Is the Honda Civic reliable?

The Honda Civic has an average MOT pass rate of 80% across 32 years, based on 507,314 tests in 2026. That's 2 points below the national average of 82%. The most reliable year is 2020 with a 93% pass rate.

Which year Honda Civic is best?

The 2020 Honda Civic has the highest MOT pass rate at 93%, while the 2003 model has the lowest at 70%. There's a 23 percentage point spread between the best and worst years.

Honda Civic

Reliability, running costs, and MOT data across 32 years from 507,314 real MOT tests.

Avg Pass Rate

80%

Total Tests

507,314

Best Year

2020 (93%)

Years Covered

About the Honda Civic

The Honda Civic has been tested 507,314 times in 2026 MOT data across 32 model years (1990 to 2021), with an average pass rate of 80%. That's close to the national average of 82%. Available as diesel and petrol.

Best and Worst Years

The 2020 model is the most reliable with a 93% pass rate from 7,003 tests. The 2003 model has the lowest at 70%. With a 23 point spread, choosing the right year makes a big difference to reliability.

Reliability Trend

Newer HONDA CIVICs show better MOT pass rates than older ones, with an average improvement of 6 percentage points.

Mileage Across Years

The oldest model in our data (1990) averages 89,385 miles, while the newest (2021) averages 26,594 miles.

Compared to the Honda brand average of 84%, the Civic is 4 points lower, placing it among the less reliable Honda models.

Estimated Running Costs

Fuel (Petrol, 2000cc)

£1,327

Road Tax

£195

MOT Test

£55

Predicted Repairs

£200

Total per year£1,777

Per month£148/mo

Based on 7,400 miles/year, current fuel prices, and MOT pass rate data. Insurance not included.

Full 2021 details

How reliable is the Honda Civic?

vs national average-2% (82% avg)

vs Honda brand average-4% (84% avg)

Best to worst year spread23 percentage points

Reliability trendImproving over years

Honda Civic by Year

Click any year to see detailed running costs, reliability data, and comparisons with similar cars.

Year	Pass Rate	Tests	Avg Mileage
2021	92%	349	26,594 mi
2020	93%	7,003	31,000 mi
2019	92%	24,222	38,422 mi
2018	90%	26,013	46,367 mi
2017	90%	26,452	51,272 mi
2016	89%	26,607	63,520 mi
2015	87%	24,580	73,001 mi
2014	86%	23,400	81,465 mi
2013	85%	24,777	91,361 mi
2012	83%	21,831	94,140 mi
2011	76%	20,167	92,437 mi
2010	75%	31,308	104,886 mi
2009	74%	36,553	111,499 mi
2008	72%	40,632	118,507 mi
2007	72%	45,025	122,456 mi
2006	71%	28,045	126,100 mi
2005	73%	24,685	110,833 mi
2004	72%	20,938	113,431 mi
2003	70%	14,502	108,344 mi
2002	72%	12,455	110,076 mi
2001	70%	8,335	103,354 mi
2000	77%	2,871	96,666 mi
1999	75%	4,540	98,943 mi
1998	73%	3,450	97,935 mi
1997	72%	2,947	98,250 mi
1996	73%	2,065	99,417 mi
1995	80%	1,223	100,022 mi
1994	80%	781	93,399 mi
1993	88%	427	92,937 mi
1992	87%	297	97,411 mi
1991	83%	581	103,278 mi
1990	79%	253	89,385 mi