Since Honda launched its first-gen Civic, it carved a name for itself by being a very affordable and, at the same time, very reliable car. Over the years, this Honda car model had many revisions, styles, and engine upgrades. This article will discuss the 10th Gen Honda Civic – years, problems, and features.
The 10th Gen Honda Civic was introduced by Honda Motor Company in 2015 in North America, followed by its launch in Europe in 2016. It replaced the 9th generation Civic and lasted up to 2021. This generation of Honda Civic was made available in different body styles and engine configurations.
Honda manufactured this generation of Honda from 2016 to 2021. They have continued the legacy of Honda Civics concerning durability and reliability. As with previous generations of Honda Civics, these vehicles were expected to have a life expectancy of around 250,000 miles or about 15 to 20 years if provided with regular maintenance.
Read on to learn more about the 10th Gen Honda Civic, its model years, its most notable features, and its most common problems.
10th Gen Honda Civic Overview
Introduced in North America in 2015
Honda Motor Company introduced the 10th Gen Honda Civic in North America in 2015. It is a compact car that replaced the previous 9th generation Civic. This car was launched in Europe and Asia in 2016. Interestingly, it was only introduced in its mother country, Japan, in 2017.
Can Last Around 250,000+ Miles
This 10th Gen Honda Civic continued the legacy of the previous generations of Civics as being long-lasting and reliable. Honda Civics can last around 250,000 miles plus or from 15 to 20 years with regular maintenance.
Equipped with CVT Transmissions
Most Honda Civics of this generation were fitted with CVT transmissions. Some are fitted with manual transmissions, especially those of the sporty models. Honda used the CVT transmissions in most of the 10th Gen Civics to give their car buyers the best fuel economy.
Reliability
This 10th generation of Civics is still one of the top choices for compact cars, even used compact cars. According to J.D. Power, this generation of Civics comes in second out of all compact cars regarding reliability. It scored 82 out of 100 as far as reliability is concerned.
Longer and Bigger Than Honda Accord
This 10th Gen Honda Civic, as many have correctly observed, is even longer and bigger than the previous generations of Honda Accord, the sedan version of Honda cars. Its overall length is about 176.9 inches, slightly less than 15 feet.
So, even if it is classified as a compact car, it is bigger than the sedans of years ago. It is packed with stronger power too. In Canada, the Honda Civic has been Honda’s best-selling car for 23 years.
Honda Civic 10th Gen Years
Global Model
The Honda Motor Company categorized the 10th Gen Honda Civic as a global model. They improved its development efficiency and achieved considerable cost savings. Plus, they enhanced its quality and performance.
When Honda developed this generation of Civics, it targeted the U.S. market to regain its place as the leader in the compact segment of the country’s car industry. So, the design specifically catered to the American market, but it was also attractive and saleable in other parts of the globe.
Launched in 2015
And the gamble paid. Since its launch in 2015, the Honda 10th Gen Civic regained its distinction as the pack’s leader – the compact car segment pack. The first-year model was in 2016. It gained full support from car buyers, not just in North America but all around the world.
Production Continued Up to 2021
Honda’s production facilities of the 10th Gen Honda Civic continued churning newer models up to 2021. So, there are several model years 10th generation Honda Civic. The first is the year model 2016, then 2017 up to the year 2021 – all of six years.
Improved Looks, Performance, Etc. Every Year
Each year model saw an upgrade here and there in the interior, exterior, safety features, and many more. As its production years went on, the looks, performance, and fuel efficiency were improved, making the 10th Gen Honda Civic still a good buy – even if used.
Introduced 11th Gen Honda Civin in 2021
It is now superseded by the 11th Generation Honda Civic, which Honda introduced in April 2021. The year model of that Honda Civic is 2022. But let’s get back to the 10th Gen Honda Civic because it has some amazing offerings that you should know – if you’re considering buying a used one.
How Can You Stretch the Life of Your Honda Civic?
10th Gen Honda Civic Body Styles
To make the 10th Gen Honda Civic attractive to car buyers, Honda engineers have overhauled the overall design of this plate brand. And to make it more interesting, they also created different body styles for the newly minted overall design.
Car design critics were all praising the new body design of the 10th generation Honda Civic. They said its body design was unprecedented, innovative, eye-catching, aggressive, and stylish, with all sorts of amazing descriptions.
