Honda, as a company, is defined by engineering. It is an engineering-first company, solving problems first before applying the final touches to make a product more special. This has led to cars that are often praised for their functionality. Hence, the M/M or the Man Maximum, Machine Minimum engineering philosophy was born in 1967 with the creation of the N360. The vehicle is small, but it was designed to solve the problem of small cars—their tight interior packaging.
Today, that philosophy pretty much continues. Honda vehicles are known for their ingenious interior practicality, and perhaps the best example of this is the already-discontinued Fit hatchback. It was small, but it was so spacious and minivan-like in terms of practicality. Today, this is the Honda that continues to carry that M/M legacy in full, whilst still offering a great driving experience to match.
Honda’s ‘Civic’ Duty
Like the N360, the 1972 Honda Civic was designed around the M/M engineering philosophy. Despite measuring less than 150 inches for the North American market, its spaciousness was outstanding, thus proving itself popular in a market defined by the 1973 Oil Crisis. Today, this legacy continues the moment you step inside the 11th-generation 2026 Civic.
Beyond Spaciousness
A key highlight of every Civic generation is its outstanding space utilization. In fact, it offers the best interior space measurements amongst compact sedans in the United States. Its key rival, the Toyota Corolla, though roomy, is no match for the spaciousness of the Civic. The Civic sedan posts the biggest numbers in four key areas of the passenger area, while it also offers the biggest cargo capacity. Its closest competitor is the new Kia K4, while the outright smallest interior in the compact sedan segment would be the Mazda 3. M/M is defined by maximizing the space for humans, whilst shrinking those that aren’t essential to the human senses.
Compact Sedan Interior Dimensions
|
Honda Civic Sedan |
Toyota Corolla Sedan |
Kia K4 |
Mazda 3 Sedan |
|
|
Cargo Space |
14.8 cu. ft. |
13.1 cu. ft. |
14.6 cu. ft. |
13.2 cu. ft. |
|
Front Headroom |
39.3 in. |
38.3 in. |
39.0 in. |
37.6 in. |
|
Front Legroom |
42.3 in. |
42.0 in. |
42.3 in. |
42.3 in. |
|
Front Shoulder Room |
57.0 in. |
54.0 in. |
56.5 in. |
55.7 in. |
|
Rear Headroom |
37.1 in. |
37.1 in. |
37.3 in. |
36.7 in. |
|
Rear Legroom |
37.4 in. |
34.8 in. |
38.0 in. |
34.4 in. |
|
Rear Shoulder Room |
56.0 in. |
51.7 in. |
54.7 in. |
53.5 in. |
Even when comparing hatchbacks, the 2026 Honda Civic is the outright class leader. Once again, all four versions are available in hatchback body styles, and as you’ll see here, the Civic Hatchback continues its streak in offering class-leading interior space. The Civic Hatchback offers the biggest measurements in four aspects of the passenger space, whilst also offering the best cargo area in the segment. Following in second is the Kia K4 hatch, which leads in three interior measurements, but surprisingly, this time around, it is the Toyota Corolla that offers the least overall space, particularly for the rear occupants. Lastly, whether it’s the hybrid or non-hybrid versions of the Civic and Corolla, their cargo space remains the same for both body styles.
Compact Hatchback Interior Dimensions
|
Honda Civic Hatchback |
Toyota Corolla Hatchback |
Kia K4 Hatchback |
Mazda 3 Hatchback |
|
|
Cargo Space |
24.5 cu. ft. |
17.8 cu. ft. |
22.2 cu. ft. |
20.1 cu. ft. |
|
Front Headroom |
39.3 in. |
38.4 in. |
37.2 in. |
38.0 in. |
|
Front Legroom |
42.3 in. |
42.0 in. |
42.3 in. |
42.3 in. |
|
Front Shoulder Room |
57.0 in. |
53.9 in. |
56.5 in. |
55.7 in. |
|
Rear Headroom |
37.1 in. |
37.6 in. |
38.3 in. |
37.2 in. |
|
Rear Legroom |
37.4 in. |
29.9 in. |
38.0 in. |
34.4 in. |
|
Rear Shoulder Room |
56.0 in. |
54.5 in. |
54.7 in. |
53.4 in. |
Simplicity In Interior Design
M/M is also defined by having an interior that’s easy to operate, and the current Civic is no exception. In 2021, the Civic was part of Wards ’10 Best Interiors’ and Wards ’10 Best User Experience’, which highlights M/M’s design principles at its finest. Up front, the Civic has a simple but reasonably upmarket dash, characterized by soft padded materials and a honeycomb pattern running the dash’s width. The clever use of textured gray plastics instead of gloss black on the high-touch surfaces means that fingerprints and fine scratches are out of sight, while clicky buttons and knobs help make the interior pleasant to operate.
