Honda Civic History

Compact car · 1973–present

Honda's compact icon — in US sale since 1973, eleven generations deep, with celebrated Si and Type R variants.

Photo: “File:1973 Honda Civic Coupe (23433060569).jpg” by Sicnag / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.

History

Launched in the US in 1973 just as the oil crisis hit, the front-wheel-drive Civic and its clean-burning CVCC engine turned Honda into a serious American automaker.

Across eleven generations the Civic grew from a tiny economy car into one of the best-selling compacts in the US, spawning the beloved Si and, since 2017, the US-market Type R.

Generations

First generation · SB/SG (1973–1979)
1973–1979
The original Civic — a tiny, front-wheel-drive economy car that launched in the US in 1973 and made Honda a serious automaker, helped by the clean-burning CVCC engine.
Second generation · SS/SL (1980–1983)
1980–1983
Larger and more angular, with continued CVCC lean-burn engines. US model years 1980–1983.
Third generation · AH/AT (1984–1987)
1984–1987
Introduced the CRX coupe spin-off and the first US Civic Si (1986). US model years 1984–1987.
Fourth generation · EF (1988–1991)
1988–1991
Lower, wider, with double-wishbone suspension. In Japan the SiR gained the B16A VTEC engine — the start of the VTEC performance era. US model years 1988–1991.
Fifth generation · EG (1992–1995)
1992–1995
The heavily searched 'EG' generation — a more aerodynamic body and the VX economy hatch; a tuner favorite. US model years 1992–1995.
Sixth generation · EK (1996–2000)
1996–2000
The 'EK' generation — home of the Japanese EK9 Civic Type R and a US Si coupe; another enthusiast and tuner staple. US model years 1996–2000.
Seventh generation · EP/ES (2001–2005)
2001–2005
A flat-floor redesign; the EP3 Si hatchback and the first US Civic Hybrid arrived in this era. US model years 2001–2005.
Eighth generation · FA/FG/FD (2006–2011)
2006–2011
A dramatic two-tier-dash redesign with aggressive styling; sedan and coupe in the US, plus a Si. US model years 2006–2011.
Ninth generation · FB/FG (2012–2015)
2012–2015
A quick-turnaround redesign that was facelifted mid-cycle in response to reviews. US model years 2012–2015.
Tenth generation · FC/FK (2016–2021)
2016–2021
A global-platform redesign with a fastback hatch; the FK8 Civic Type R brought the Type R to the US for the first time in 2017. US model years 2016–2021.
Eleventh generation · FL/FE (2022–present)
2022–present
A cleaner, more mature redesign as sedan and hatchback, with the FL5 Civic Type R on top and a hybrid added later in the cycle. US sales began for the 2022 model year.

Famous Civic variants

The nameplates that define the Civic — each with its own cross-year history, engines, production, and collectibility.

Browse by generation

Browse by body style

Related models

Collect the nameplate

Find a scale model of the Honda Civic

Search Amazon across available years, colors, and scales. Exact releases vary, so confirm the listing before ordering.

← All Honda models

First generation · SB/SG (1973–1979)

Second generation · SS/SL (1980–1983)

Third generation · AH/AT (1984–1987)

Fourth generation · EF (1988–1991)

Fifth generation · EG (1992–1995)

Sixth generation · EK (1996–2000)

Seventh generation · EP/ES (2001–2005)

Eighth generation · FA/FG/FD (2006–2011)

Ninth generation · FB/FG (2012–2015)

Tenth generation · FC/FK (2016–2021)

Eleventh generation · FL/FE (2022–present)