Is A Honda Civic A Good First Car? [ Find Out The Answer ]

If your teenage child happens to be a car enthusiast, you might find it difficult to choose the first car. Parents habitually worry about the reliability and safety of the first cars they purchase for their children. The adrenaline rush in teens continues to bother parents. Financially, you might be wondering about the insurance, repair, and maintenance costs as well.

The Honda Civic has been a celebrated car under the compact car category in the US. Have you considered evaluating the safety, reliability, and ease of handling of this car? In this article, you will get to know whether or not the Honda Civic would be the right pick for new drivers.

Can you use Honda Civic as a first car?

As a first car, the Honda Civic happens to be a great choice. Considering the affordability, low insurance and maintenance expenses, and impressive fuel economy, the Honda Civic easily makes into the list of best first cars.

Moreover, the NHTSA has given a 5-star rating to the Honda Civic for its safety features. No wonder, why parents heavily count on this car when it comes to purchasing the first vehicle for their kids. Moreover, the car holds value, and you would appreciate the resale value that it yields.

Why do guys like Honda Civics?

Although the Honda Civic happens to be a gender-neutral car, guys have a fascination for its models. The reason is obvious: Honda Civics made their appearance in the F&F (Fast and Furious) franchise. This seal is enough to make men comfortable with Honda Civics. This solid and compact car delivers a safe and impressive driving experience. Therefore, your son might find the perfect choice in Honda Civics without breaking your bank. These cars are small, which makes handling easier. Moreover, the gas mileage won’t pinch your wallet.

Is the Honda Civic a good car for a teenager?

Honda Civics continue to be the ideal first car for your teenage child due to several reasons. We have discussed these factors comprehensively to give you a holistic idea in this regard.

1. Affordable pricing

Being a parent, you wouldn’t like burning a hole in your pocket while pampering your child with his/her first car. The Honda Civic is affordable, with a price tag of around $21,250. Well, there are cheaper compact cars around, but in the US, an average car costs over $40,000. Considering this parameter, the first car for your child would come at almost half the cost.

Among other cars, you have the Toyota Corolla at $20,025, the Mazda 3 at $20,650, and the Hyundai Elantra at $19,650. However, the Honda Civic would save you insurance, repair, and maintenance costs in the long run. In case you settle for a used car, you can get it at a discounted rate.

2. Cheaper insurance

In the US, the average car owner shells out $1,674 annually to insure their vehicle. However, compact cars involve slightly more insurance charges. For instance, Toyota Corolla owners need to fork out $2,148 annually to insure their cars. For Mazda 3 and Hyundai Elantra, this figure is around $1,980 and $2,640, respectively. When it comes to Honda Civic, you simply need to pay around $1,836 a year. This is much lower than the competitors in the compact car category. Given that young hands are risky at the wheels, you might have to shell out slightly higher insurance premiums. However, the amount is quite reasonable when you take a look at its competitors.

3. Low repair costs

Teenagers hardly manage to be sensible enough while driving, which points to high repair costs. However, the Honda Civic finds itself among the most reliable cars for teenagers. As per RepairPal, the average repair cost for compact cars in the US is around $526. Honda Civic owners need to shell out only $368 for repairs, which is way lower.

The repair costs for Toyota Corolla, Mazda 3, and Hyundai Elantra are $362, $433, and $458, respectively. So, settling with the Honda Civic makes sense when you compare repair costs.

High-reliability ratings

Honda Civics has proven its worth in terms of reliability. The drivers have reported a few problems with this car. This explains why RepairPal has awarded 4.5 stars to the Honda Civic out of 5. In the subcompact category consisting of 36 cars, the Honda Civic finds itself in the 3^rd position. Other cars with higher ratings include the Kia Forte5 and Toyota Corolla.

All compact cars are susceptible to severe breakdowns. While the probability of undergoing a breakdown is 12% for all cars and 11% for compact cars, the Honda Civic is only 10% likely to bother you with such issues.

Low depreciation

When you purchase the first car for your child, you might consider a vehicle with low depreciation value. After a few years, your child might switch to a bigger car after attaining dexterity at the wheels. On average, any new car undergoes about 60% in the first five years. Considering this parameter to be the standard, Honda Civics prove to be excellent value holders. They lose just 37% of their value during this span. Even if you decide to sell off the car after 5 years, it would be a strategic decision. You would be benefitting from the warranty in case any major repair comes up during this time.

In terms of depreciation, the Mazda 3 and Kia Forte performed adversely, with 43% and 45% depreciation in the same period, respectively.

Is Honda Civic good for new driver?

Considering the impressive safety ratings that the Honda Civic received from NHTSA, it would be a good pick for new drivers. The organizations subjected the car to a crash test and awarded it 5 stars out of 5. No wonder, why the car bagged the ‘Top Safety Pick’ title from the organization.

Moreover, the Honda Civic outperforms many of its competitors in terms of fuel efficiency. On the highways and city roads, this car delivers 32 mpg and 42 mpg, respectively. This is better than the Toyota Corolla, Mazda 3, and Kia Forte. New drivers would be glad about the impressive gas mileage of the Honda Civic.

Conclusion

Parents habitually look out for the Honda Civic as the first car for their teenage children. Aggressive and bold, this car appeals to boys more than girls. The manufacturer has carefully designed the cabin layout, optimizing comfort and functionalism. The cabin also has premium materials that can make heads turn. Eventually, the Honda Civic calculatedly promises reliability, security, and affordability, besides being a fuel-efficient compact car. Therefore, you might consider it to be an excellent pick while scanning through the list of first cars for your child.