This year Honda is celebrating 50 years of its iconic Civic.

Developed as a ‘car for the world’, more than 27.5 million Civics have been sold in 170 countries since the model was first launched in 1972.

As it enters its sixth decade with the launch of the 11^th generation, the Civic continues to set new class benchmarks and exceed the expectations of customers around the world.

The Civic’s enduring popularity is testament to the pioneering work of Honda engineers over the past half a century. Each generation has introduced its own progressive evolution of the original Civic design, advanced technologies and new levels of performance, while maintaining the same purpose as the first Civic: a spacious, fun to drive and economical compact car.

1972 – 1979: A Civic for all citizens
The first Civic was developed as a global car for all markets, offering exceptional practicality in everyday driving. It was one of the first Honda cars to be sold in Europe, achieving instant acclaim for its compact design, impressive fuel economy and usability.

Into the 80s: Civic comes of age
In 1979 the second generation Civic arrived along with an improved CVCC-II engine, building on the success of the original Civic with a 1.3 litre engine that offered a smoother delivery of power as well as being more economical.

The third generation Civic arrived in 1983 with a wider wheelbase and a more angular design. It is notable for the introduction of Honda’s ‘Man Maximum-Machine Minimum’ principle, a human-centric approach to design that ensures the technology and layout served the needs of the driver and passengers.

1987 – 2000: New standards of quality and performance
In 1987, the fourth generation Civic introduced a new range of engine options featuring Honda’s VTEC (Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control) system. Its variable timing mechanism revolutionised engine technology, delivering greater performance at high revs and improved fuel consumption at low revs – landing the Civic several awards.

The fifth generation Civic quickly followed in 1991, debuting a sleeker and more aerodynamic form, for a sportier appeal – while maintaining the everyday functionality the car had become synonymous with.

The sixth generation Civic was developed to create a higher value than its class. In 1990s, lower fuel consumption and other environmental actions became more significant. As such, this model had a newly developed VTEC engine. It also featured ‘Hondamatic Transmission’ an automatic continuously variable transmission (CVT) for the first time, which offered seamless gear changes and manual-like economy.

Building on the exceptional dynamic capabilities of the standard Civic, Honda debuted the performance-focused Type R variant in 1997.

2001 – 2021: The millennial Civic
The seventh generation arrived in 2000 and became the first Civic to offer hybrid technology in 2001.

In 2005, the eighth generation hatchback arrived with futuristic styling for European markets.

The ninth generation Civic added further refinement to create a well-rounded package for customers, including class-leading efficiency.

A completely remodelled 10^th generation arrived in 2015 with a choice of two VTEC TURBO engines and incorporated advanced safety features and driver aids, Honda SENSING, for the first time. Engineered with a stiffer chassis and greater dynamic performance, it provided the perfect platform for the 2017 Civic Type R, which set new performance boundaries for high-performance hatchbacks.

2022: A new era of Civic
Building on 50 years of heritage, the 11^th generation Civic blends strong performance and efficiency with improved levels of interior comfort, visual appeal and overall usability. The latest iteration marks a major milestone for Honda in Europe, as it’s the latest model in the range to be electrified, completing Honda Motor Europe’s 2022 ‘Electric Vision’ commitment to electrify all mainstream models It features the most advanced iteration of the brand’s multiple award winning e:HEV full-hybrid powertrain system as standard, offering engaging dynamics and performance with impressive economy and efficiency.