The Honda Civic lifespan covers more than 50 years. During that time, this incredible car has been sold in more than 27 million versions globally.

The very first Civic appeared in 1972 as a small two-door coupe, giving this car the dimensions that were perfect to offset the gas crisis of the time. Later that year, a three-door hatchback version appeared. Both cars rode on thin tires, were small, lightweight, and offered very little power. Still, the first Civic models were extremely popular and gave us the small size and quality features desired in a world filled with oversized V8-engined monsters.

What was the weight and power of the original Civic?

Honda created this small car that tipped the scales at 1742 pounds, and it delivered 49 horsepower and 58 lb-ft of torque from the small engine. This small car with very little power was the answer the world required and began its time going head to head with the Toyota Corolla in nearly every corner of the globe. This small Honda uses a 1.2-liter 4-cylinder engine mated to a 4-speed transmission to give owners a smooth and efficient ride. As expected of the time, the original Civic lacked the safety and electronics we take for granted today.

Fast forward to today’s model

The modern version of the Honda Civic is stylish, attractive, and offered in several configurations. Most common among the body styles for this car is the compact sedan version. This new model tips the scales at 3380 pounds, which is nearly double the weight of the original Civic. Although the first model didn’t have a hybrid powertrain, the 2023 version does. This powertrain gives you a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine and a pair of electric motors. One motor generates electricity while the other drives the front wheels, which makes this a smooth and useful sedan.

This hybrid version of the Civic helps you save gas while offering a lot more power than the small, original version. You’ll enjoy 178 horsepower and 232 lb-ft of torque coming from this current Honda. The modern Civic isn’t slow, but it’s not super quick either. This hybrid powertrain is good for a sprint to 60 mph in less than 8.1 seconds and has a top speed of 112 mph. You won’t win any races with this car, but you won’t feel like anything’s missing from the drive when you take it out on the road.

How good was the driving experience in the original Civic?

The first Honda Civic drove nicely, especially for a car from the early 1970s. This little car offered light steering and a relatively quiet ride when you head out on the road. If you think the current Civic Hybrid is slow, the 1972 Civic took 15 seconds to hit 60 mph and only offered a top speed of 90 mph. Of course, if you’re looking for a little car that will keep you from speeding on the highway, this s that car. When you get over 50 mph, the ride becomes bouncy and strains the engine, which is consistent with cars from this era.

The Civic started out sparse and limited

The first versions of the Civic showed that Honda was still working toward something great but wasn’t there yet. This car had some stylish wood on the dash, half-leather seats, and an analog radio. This was about all we could expect for the money when looking at the cost of an original Civic.

Today’s models come with items you want, including a heated steering wheel, heated seats, digital gauges and dials, an infotainment display, a Bose 12-speaker sound system, and a sunroof. Today’s models offer several versions to give us more of what we want from the Civic.

What about the Type R?

The first Honda Civic and the current hybrid model aren’t direct comparisons, but they are still pretty fun to consider. What about the Type R? This version of the Civic is the high-powered, performance-oriented model that would have never been offered in the first model year of this car. Today, we see the Type R tearing up the track and showing off as the fastest FWD car in the world, at least when considering lap record times.

The Honda Civic has had a long and storied history beginning 51 years ago and continuing to today. Will the Civic name continue to be offered when the Honda lineup changes to all EVs, or will it become lost in the shuffle like so many of our other classic names?