With an overall aggressive and sporty body design, the 10th Gen Honda Civic came with five body styles – the sedan, the coupe, the hatchback, the performance models SI, and SR.
Here are the details of each body style:
1. Honda Civic Sedan
This is the production model of this tenth-generation Civic, which Honda launched in the last quarter of 2015. It is 2.9 inches longer, 1.8 inches wider, and 0.8 inches lower than the previous 9th generation Civic.
But its most remarkable difference is its aggressive and sporty body styling. No one has expected this generation of Honda Civic to have that big double C facing each other for its brake lights.
To some people, those two Cs were the ones that broke their bank – although the car was not that expensive at all.
The cabin space was also bigger by a little less than four cubic feet, with the trunk space getting an additional 2.6 cubic feet. All in all, this Honda Civic is even bigger than the Honda Accord of several years ago.
This car redefined the meaning of ‘compact cars’ because it is much bigger than the sedans of long ago.
2. Honda Civic Coupe
Honda introduced the design concept of the Honda Civic Coupe at the New York International Auto Show in April 2015. The company later launched it at the 2015 Los Angeles Auto Show. Sales orders immediately followed.
The two engine options for the Honda Civic Coupe include a 2.0 liter naturally aspirated gasoline engine and a 1.5-liter turbocharged gasoline engine. But because of low sales, Honda discontinued the production of this model.
3. Honda Civic Hatchback
At the Geneva Motor Show in 2016, Honda unveiled another body style of the Honda Civic 10th Gen. It was the prototype of the 10th Gen Civic Hatchback. The 2017 model year of this car went on sale in the United States in late 2016.
4. Honda Civic Si
Honda introduced the 10th Gen Civic SI prototype at the Los Angeles International Auto Show during the last quarter of 2016. It has 1.5-liter turbocharged gasoline.
Unlike its CVT siblings, this car has a 6-speed manual transmission. Performance features included a limited-slip differential, active steering, and shock absorbers.
This car can reach 60 miles per hour in only 6.3 seconds. According to some reviewers, its top speed ranges from a low 137 mph (electronically limited) to around 169 mph if there’s no restriction.
5. Honda Civic SR
Honda introduced the Honda Civic Type R at the 2016 Paris Motor Show. The production model started selling a year after. It came with the same body as the 10th generation Honda Civic Hatchback but with more performance features.
A 2.0-liter turbo-powered this Civic charged in-line four-engine could deliver a huge 306 horsepower and 295 pound-foot of torque. It was also fuel-efficient, getting 25 miles per gallon of fuel.
Most Notable Features of the 10th Gen Honda Civic
Forgive me for saying this; in reading the many reviews about this car, I can only say that when Honda launched this product, it took the market by storm. Nearly every reviewer was amazed by its looks, performance, and features.
1. Sturdier Due to High-grade Steel
For one, this tenth generation of Honda Civics is sturdier because it has higher-grade steel than the 9th generation Civics. But interestingly enough, its body weight is lighter than the previous generation by about 68 pounds.
It implemented new techniques in car body sealing that can reduce cabin air leaks by a remarkable 58%. And to reduce outside noise, the Civic has added fluid-filled suspension bushings.
2. Improved Ride and Handling
This car has a thicker and stiffer 1.2-inch diameter steering column to improve the steering feel. Honda engineers also overhauled the suspension design of the tenth-generation Civic.
It used redesigned MacPherson struts for the front, and for the rear, it used a new multi-link setup mounted on a super-rigid sub-frame.
Honda engineers also lowered the suspension combining it with a lower floor which effectively reduced the car’s center of gravity by 0.6 inches.
Other features that improved ride and handling include the following:
- Variable gear ratio steering,
- Brake-based torque vectoring,
- Bigger front and rear stabilizer bars, and
- Hydraulic compliance bushings.
3. Engine and Performance
The naturally aspirated 10th Gen Honda Civics is available in two engine options based on the trim level. For the Sport and the LX models, the engine is an in-line, four-cylinder gasoline engine that can crank a maximum of 158 hp.
There is an EX trim level, a more powerful engine, and a turbocharger. This one can produce 174 horsepower. Whichever of the two options you chose, you will enjoy great fuel efficiency.
