Model Preview
In 2022, the Honda Civic went through a full redesign, giving it an even more mature look and feel. With this design still fresh, the 2023 Civic will be a carryover model. The most noteworthy addition will be the late introduction of the completely redesigned 2023 Civic Type R that promises to be the most powerful Honda ever sold in the U.S.
On the outside, the current Honda Civic took a step away from its Accord-based design, giving it some uniqueness within the lineup. This included a smaller grille with a more prominent “H” emblem, a more rounded nose, a shallower-raked rear glass, bold taillights, and a clean and clutter-free backside. The hatchback model is nearly identical, but its one-piece hatch and unique taillights set it apart. No notable styling changes are present for 2023, as this exterior design still very new.
In contrast, the 2023 Civic Type R features a more mature look compared to the prior Civic generation, although admittedly that's not saying a lot. Functional air inlets, a sleeker rear spoiler, and three-outlet exhaust help set the car apart from the standard Civic hatchback. Wider fenders and exclusive colors like Historic Championship White send a message that the Type R is no ordinary Civic model.
Inside, the current Civic is sharp and simple with its thin and clutter-free dash that boasts a standard 7-inch dash-top touchscreen that’s upgradable to 9 inches. It also features a trio of round HVAC knobs, a dash-width chicken-wire-like insert, a sporty three-spoke steering wheel, and more. Standard tech includes a 7-inch touchscreen, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and a four-speaker audio system. We expect the 2023 Civic to arrive with the same look and features.
The 2023 Civic Type R interior features unique red sport seats in a suede-like material and matching red carpet and trim. For 2023, each Type R will get a serialized plate mounted on the dash. Unlike the normal Civic, Type R models will come with track-inspired features like a data-logging computer, a special rpm display, a stopwatch, and the ability to share driving videos.
The 2023 Civic will come standard with a 158-horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) for the now-base sport trim, as Honda is discontinuing the LX trim. The EX and Touring trims feature a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 180 hp. The sportier Si trim gets a tune that sees that figure increase to 200hp.
2023 Civic Type R horsepower will come in at 315 hp with 310 lb-ft of torque. That's a gain of 9 hp and 15 lb-ft compared to the previous generation Type R. The standard turbocharged 2-liter 4-cylinder engine is paired with a 6-speed manual transmission. Honda says it will be their most powerful production car ever sold in the U.S.
The 2023 Civic offers the same safety features as last year's model, which got top IIHS ratings all around, save for "Acceptable" ratings in the lower leg and restraint categories.
Pricing & Release Date
Honda hasn't announced an official release date yet for the 2023 Civic, but we expect both the sedan and hatchback to be on sale later this fall. The Type R should follow suit soon after.
The 2023 Civic’s pricing starts at $25,745 following the demise of the base LX trim. The remaining trims saw $500 to $700 price increases. As for the 2023 Civic Type R, we estimate a price increase compared to the previous MSRP of about $38,000. Whether or not Type R prices exceed $40,000 or $43,000 remains an open question.
The 2023 Honda Civic will compete with the Mazda3, Toyota Corolla, and Hyundai Elantra.
Pictured: 2023 Honda Civic Type R
When it comes to value, it's hard to beat the Honda Civic. This perennially excellent compact car has long delivered quality, smart handling, and useful packaging—combined with their efficiency and reputation for reliability, it's easy to see why that value continues even when they become used cars. The 2023 Civic still has that value, but perhaps slightly less of it at the bottom end of its lineup. In short, getting into your first Honda is going to be more expensive this year.
This isn't purely because Honda boosted prices for the 2023 Civic over the 2022 models. The entry-level Civic LX trim has been dropped from the lineup, leaving behind the Sport trim as the new, least-expensive Civic sedan and hatchback. Even though the Sports' prices rise by only $700 this year, the resultant starting MSRPs of $25,745 for the sedan and $26,545 for the hatch are $2,100 and $1,900 more than last year's LX sedan and hatch.
Beyond the now-base-model Sport, the Civic keeps its EX, Touring, and—for the hatch only—Sport Touring trims. However, the hatchback loses its mid-grade EX-L trim. The average price increase of those remaining trims is roughly the same between both sedan and hatch ($575 increase average for sedan and $580 increase in hatchbacks). Translated, that means the remaining three Civic trims are brimming with the same value they did last year, thanks to their relatively mild price bumps.
Though the sedan lineup is still only available with a continuously variable automatic transmission (outside of the sporty Si, which only comes with a six-speed manual), the stick is available at no cost on the Civic Sport and Sport Touring hatchbacks.
| 2023 Honda Civic Pricing | MSRP |
| Civic Sport sedan | $25,745 |
| Civic EX sedan | $27,145 |
| Civic Touring sedan | $30,745 |
| Civic Si sedan | $29,195 |
| Civic Sport hatchback | $26,545 |
| Civic EX hatchback | $28,845 |
| Civic Sport Touring hatchback | $31,645 |
An Si Without the Summer Tire Option in 2023
Another interesting drop for 2023 is the option of summer tires from the Si sedan. The price of the Si—now shod exclusively with all-season tires—has increased by only $600 to $29,195. In 2022, the Si sedan was $28,595 with its standard tires and cost $200 more with the performance tires.
The only performance-ish option for the Si is the $1,130 HPD Package, which is mostly additions to the "underbody spoilers" on the front bumper, side skirts, and rear bumper along with an HPD badge. You already get a short spoiler on the deck lid of the Si as standard along with a set of 18-inch wheels with 235/40R18 all-season tires.
Is It Still A Great Value for 2023 Compact Sedans?
Overall, the 2023 Honda Civic is a carryover save for a few minor trim revisions and the loss of the price-leader LX. (Oh, and that upcoming 315-hp Civic Type R hatchback... ) Losing the LX hurts the Civic's standing in the price wars with its main rival, the Toyota Corolla, which sees minor updates for 2023 but holds the line on pricing, even as its base models trade their weak engines for the same 169-hp 2.0-liter I-4 previously reserved for higher trims. The least-expensive 2023 Corolla LE comes in at well under the Civic's new base price, at $22,645 to the Civic Sport's $25,745—a $3,100 price difference—and bristles with an 11-hp power advantage. The LE sedan also gets 32 city, 41 highway, 35 combined on its estimated EPA fuel economy whereas the more expensive Civic Sport is 31/40/35 mpg.
Even the pricier-for-2023 Corolla SE hatchback undercuts the Civic Sport hatch by $390. The Honda holds a key advantage here, however, in that it's roomier and still offers a manual transmission—a feature Toyota dropped from the '23 Corolla lineup entirely (save for the 300-hp GR model that goes up against the Civic Type R). Toyota likewise doesn't offer a mid-range performance option equivalent to the Civic Si, meaning if you're looking for cheap performance with a manual transmission, the Honda Civic Si is your only choice between these two.
The Corolla is available as a hybrid model, the cheapest of which also undercuts the entry-level Civic Sport by a staggering $1,850 and delivers up to 50 mpg. Well, for now—it's expected that Honda will soon introduce a Civic Hybrid that would compete directly with the Corolla Hybrid.
So, given all these price shuffles and the Corolla's aggressive price moves, does the 2023 Honda Civic still remain a value leader? We think so, provided you weren't previously in the market for a basement-level Civic; if you were already shopping at the Sport level or above, the Honda is as easy to recommend as ever.