Even the tech features are satisfying to operate, since the software behind the digital (or partly digital) gauges and the main infotainment screen are easy to use. This is an interior whose user-friendly layout doesn’t need a manual for owners to understand. In a world where interiors are starting to resemble smartphones on wheels, the Civic’s interior is a reminder that when you nail the fundamentals right, you don’t need flashy but confusing tech for consumers to appreciate a vehicle.
The Honda Civic You Forgot About That Paved The Way For The Type R
This was the first-ever Honda Civic to come with the famed B16A VTEC engine.
A Civic For Everyone
To say that the Honda Civic is popular is an understatement, and that’s because it is one of America’s best-selling passenger cars. Even as crossovers continue to take over the world, the Civic remains an important vehicle for the brand, thanks to its engineering-first approach and, as you’ll also realize, a diversity in choice.
Find 2026 Honda Civic Sedan and more cars for sale on our Marketplace
Fundamentally Solid Performer
Whether you go for the standard gas-fed Civic, the slightly sportier Civic Si, or the crowd-favorite hybrid, the Civic is fundamentally a fun car to drive. I’ve driven every version of the Civic except for the Si, and what Honda has perfectly nailed is that it got the sporty and comfort balance right. Well-judged, quick-ratio steering helps it feel agile, while the balanced suspension does a good job of offering excellent body control through bends and ironing out bumps. The CVT or Direct Drive e-CVT of the gas and hybrid, respectively, does a good job of shuffling the right power band, while the sublime shift quality of the manual variants is a pleasure to row.
The Civic Hybrid, in particular, is the main standout here because it is fast, fun, yet frugal. This is literally a no-compromise car. The Civic Si, on the other hand, is the most efficient manual car you can buy today. The gas-fed Civic, however, with its 2.0-liter four-cylinder, isn’t the pick of the range. You’ll need to rev the engine out to maximize its power, and you also have to remember that the Civic, in general, doesn’t have the best sound insulation, so the drone of the engine also adds to the slightly noisy cabin.
Type R For The Rawest Civic
Now, if you want your Civic to perform much like a sports car, then that’s where the Civic Type R comes in. The absolute best front-wheel drive (FWD) car I’ve ever driven, the Civic Type R is a sensible but fun sedan dialed up to 11. An extremely sharp steering that offers plenty of road feel, along with adaptive suspension that goes from compliant to firm, and a 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder whose power delivery can likewise switch from docile to hyperactive, the Civic Type R is a hot hatch for every occasion.
And that’s the beauty of this vehicle as well. Sure, it’s raw, powerful, and filled with plenty of attitude, but the Civic Type R is still a willing ally when you drive this car sensibly. Perhaps its slight thirst and four-seater interior layout are limitations to its practicality, but everything else, the Civic’s sensibility, mostly carries through the Type R. I’ve comprehensively reviewed the Civic Type R, too, and you can check out this article for it.
The 10 Quickest Honda Civics Ever Built
The Honda Civic is one of the best-selling commuter cars in automotive history, but it also has a wild side.
The Future Of The Civic
The current 11th-generation Honda Civic is now a five-year-old machine in 2026, which means that there are key updates in the pipeline to keep this compact car relevant. Some of those are technical updates, while others are focused on design.
Becoming A Four-Door Prelude
The Honda Prelude arrives in the United States with plenty of controversy. Though it is a great car in terms of handling, its hybrid system, inherited from the Civic, was made even more thrilling with S+ Shift, and its design is wonderful inside and out; its high price tag prevents it from being a true success. To further add insult to injury, the S+ Shift that defined the Prelude’s hybrid system from the Civic is coming to the compact sedan as well.
Yes, for 2026, probably for the 2027 model year, Honda has announced that S+ Shift is arriving in the Civic hybrid. S+ Shift basically builds upon the Linear Shift Control simulated shift logic of the Honda hybrid system, but adds actual jolts and shift shocks to make the driving feel more engaging. If one of the key selling points of the Prelude is going to be offered in the Civic hybrid, too, then won’t that make the Prelude even more irrelevant?
Type R Getting More Handsome
On the other hand, the Civic Type R, which has yet to receive a mid-cycle facelift, will finally be getting one for the upcoming model year. Honda simply said in its announcement that it is “receiving updates this year, including exterior and interior styling changes”, without elaborating on any further details. Hopefully, this means that we’ll get to see a more handsome Civic Type R in the upcoming model year, along with a few performance improvements to match.
At the moment, the Civic Type R’s 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder produces 315 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque through a six-speed manual. The dual-axis strut front suspension that minimizes torque steer has been inherited by the Prelude (even if its power output won’t be enough for such a phenomenon), together with the Type R’s front Brembo brakes.
Sources: Honda, Kia, Toyota, Wards Auto