First released in the early 1970s, the Honda Civic has been a mainstay of the car market for the entire lives of many drivers. It is everything we want in a compact car these days, and looking back, it’s no surprise to see that the Civic helped establish Honda as a major player in the auto industry. Of course, if you’re interested in a used Honda Civic for sale, you don’t have to go quite that far back—with nearly a dozen generations available these days, the vast majority of Civic models are a lot older than we’d recommend for a used vehicle. Rather, we think the tenth generation of the Civic (which ran from 2016 through 2021) is the one to focus on when looking at used cars since it gives you great options at a wide range of prices thanks to six different years to consider. Let’s take a closer look at this generation, some important things to keep in mind as you’re shopping for a used Civic, and what each model year can offer you.

The 2016 Honda Civic: Start of a New Generation

Jumping right in, the 2016 Honda Civic kicked off the tenth generation with a full redesign utilizing lighter, high-grade steel and a new platform that made development easier and more cost-efficient. Honda also updated the Civic’s suspension with this model year to improve overall handling and ride quality, which is saying something because this was already a remarkable car for enjoying your time on the road. There had been some controversy around how safe Honda played it with the launch of the ninth generation, and the brand had to fix things quickly—the tenth generation had no such issues, and its bold, stylish design was immediately well received by drivers and car journalists alike.

Numerous trim levels are available for the 2016 Honda Civic, along with a couple of different engines offering a great driving experience. The standard engine is a 2.0L four-cylinder with 158 hp and 138 lb-ft of torque, which has a six-speed manual transmission or a continuously variable transmission (CVT) available. There’s also a more powerful 1.5L turbocharged engine that delivers 174 hp and 162 lb-ft of torque, paired with the CVT for a smooth and responsive drive. As you’re looking at used models, we’d suggest keeping an eye out for this 1.5L engine since it provides a notable increase in power and a terrific time on the road.

For this first model year, the tenth-gen Civic is available as either a four-door sedan or a two-door coupe, so keep that in mind as you’re looking at different options. Both versions of the Civic share a wheelbase, but the coupe is about five inches shorter than the sedan overall. Depending on the trim level you find, the 2016 Civic has either 16-inch or 17-inch wheels, with LED tail lights and daytime running lights, though higher trims add LED headlights as well. Inside, the redesign for this generation includes a spacious and elegant cabin with great features throughout, including plenty of space for you and your passengers, even though this is a compact car. A five-inch LCD display is standard on 2016 models, but we feel the available seven-inch touchscreen is the one to look for.

In terms of safety tech, the only downside with the 2016 model is that many of the features we count on today are only available options. The Honda Sensing package includes impressive technology like a Forward Collision Warning system, a Collision Mitigation Braking System, and a Road Departure Mitigation System. However, you’ll only find this package standard on the highest Touring trim for the 2016 Civic, so keep that in mind. It’s still a marvelously safe car, but the enhancements on higher trims bring you closer to what we expect on a vehicle these days.

The 2017 Honda Civic: The Hatchback Arrives

Changes for the 2017 model year were pretty minimal since the tenth-gen Civic had already made a great first impression the previous year. That said, two major things are worth noting: the six-speed manual transmission became available for the turbocharged engine, and a hatchback version of the Civic hit the road with this model year. You’ll only find the Civic Hatchback with the turbocharged engine, and it offers slightly more power than the sedan and coupe models. If you’re not interested in a hatchback or the manual transmission, then these aren’t going to change much for you, but you should still have this in mind as you explore different used 2017 Civic models.

The 2018 Honda Civic: Staying the Course

While there were two big changes for the 2017 model, there really aren’t any for 2018. However, this is a good thing when you’re looking at used vehicles because it means you can go for a 2017 or 2018 Civic and find the same features on them. That’s a big advantage since it lets you focus on other things like which engine it has, the trim level you find, and other options. Plus, you can choose between either model year without missing out on anything.

The 2019 Honda Civic: Refresh Time

Unlike the 2018 model year, Honda gave the Civic a facelift and mid-generation update for 2019, so this is a big one to look for as you’re shopping for used vehicles. Styling updates enhance the front and rear of the 2019 Civic, plus the interior receives some love. One of the most popular updates for this year is the return of a volume knob and other physical controls that went missing previously, so keep that in mind when looking at different used models. The other big news is that the Honda Sensing suite of safety tech we mentioned earlier became standard on every Civic model starting with 2019. That’s reason enough for us to strongly suggest the 2019 and later models of the Civic when looking for a great car that will protect you and your loved ones.

The 2020 Honda Civic: Updating the Hatchback

One thing we didn’t mention for 2019 is that the facelift was for the coupe and sedan models, not the hatchback—the Civic Hatchback received its update and restyling for 2020, so this is the year to look for if you like the look and functionality of a hatch. This includes the interior of the 2020 hatchback models, with the larger seven-inch infotainment display becoming more widely available on different trims. Overall, if you’re interested in a coupe or sedan, then both the 2019 and 2020 models are comparable, but 2020 is the way to go for a hatchback.

The 2021 Honda Civic: Goodbye Coupe

The final year for the tenth generation of the Honda Civic saw little in the way of any changes, which makes sense as a new eleventh-gen version was on the horizon. This works well if you like the features of the 2019 or 2020 Civic since you’ll find them generally carried over into this model year. You have the freedom to shop from any of these years and know that you’re going to get a fantastic car with a lot to offer. However, we need to note that the coupe version of the Civic was discontinued after the 2020 model year, with only the sedan and hatchback available for 2021 and beyond; so if you want a Civic coupe, then a 2020 model is the latest you can get.

What’re You Looking for in a Used Honda Civic?

As you can see, the six model years that make up the tenth generation of the Honda Civic include a terrific selection of amazing cars. The differences from one model year to another can be pretty minor or substantial, depending on which ones you’re looking at, so keep that in mind when exploring different used options. It helps to have a sense of the particular years you want as you shop so that you can focus on those cars and pay attention to more specific features and options. Just remember that the hatchback version of the Civic followed a year behind the coupe and sedan, both with its introduction and mid-generation update. We suggest models from after that update to get the best features and ensure you find the Honda Sensing safety package, but that still gives you tremendous freedom to find the perfect used Civic.