Buying a sensible family sedan seems like a good move for the obvious reasons like practicality, reliability, and efficiency. However, in some cases, like certain model years of the Honda Civic, cars can pay their owners back. Specifically, the 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021 Honda Civic has above average resale and trade-in value. That means that Civic owners might be able to cash in on their already sensible purchase and put some money back in their pockets. 

Is a Honda Civic a good car? 

The Honda Civic is known for reliability, affordability, and variety. The 2022 Civic offers seven trims and a redesigned visage for the newest model year. It dumped the hard-to-love exterior styling of the 2016-2021 models for a simpler, less garish fascia. However, the redesign didn’t bring enough updating to satisfy the reviewers at Consumer Reports (CR). CR reported that the 2022 Civic, although it offered excellent fuel economy and an optional manual transmission, failed to wow them in terms of refinement. Specifically, the 2022 model has a stiff ride, and its dimensions make it difficult to enter and exit. 

Which model years are the best? 

If you’re looking to cash in on your Honda, there are four model years you might want to consider trading in or selling. The 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021 model years offer an impressive amount of money in resale value. Owners of these Civics can expect to get 8% in resale value over what they would have managed in 2019. Furthermore, Cars.com reports that sellers are posting their preowned Civics for a median price of $25,369. 

What problems do Civics have? 

According to Consumer Reports, the 2018-2022 Civics suffer from suboptimal owner satisfaction ratings. Most of the complaints stem from comfort and value for money. Furthermore, the 2021 Civic was behind a comparable Hyundai Elantra in overall owner satisfaction. However, the 2021 and 2019 Civics got a top score in reliability, quite a bit better than the post-redesign 2022 model and much better than the 2018 model. 

What should you get instead of a Civic? 

While the Honda Civic is generally a pretty safe purchase, there are plenty of alternatives out there with higher CR scores and comparable pricing. First, consumers living in challenging climates could opt for a Subaru Impreza and its standard all-wheel drive (AWD) system. Next, if consumers want a car with higher owner satisfaction metrics, they can opt for the affordable and efficient Hyundai Elantra. Finally, if consumers want a comparable car with more sculpted, contemporary styling, they can look at the always trendy Volkswagen Jetta. 

Should you sell or trade in your vehicle? 

If you’re thinking about cashing in on the increased value of your Honda Civic, you might consider selling it soon. However, before you do so, there are a couple of things to consider. First, if the Civic is your only means of transportation, you might be hard-pressed to find something to replace it. Next, if you’re looking to trade up, you might consider the value of the newer car you want to acquire. You may get more for your trade, but it could be moot when faced with the bloated price tag of a new car. Finally, if you have your eyes on a new car in a certain color, you might want to think about availability. Many dealerships are having a difficult time getting new inventory. Scroll down to the following article to read more about how color can affect your next car purchase.