Honda Civic (2016-2021), the tenth generation of this iconic family hatchback, offers flamboyant styling, a roomy five-door cabin, and a generous 478-litre boot. Available with turbocharged 1.0-litre and 1.5-litre petrol engines or a 1.6-litre diesel, the Civic delivers strong performance and excellent fuel economy. The manual gearbox is a pleasure to use, and the car strikes a happy balance between easy motorway manners, supple ride comfort, and grippy handling. Five trim levels cater to different needs, with SR trim offering the best value proposition.

Running costs are impressively low, with the diesel returning over 60mpg and the 1.0-litre petrol achieving 45-50mpg in real-world driving. Insurance groups are competitive at 15-22, and the Civic comes with an extensive suite of standard safety equipment. However, the infotainment system is underwhelming, interior quality feels patchy compared to rivals, and regular models lack the excitement of competitors. The explosive Type R variant offers a usable, unflappable daily driver with genuine performance credentials, though at a premium cost.

Best for: Budget-conscious buyers seeking dependable family transport, those prioritising fuel economy and safety equipment, and performance enthusiasts considering the Type R hot hatch.

Not ideal for: Those wanting premium interior quality, cutting-edge infotainment, or engaging driving dynamics in standard models, or buyers seeking the finest handling in the family hatchback class.


Comparison vs Key Rivals



The Verdict

You should buy the Civic if: You're seeking dependable family transport, prioritising fuel economy and safety equipment, or considering the Type R hot hatch for genuine performance.

Consider alternatives if: You want premium interior quality, cutting-edge infotainment, engaging driving dynamics in standard models, or the finest handling in the family hatchback class.

Competitive Position: The Honda Civic (2016-2021) is a worthy and practical family car that drives well and offers some of the most frugal engines in its class, along with comprehensive standard safety equipment. However, it faces stiff competition from the Volkswagen Golf and Ford Focus, which offer superior infotainment systems, better interior quality, and more engaging driving dynamics. The Civic's major weakness is its underwhelming infotainment and patchy interior finish, which make it feel slightly lagging compared to rivals. Nevertheless, for budget-conscious buyers seeking dependable transport with low running costs, the Civic remains a sensible choice, particularly in SR trim or above. The Type R variant stands out as a genuinely exciting performance option.

Read our full Honda Civic Review

*The Overall CarGurus rating: that informs these recommendations is based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from April 2026, CarGurus expert reviews, and CarGurus user reviews.