Gallery
The Honda Civic needs no introduction. For decades, it has earned a reputation for reliability, local manufacturing in Ontario, and its ability to accommodate a wide range of lifestyles with qualities such as fuel efficiency, standard safety technology, and modern features and tech. This combination has made the Civic a consistent best-seller and a favourite with over 20 AutoTrader experts who voted the 2026 Civic the Best Small Car again (a repeat win from last year), and Best Overall Car, which is also a repeat win.
This 11th generation of Honda’s front-wheel-drive compact sedan and hatchback was all-new for 2022. It received a restyle for 2025, which included the return of a hybrid powertrain, last available a decade ago. For 2026, buyers get a 2.0-litre four-cylinder gas engine making 150 horsepower and 133 pound-feet of torque mated to a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). Prices start at $28,340 for the sedan and $32,200 for the hatchback.
While the gas-only Civic delivers competitive fuel economy (6.6 L/100 km combined for the sedan, 7.0 for the hatchback), the Hybrid offers a remarkable blend of performance and efficiency. With the addition of two batteries, the powertrain now produces 200 hp and 232 lb-ft, and uses an exclusive electronic CVT. Despite the power boost, the Civic Hybrid is a miser at the pumps, with a combined estimate of 4.9 L/100 km for the $34,100 Hybrid Sedan and 5.0 for the $36,000 Hybrid Hatchback.
Honda will be happy to put driving enthusiasts behind the wheel of its $36,600 Civic Sedan Si, which features a 200-hp turbocharged four-cylinder paired with a slick-shifting six-speed manual transmission. However, even the base 2026 Civic sedan and hatchback feel low, wide, eager to carve corners behind the wheel, thanks to great steering feel and excellent grip, with little sacrifice in ride quality.
Those same ride and handling qualities can also be found in the Hybrid versions. When tested against the well-regarded Toyota Prius, AutoTrader expert Chris Tsui made it very clear which small hybrid he would recommend to family and friends.
“In isolation, both the Toyota Prius and Honda Civic Hybrid are fantastic everyday commuters. They’re chart-toppingly efficient, unobtrusively practical, pleasant to drive, and actually pretty quick by regular car standards. But pit them against each other, and the Civic easily proves itself as a materially superior machine.”
Tsui felt that the Civic Hybrid was more comfortable on the road.
“It steers nicer, accelerates, handles, and cruises with a level of confidence and delight that would satisfy many luxury buyers. It drives wonderfully, looks nice, and can haul a lot, whether you’re on the hunt for fuel efficiency or not.”
Another factor that got our experts voting for the 2026 Civic was its excellent five-seater cabin.
Highlights include advanced technology integration, a focus on enhanced comfort through supportive seating, and an interior design that emphasizes a clean, human-centred cockpit with expansive sightlines. A standard 7.0-inch digital driver information display is standard, with a 10.2-inch instrument cluster available on top trims to display essential information, navigation, and Honda Sensing settings. One of the most notable elements of this current generation of cockpit is a honeycomb metal mesh strip spanning the width of the dash. It houses audio, information displays, and climate controls while also concealing air vents that would otherwise clutter the dash.
As a well-rounded compact car known for its blend of practicality, efficiency, enjoyable driving dynamics, and an upscale interior design, it’s hard to argue against the Honda Civic winning the AutoTrader Awards for Best Small Car and Best Overall Car for 2026.
