It should come as no surprise to Honda owners that the 2023 Honda Civic has been awarded Kelley Blue Book’s “2023 Best Buy” award in the compact car segment. For those who have driven the latest generation Honda Civic, the excellent driving experience and interior quality alone are enough for most drivers to put the Civic atop their list. That said, KBB has included additional reasons, including excellent resale, to further support the 2023 Civic beating out all of its rivals in the compact car class.

The 2023 Civic is a surprisingly affordable new car

The Civic has always been a small yet practical compact car. However, it is important to note that the 2023 Honda Civic is the most expensive of the three top-selling cars in the segment. The Civic starts at $24,650 for the bottom Sport trim. The fully loaded Honda Civic Touring trim is $29,650. In 2022, Honda still sold the Civic in LX guise, which would only set you back $22,645, says Car and Driver. 

This placed the Civic much closer to its Toyota and Hyundai rivals, which have base trims priced at $21,550 and $20,500, respectively. Does this make the Honda Civic an expensive car? If price is your only concern, perhaps. However, under $25,000 MSRP is still extremely compelling considering just how good of a car the 2023 Honda Civic actually is. Overall, for all the goodies and enjoyment you get, the Civic is shockingly affordable.   

The new Civic is a “joy to drive,” according to KBB

KBB calls the Civic “a joy to drive.” Is the non-Si/Type R Civic an engaging sports car? No, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t an absolute hoot to drive compared to most economy cars in its price range or even the next bracket up. In fact, according to KBB, “This is a fun car to drive with the turbo, and you’ll never feel guilty about wasting gas when enjoying the drive.”

It has a smooth and quiet ride with far less road noise than a late-model Corolla. It feels substantial at highway speeds but will happily dart into a tight corner and hold the line without much fuss if you’re feeling frisky on your commute home from work. And according to the EPA, it will also deliver 36 combined city/highway MPG. If you want a cheap commuter with a soul, the Civic is certainly the way to go. 

The 2023 Civic gets you excellent resale value and Honda reliability 

Honda is considered a reliable car brand, which bodes well for the 2023 Honda Civic, and the Civic in general. In fact, according to RepairPal, the Civic has an ‘Excellent’ reliability rating. Additionally, the severity and frequency of repairs are significantly lower than other vehicles. 

That reliability has resulted in excellent resale values, too. A 5-year-old Civic retains 84% of its MSRP, reports CarEdge. The study assumes a selling price of $26,050, which is the MSRP of a Honda Civic EX. Only depreciating 16% in 5 years means the prospective buyer would only lose $4,168 over that period. Judging by sale prices on sites like CarGurus, Cars.com, and Autotrader, the Civic may be doing even better than this data suggests. 

The 2023 Honda Civic deserves the recognition

There’s a lot to be said about the 2023 Honda Civic. From its impressive driving dynamics to its reliable reputation and excellent resale value, there’s a lot to like about the 2023 Honda Civic. If you’re in need of a new compact car that won’t break the bank, the Civic deserves a spot on your list.