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.

Every model year (1973–2024)

Browse the Honda Civic year by year. Each generation is listed with its model years below.

1973 Honda Civic, SB/SG first generation — yellow coupe, front three-quarter view — Photo: “File:1973 Honda Civic Coupe (23433060569).jpg” by Sicnag / Wikimedia Commons , licensed under CC BY 2.0 . Cropped to 16:9.

First generation · SB/SG (1973–1979) (1973–1979)

1982 Honda Civic, SS/SL second generation — white hatchback, front three-quarter view — Photo: “File:1982 Honda Civic 3-door hatchback (2015-07-10) 01.jpg” by OSX / Wikimedia Commons — Public domain . Cropped to 16:9.

Second generation · SS/SL (1980–1983) (1980–1983)

1986 Honda Civic, AH/AT third generation — red Si hatchback, front three-quarter view — Photo: “File:1986 Honda Civic Si in Victoria Red, front left, 7-18-2021.jpg” by Cutlass / Wikimedia Commons — CC0 1.0 . Cropped to 16:9.

Third generation · AH/AT (1984–1987) (1984–1987)

1991 Honda Civic, EF fourth generation — white hatchback, front three-quarter view — Photo: “File:1991 Honda Civic STD Hatchback in Frost White, front right, 05-15-2022.jpg” by Cutlass / Wikimedia Commons — CC0 1.0 . Cropped to 16:9.

Fourth generation · EF (1988–1991) (1988–1991)

1993 Honda Civic, EG fifth generation — white hatchback, front three-quarter view — Photo: “File:1993 Honda Civic VTi 3-door hatchback (2015-05-29) 01.jpg” by OSX / Wikimedia Commons — Public domain . Cropped to 16:9.

Fifth generation · EG (1992–1995) (1992–1995)

1998 Honda Civic, EK sixth generation — white Type R, front three-quarter view — Photo: “File:1998-2001 Honda Civic Type R.jpg” by TTTNIS / Wikimedia Commons — CC0 1.0 . Cropped to 16:9.

Sixth generation · EK (1996–2000) (1996–2000)

2004 Honda Civic, EP/ES seventh generation — silver coupe, front three-quarter view — Photo: “File:2004 Honda Civic LX Coupe in Satin Silver Metallic, front right, 05-17-2022.jpg” by Cutlass / Wikimedia Commons — CC0 1.0 . Cropped to 16:9.

Seventh generation · EP/ES (2001–2005) (2001–2005)

2009 Honda Civic, FA/FD eighth generation — blue coupe, front three-quarter view — Photo: “File:2009 Honda Civic LX Coupe in Royal Blue Pearl, front left, 06-13-2026.jpg” by Cutlass / Wikimedia Commons — CC0 1.0 . Cropped to 16:9.

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

2012 Honda Civic, FB/FG ninth generation — white hatchback, front three-quarter view — Photo: “File:2012 Honda Civic (FK2 MY12) VTi-S hatchback (2012-10-26) 01.jpg” by OSX / Wikimedia Commons — Public domain . Cropped to 16:9.

Ninth generation · FB/FG (2012–2015) (2012–2015)

2017 Honda Civic, FC/FK tenth generation — white Type R, front three-quarter view — Photo: “File:2017 Honda Civic Type R (39173268312).jpg” by Guillaume Vachey / Wikimedia Commons — CC0 1.0 . Cropped to 16:9.

Tenth generation · FC/FK (2016–2021) (2016–2021)

2023 Honda Civic, FL/FE eleventh generation — white Type R, front three-quarter view — Photo: “File:2023 Honda Civic Type R, front 4.18.25.jpg” by Kevauto / Wikimedia Commons , licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 . Cropped to 16:9.

Eleventh generation · FL/FE (2022–present) (2022–present)

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

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