If you’re driving on the highway, you can expect this car to give you 32 miles to a gallon and up to 42 mpg. This is one of the primary reasons this generation of Honda Civics became very popular with car buyers.
4. Safety
There are many standard safety features in the 10th Gen Honda Civics. This is because safety is always the primary focus of Honda in making vehicles, especially passenger cars.
There is nothing standard with the standard features that Honda Motor Company has installed in this generation of Honda Civics. These include:
- Active Safety and Passive Safety features,
- Drive Assistive Technology, and
- Honda Sensing Technology.
If you are inside a 2021 Honda Civic cabin, you will have the following features to ensure your safety while driving this vehicle:
- Lane departure warning
- Forward collision warning
- Lane-keeping assist system
- Adaptive cruise control
- Road departure mitigation system
- Collision mitigation braking system
- Tire pressure monitoring system
Again, which 10th Honda Civic is best? The 10th gen Honda Civic Si is an excellent choice due to its reliability and warranty-covered speed. But, the most well-rounded model is the 2017 Honda Civic EX four-door hatchback.
Most Noticeable Problems of the 10th Gen Honda Civic
However remarkable the features of the 10th Gen Honda Civic are they are still machines with parts that can, from time to time, go out of order and malfunction.
So, if you are asking for the most common problems of this Honda car model line, here they are:
1. Oil Dilution
This problem manifested itself on 10th generation Honda Civics equipped with the 1.5 turbocharged gasoline engine. The unburnt excess fuel vapors in the engine were diluting the engine oil.
With these unburned substances added to the engine oil, the oil level rises and triggers the engine oil warning light. This situation also creates a foul smell in the engine which can creep inside the cabin. This situation also opens the possibility of long-term damage to the engine.
2. Rodents Chewing Soy Wiring
In their desire to make it appear that they were doing something favorable to the environment, Honda engineers thought of using soy material to coat the electrical wirings of the 10th generation Civics.
They didn’t expect that these wirings would be attractive to rodents. Many 10th Gen Civic buyers have wires eaten by rodents that somehow made some components of their cars inoperable.
Some reviewers say that Honda used these soya coatings to cut costs because they are cheaper than regular plastic coatings.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you are in the market for a 10th-generation Honda Civic, you need to get all the information to help you make the right decision. Perhaps, the answers to the most often asked questions about this vehicle will help you get some information that you need:
What Is the 10th Gen Honda Civic?
The 10th Gen Honda Civic is a compact car produced by Honda Motor Company from 2016 to 2021. The company introduced this car in North America in November 2015.
A year later, they launched it in Europe and Asia. Interestingly, Honda launched it in Japan only in 2017.
When Honda launched this in the car market, nearly every car reviewer was enamored by its new look, as well as its performance and fuel economy. This Honda Civic generation has been a great success in the car markets all over the world.
Are 10th Gen Honda Civics Reliable?
Going with the reputation of Honda Civics, the 10th Gen Honda Civic is also very reliable. Honda claims it can last up to 250,000 miles or around 15 to 20 years, as long as it is given its required regular maintenance.
J.D. Power has given this generation of Honda Civics a reliability score of 82 out of 100.
Which 10th Gen Honda Civic Is the Best to Buy?
All trim levels of the 10th Gen Honda Civic are worth their prices. But the best, according to some reviewers, is the 10th Gen Honda Civic Si and the EX four-door hatchback.
What Are the Year Models of the 10th Gen Honda Civic?
Honda started producing the 10th Gen Honda Civic in 2016 and ended its production in 2021. The Honda Civic 11th Generation superseded this Honda Civic generation.
In Closing: 10th Gen Honda Civic – Years, Features, Problems
Honda Motor Company introduced the 10th gen Honda Civic in North America in 2015. It was launched in Europe in 2016. This model lineup replaced the 9th Gen Civic.
It was available in several trims and engine configurations to cater to the needs and preferences of a wide market of Honda car buyers.
Honda produced this Civic generation from 2016 to 2021. These Honda cars continued the legacy of Civics concerning their durability and reliability.
Like other generations of Honda Civics, these cars were expected to last around 250,000 miles or about 15 to 20 years with regular maintenance.
Read next: