Honda Civic 8th Gen (2006-2011)
Verified110 reviews
In-depth reviews
Sports Car Looks and Performance – I have owned the Type R since I purchased it new in 2009, it was a stunning looking sports car then, and still is as this body style has not aged and still looks current with today's cars, it's always a pleasure to drive as it is certainly a driver's car with spirited and very responsive acceleration, as soon as you sit in the comfortable seat you… Read more
feel part of the car as it cocoons firmly around your back and shoulders, the small racing steering wheel is thick to hold and looks the part to complement the sporting feel of the car.
It is certainly not the most economical car petrol wise, but allowing for the sports car performance from the Type R that is understandable, for touring though, I do find the petrol economy quite acceptable and it has never been an issue for me, as it is a large fuel tank and the distance travelled between fill-ups is quite comparable to most other cars.
The Type R has been serviced regularly by my local Honda dealer and it runs just as smoothly now as it did 11 years ago when new, I'm very happy with the Honda Type R and have never had any regrets about purchasing it, I have no plans of letting it go any time soon as I still enjoy driving this car, it is solidly built, has also been very reliable and never let me down as you would expect from a Honda.
Summing up, I would say that the Honda Type R is the best quality car that I have owned to date, and would recommend this model to anyone who is looking for an upmarket car with good performance, reliability, and modern European styling. I should add that the interior matches the spirit of the car and looks great too.
2008 Honda Civic - Lots to like, if you can live with the really loud road noise and other irritating short comings – My family and I recently purchased a used 2008 Honda Civic VTI-L after a job promotion required us getting a second car. One reason for this purchase was the vehicle was in excellent condition for its age and Honda's reputation for making reliable, good quality cars. This review is based on three months of ownership and 7,000 kilometres of… Read more
travel.
Our model is the mid-spec version that came with a 5 speed manual, electric instrumentation, front and rear power windows, cruise control, 6 CD stacker, auxiliary port to plug in a MP3, cigarette lighter, which can be used to charge mobile phones and run GPS systems, plenty of storage compartments for one's goodies and a full size spare wheel. Surprisingly it doesn't come with variable, intermittent windscreen wipers or fog lights. For a mid spec car, this is disappointing.
The funky, space age design of the instrument cluster takes a little getting used to and may not be to everyone's taste. The large digital speedo, fuel and temperature gauges are housed in a separate, split section area high on the dash above where they would normally sit, with a very large tacho below, in the area the normal speedo of most cars are. Personally I like it, now I've got used to the set up. Its quirkiness is very practical, as it's very clear and directly in your line of vision. This means you don't have to take your eyes of the road as much or as often. It terms of clarity and safety, it's a big tick there.
To date the engine has started straight away every time and is smooth and quite in operation once it has warmed up. While the 1.8 litre motor is no performance demon, there certainly is no issue with cruising on the highway at 110km/h. There is a good balance between power and fuel economy. Speaking of which, the fuel economy has been excellent, returning around 7.0 litres/100km of mainly highway driving between Taree and Laurieton, on the mid north coast of NSW and poking about around town.
So far I have found the climate controlled air conditioner/heater to be fantastic. The car is parked outside overnight and I have found even on colder mornings, it heats the interior of the car within a couple of minutes. The air conditioning has been excellent even on the hottest of days, cooling the interior of the car very quickly. The temperature gauge is a nifty and helpful addition, which allows you to set it exactly what you want, so there's another tick for the practicality of the design.
The Honda Civic is a very spacious little number for a small car with reasonably comfortable bucket seats up front. Even though I'm the only person in the car for the majority of the time, it has plenty of room for four adults. There a deep and generous boot for your luggage or the weekly shopping bags to sit in and the rear seats can be folded down to increase this or carry longer items. I particularly like all the storage compartments throughout the car to store ones small items like mobile phone, wallet and house keys. There are also a couple of cup holders in the centre console, perfect for a man like me who enjoys his daily cappuccino while driving to and from work. I certainly can't complain about the storage, which is very impressive for a smallish car.
Now I'm going to mention a few points about the car that isn't so good. In short, the noise, vibration and harshness of the vehicle is quite poor and unacceptable for a company like Honda, who has a reputation for building wonderful cars. The biggest and most annoying thing I have found is the amount of road noise that infiltrates into the cabin. Even around town it is terrible and is a loud place to be. Out on the highway it really is intrusive and VERY noticeable. While it isn't quite a deal breaker, I can see it being an ongoing irritant and influencing if we'd buy another Honda in future.
The ride and handling are a bit dusty as well. To me, it seems Honda couldn't get the balance of the suspension set up quite right. Even on the smooth, dual lane highway surface of the Pacific Highway between Taree and Sydney, the car's handling seems a little unsettled. It just bounces around a bit too much for my liking, which affects the handling. This is not helped by the vague steering. Around town it is fine, but on the highway, cruising at 100km/h, it lacks feedback, which isn't the best situation to be in and not very reassuring. The fact that the headlights are not quite bright enough for night time cruising exacerbates these problems, with the low beam being especially poor.
The manual gearbox can be a bit notchy at times as well. I have found myself having difficulty finding second gear on the change down from third. It also has a high take up point, meaning you need to let the clutch out almost the whole travel before it engages. You do get used to this over a few days and then it ceases to be a problem. That said, it may be a case of me getting used to driving a manual again, after many years running around in our automatic transmission Holden Commodore.
All in all there is a lot to like about the mid-spec 2008 Honda Civic VTL-L. If you want a quirky, reliable and economical runabout vehicle, you can do a lot worse than this car. It has many practical features, excellent fuel economy, adequate performance and lots of space for a small car, which are all big, positive ticks. However there are downsides too. If you plan to use it for a lot of highway or longer trips, you will need to decide if you can live with the short comings I've mentioned.
After 9 years still enjoying every drive – I purchased this car from new and it has not let me down. I have done over 165000 kms and it still drives and feels like the day I drove it out of the show room. It has been ultra reliable no issues except for a noisy rearwheel bearing which was replaced under warranty. I love the driving dynamics of this car the 2 litre engine and the precision… Read more
manual transmission which is a joy to use . Both the engine and gearbox are smooth and quite no oil leaks to speak of. I average 7.5 litres per 100 kms which is excellent. The suspension system and 17 inch wheel offers high levels of grip make the car a joy to drive. The brakes are also great to use, Iam still on the original brake pads, I have had only machined the disks.With regular washing and polishing the paint is still in excellent condition except for minor paint chips.I have no reason to replace this car it is simply all you would expect from the Honda brand if you are willing to do the all important scheduled maintenance.
Recent reviews
Awnsome – Great car Runs great Everything is great I’m happy 10/10 :) Show reply
Great 1st Car - it will be missed! – Just traded in my used 2007 Honda Civic VTI-L Auto between 2019 and 2023. I only used the car to drive short distances around Brisbane for work/errands each day or so. Since the day I test drove it, it drove like it was new. It has a quiet engine and is well-insulated from road noise, and it is a smooth ride (in my opinion). Considering the age,… Read more
having AUX, cruise control and auto climate control was great too! Loved the split dash design and digital speedometer. Practically, it is as good as a small sedan could be. I found it very easy to manoeuvre with minimal blindspots and a short bonnet.
In my time of owning this vehicle, it never failed me. It started every time and drove really nicely despite its age. I serviced it every 6 months during ownership.
I did not have many dislikes or major issues with this car. The only small thing I personally wasn't fond of was the front seats, which were pretty firm and not comfortable for long drives, but the back seats were really comfortable. Also, fuel economy wasn't the greatest, and it felt a bit on the slow side but not underpowered. That being said, the car did everything that was expected and fuel economy is really subjective based on lots of variables. The reason I bring it up is that even doing freeway driving 1hr away from home, it still burned through a lot of petrol compared to my friend's Hyundai i30, which used significantly less on the same trip and has the same size engine. Also, I think the paint used on Honda's may be a bit soft. I maintained my car's exterior really, really, really well, and it was undercover 98% of the time, but I noticed in the time of owning it that the roof and boot started fading and were no longer shiny compared to the rest of the body panels. That being said, my car was nearly 17 years old so chances are these are things that just happen naturally when a car gets old.
To summarise, I would 100000000% recommend this car/Honda and would re-consider purchasing another Honda again if it came to it. For 2007, it was a very good quality car and I could only imagine that newer models would be even better. I upgraded to a 2018 Mazda 3 because my Honda Civic required expensive repairs to keep it in good condition; it was not worth it (in my opinion) when considering the car's value + age.
Very Lovely Car – Very Awesome Car. I have been using many Toyotas, Nissan and Mitsubishi and finally i thought to change my mind to Honda which was the right decision. It never let me down and will always stick with Honda Show details · 1
Still going strong – Have had if for years and still no need to upgrade
2006 Honda Civic VTi – This car has done almost 400,000 kms and it still drives like its brand new. The car has been maintained and serviced regularly every year and at every milestone. Have only had to replace the CV boot, engine mount and break light bulbs while the car has been in my possession. Parts are not too expensive and overall owning the car has been very… Read more
affordable. Its a great sized car and effective for everyday use. Would seriously consider buying another civic within the 8th gen range with lower kms because this model is reliable and stand the test of time.
2007 Honda Civic VTI – Omg I thought this car wasn't going to last more then 400,000km and it has I've had the car serviced and maintained in excellent condition for them 7years I've had it. The only problem I had was the light switch but was an easy fix. Breaks were falling apart and got that replacements but overall I wouldn't mind spending $20k for a newer edition of the car 10/10 keep doing what you do Honda very happy customer and a loyal one two now. Show details
Just love it – I have had this car from new and it is like new. Always undercover and kept in perfect order. Travelled only 80k as I’m now retired and Covid hit. I have it serviced at home every year and keep a battery maintainer on it. Show details
Did the lady know this car had a rear seat or a boot? – The Honda Civic has consistently edged out the Toyota Corolla in major awards as best light compact available. That goes for both here and the USA. Servicing is pretty frugal and readily available, with expert providers both in and out of the actual agencies. The Civic is an easy car to fall in love with. Mine must have been owned by a lady who… Read more · 2
didn't know it had a back seat. She'd certainly never been told about the boot, let alone the treasures to be found in the compartment beneath the boot's lower lid. Amazingly ahead of its twelve years, this car should delight any age group but especially the more sedate driver: a lot of thought went into the design and comfort factors. The L definitely IS for LUXURY. You might get a better car for your money, but frankly it's hard to imagine where! Five years and not an issue - like NONE!!!!
Old faithful! – Bought mine second hand with 40 000 kms on the clock. Ive had it for 8 year now and has 170 000kms on the clock, has not missed a beat. Still drives exceptionally well and has shown me why Honda's have such a great name. Show details · 1
Awesome performance – Honda has always been a class to drive. It's a low maintenance car with lots of benifits like smooth drive, low fuel consumption and high performance. Much recommended to the people Show reply
Find out how Honda Civic 8th Gen compares to other Sedans
Know better, choose better.
Great car – Brought secondhand for $500. Been the best $500 I ever spent. Paint is quiet soft and clear pealed fairly quickly however it's never broken down and never given me problems which is what you would expect from a Honda motor vehicle. Seats aren't as comfortable for longer trips but around town is great on fuel and with the manual transmission it is very zippy Show details
Fun to drive ! – I had purchased this car brand new from Honda in the UK. With only 2k on the clock I had to sell for half the price as I relocated to Australia. After 6 years here I re purchased the Honda Civic FN2 Type R. It was a much older model than what I had before but this one had a few extras, such as the sunroof which is kinda noisy. Speaking of noise,… Read more
I have to admit that these models were so noisy in many areas, why??
Lots of creaking, hard suspension causing banging and so on. If you just play your music loud enough, you live through it and enjoy the car for what it is.
The gears / clutches seem to have an issue, mainly with 3rd gear. I had this issue in both the cars, worse in my current I guess due to age. Can’t count how many times I’ve grinded that gear.
None the less, I still love it.
Honda Civic ticking boxes but not lighting up the sky – Family car, school run, work, city driving you name it the Civic does it all. It has plenty of space and fuel economy is great. The engine seems to lag a little when accelerating and runs longer when coming off the gas. Handling is good but not superb and just lets the car down a little. The spec inside with apple car play and other blue tooth… Read more
devices is excellent allowing connectivity with the phone as well as rear view camera ability. Most of all the wife loves the car, however it just isn't a drivers car for me but does tick a lot of boxes very well indeed
So Reliable – Great car, purchased this car brand new in 2006. The vehicle now has travelled 170000 kms and have not needed any repairs and the only money i have spent is only on consumables and services. Great fuel economy 550-600 kms from 50 litres using 95 ron. Show details
Great car – Very happy with my Honda. More then ten years no repair. Only battery and windscreen wiper blades. Tyres lasted me more then 67000km. when I do short runs under 10km back it’s uses about 9.5 to 10.2 lites per 100km. for a little car it’s bit too much. I have asked to mechanic he said short runs car doesn’t heat up. Went to Sydney from Brisbane amazing mileages 5.5 litres per 100 km. It’s been reliable car so far Show details
One of the best medium-sized sedans out there – Pros: -Quick steering and firm handling -Simple interior (some people might prefer this) -Durable and reliable -Quick acceleration for a 1.8L engine -Great fuel economy (~8l/100km) -Cheap maintenance -Smooth gear shifting -Can run on E10 Cons: -Noticeable cabin noise on the freeway -Legroom might not fit some people -Suspension is a little stiff -Thick A pillar can obstruct view when turning Show details
Good one but a thirsty car – I am using Honda Civic Sport MY07 for more than an year after purchasing a used one from Brighton Honda. It was 63000 on the clock and was in utter topmost condition even after 10 years, being used single handedly by a lady. Being an avid fan of Honda brand I bought it without giving a second thought. The car is an absolute pleasure to drive,… Read more
super smooth and gives that confidence to steer around anywhere. The only disappointment which is not a deal breaker though, it gulps a lot of fuel. I drive around 400 kms on a full tank which is pretty massive for 2 Litre engine or may be I just do not drive in an ideal manner. Whatever it may be, I love my car for making me feel and the confidence it generates, which is all what matters to me.
PERFECT – So far the car has been great as the leather seats, sunroof, Bluetooth and great engine at under $10k. Hondas are generally robust and reliable and the Civic is no different, It's well engineered and well built, which flows through to its use in the hands of owners. Few issues like the battery will run out if the aircon is on while the car engine is not running. Show details
Best car ever! I keep thinking I should update but – Love this car. I can't believe how many k's I have done and no problems. It is a bit small for my adult very tall grandson but he manages. I would like to update but not sure I want to let this little beauty go so I can get another one. Show details
Find out how Honda Civic 8th Gen compares to other Sedans
Know better, choose better.
Good zippy sporty car – I bought this car brand new in order as I wanted the dyno blue colour. It was fast zippy and the dashboard is like flying a jet fighter. Probably the best car that I’ve driven. The only bad thing is the blind spot in the front is pretty bad, as I’ve always run over kerbs. As usual Honda sales people is just annoying and always treat people badly. Show details
Amazing car, never let me down! – Never had any mechanical problems, very roomy, economical 1.8L and fun to drive. This car has everything you need and is perfect for a first car or even a comfy and affordable family car. Stylish interior and still competitive with new cars on the market. iVTEC unit also makes it very nimble and agile Show details
Good all rounder – Decent sized engine and drives smoothly like most Japanese cars. Would recommend people picking one up for their first car, even today 2018, if you can get a good price on it obviously. The aircon is really cold too. The only problem with this car is the design where the left and right diagonal view of the driver is obstructed by the frame. You do… Read more
get used to it after a while though, just be extra careful when you're turning corners, especially where there are zebra crossings.
As reliable as Hondas get – I am on my 2nd civic sport. First one was rear ended and totalled. Bought the same model again. Like the handling, responsiveness, agility, ivtec performance for the 2 litre version. The car carries 5 people on a steep uphill with no issues. Engine likes to rev. Fuel economy could be better. Accepts e10 but it disappears quickly. Better mileage… Read more
with 98 octane despite higher price. Cheap to run Honda. Parts are abundant. And very very reliable. Highly recommended.
Disappointed for a reputable brand – My wife bought this car from a friend with only 20k kms about 4 years ago. It currently has 75k kms. At 65k we had to replace 2 of the wheel bearings - front and rear. As a result we decided to do all of them. There was also a rattle in the gearbox when cold and engaging drive from reverse. Was apparently a loose transmission cover (assembly… Read more
issue). Now there is a starter motor sound where it is not disengaging from the flywheel. Very disappointed as this car is never driven hard and serviced regularly. My suggestion is that if you are on a bugdet, buy Hyundai or if you can afford it, buy Toyota.
great car – This is great performance and nice looking car. very easy to maintain and very reliable. the only thing is the air bag needs to be recalled. but Honda is very responsible company and willing to follow up any issue of the car. Interior design is comfortable and functional. The parts are very durable. Love it. Show details
Perfect Car for me – This is a very good car, smooth to drive, responsive engine and cheap on petrol. Servicing is cheap as well and you can DIY it, it is so easy. I bought it second hand and used it for 5 years and the car still drives like new. Paint is still good except for some minor scratches and some fades but very minimal. Civic is still the best car!!! Show details
It's a Honda, enough said !!! – Personally a big fan of the Honda's, particularly the Civic. My model is bit old now but still every bit as good, solid, reliable. Every thing inside the car is very neat, not posh but good, all the buttons are where you expect them to be, just good old sensible Honda design. Driving is smooth, a bit noisy now but that's just standard wear and tear. Show details
I love it – I bought a second hand car Honda Civic last year because I had this car before and it never fails me. I like the look and also the digital dashboard and cruise control. It is good for someone that know less about car like me because it requires less maintenance and really reliable. Performance is very good. Haven't had any major issue since I bought it. Show details
9 years and going strong – I've had this car since 2008 and it has never failed me. The handling is amazing (coming off a 4wd back to civic) it feels very zippy. Engine noise is quiet and I do love the digital display on speed rather than old fashioned analogue style. The Sports has paddle shifts which is useful when overtaking or just if you feel like taking more control… Read more
of the car through tighter roads.
The front has plenty of room, the back I haven't had much complaints either.
It can get some time to get used to being such a flat car, the A-pillar can seem to get in the way at time but you'd get used to it.
Love my car – I love my car, I can't think of any cons except that the high beams are easy to accidentally turn on. I like the large digital speed dial and the car's feeling of safety. I like the shape & looks. Haven't had any problems with it at all in the year since I bought it. Show details
Nice car for a small family – Bought a second hand Honda civic a year ago and it's way better than the previous ones I have had over the years. Gives a mileage of 8L for 100 kms, but the pick up over the hills is not so great. Still loving it for within city use, but for long trips even though efficiency of fuel usage is great, still the pickup would be lacking. Show details
Type R – Very happy after a year of ownership. Have owned a number of hot hatches and have really enjoyed owning the Civic Type R. Very easy to home service, engine /gearbox oil change were very easy on this car. No problems or faults at all after 12 months of ownership. My only complaint would be that the perspex plastic on over the gauge cluster on the dash is very easily scratched/marked. Show details
ProductReview.com.au has affiliate partnerships. These do not influence our content moderation policies in any way, though ProductReview.com.au may earn commissions for products/services purchased via affiliate links.