Buying your first car is a fun and exciting milestone that signifies a higher level of independence. A car is an extension of your personality and lifestyle. However, there’s more to choosing a good first car as a new driver than what it looks like. Choosing the best starter car is also a huge financial responsibility, and teen drivers should also consider factors like safety, reliability, and affordability before buying a new car.

Since its debut in the 1970s, the honda Civic has been one of the best starter cars for teens and first-time car buyers. Let’s take a look at what Civic owners love most about their vehicles:

Reason #1: The Honda Civic is Reliable and Durable

Whether you’re a brand-new driver or have been behind the wheel for decades, we all want vehicle reliability. When buying a car, we expect to get from Point A to Point B with minimal obstructions or mishaps. We don’t want to buy a new or used car for a teen driver only to have it break down without warning, leaving them stranded on the side of the road.

The Honda Civic is notorious for reliability, which is likely one of the biggest reasons it nearly always finds its way onto the list of good cars for teen drivers. Our partners at RepairPal give the Honda Civic an excellent reliability rating, 4.5 out of 5.0 stars, ranking it as the 3rd most reliable compact car out of 36 competitors. When determining rankings, they consider important factors like repair costs, severity, and frequency.

• Average Annual Cost of Repairs: $368 compared to $526 annually for other compact cars and $652 for all vehicles.
• Frequency of Vehicle Repairs: Honda Civic owners only have to bring their vehicle to the car repair shop on average 0.2 times annually, compared to 0.3 times for other compact cars and 0.4 for other vehicles.
• Severity of Car Repairs: Unscheduled Honda Civic repairs tend to hover around 10% urgency, meaning they aren’t generally catastrophic. Compare this to 11% for other compact vehicles and 12% for others.

Honda Civics are also well known for their durability and longevity. If a driver keeps up with a routine maintenance schedule, a Honda Civic can easily last 15-20 years or 200,000 – 300,000 miles. By then, your Honda Civic will be considered high mileage, and your teen driver will be ready to trade it in, sell it, or transfer ownership.

Reason #2: The Honda Civic is Fuel Efficient

One thing that most teens don’t have is expendable income for high gas prices. Therefore, fuel efficiency should also be a priority when considering a good starter vehicle for teenage drivers or first-time car owners. Whether you’re looking for an eco-friendly car like a Civic hybrid, plug-in hybrid, electric vehicle like a Tesla, or a traditional gas-saving car with an internal combustion engine (ICE), your teen will appreciate going further between fuel-ups.

The Honda Civic is as gas-sipping as they come. When it comes to fuel efficiency, the Honda Civic generally is on par with or even has better gas mileage than most of the competition. According to Fueleconomy.gov, newer models of the Honda Civic easily surpass more than 30 MPG, with some models getting as much as 42 MPG on the highway. With this kind of gas mileage, your teen can expect to pay around $1,500 per year in fuel, depending on the model year, trim option, and engine configuration.

Reason #3: Honda’s Safety Features Prioritize Driver Safety

Teen driving safety is the number one priority for many parents, and with good reason. As parents, we see that even the most dependable and well-behaved teens still have a certain level of immaturity, whether they realize it or not. At this age, they still don’t have much experience behind the wheel, which puts them at a significant disadvantage on the road.

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), teen drivers are four times as likely as older drivers to have an accident. Motor vehicle accidents are the third leading cause of death among teens, resulting in approximately eight teens between the ages of 16 and 19 dying daily. More than 1,300 teen drivers between 15-20 die every year in motor vehicle accidents, taking 900 passengers with them.

Along with competitors like the Toyota Corolla and the Mazda 3, the Honda Civic consistently ranks highly in safety. The Honda Civic sedan and hatchback have won awards such as the IIHS 2023 Top Safety Pick and the 2024 Car and Driver’s 10 Best Cars. The Honda Civic also has excellent crash test ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), earning a five-star safety rating for the 2025 model year.

The Honda Civic offers advanced safety features to keep your teen driver safe, such as:

Honda Sensing Suite

The exclusive Honda Sensing package is designed to help your teen driver be a better driver, even when you’re not in the car to remind them. This unique system uses sensors, cameras, and radar to monitor the road around them, giving your teen driver assistance capabilities.

Features included with Honda Sensing are:

• Collision Mitigation Braking System: Applies brake pressure when an accident is unavoidable
• Road Departure Mitigation System: Automatically adjusts steering if you forget to signal when shifting lanes
• Adaptive Cruise Control: Keeps the same speed with a set gap between you and the car in front.
• Lane Keeping Assist: Helps you stay in the center of the lane.
• Traffic Sign Recognition: Alerts drivers to traffic speed signs.

Standard and Optional Safety Technologies

In addition to Honda Sensing, the Honda Civic comes standard with additional safety features and has a few safety technology upgrade options.

• Blind Spot Information System (select models): If you turn on your turn signal and a vehicle is in the lane, it will beep until the lane is clear.
• Cross Traffic Monitor (select models): It will alert if a vehicle is approaching from the side while backing up.
• Auto High Beam Headlights (select models): If your vehicle is traveling over 25 mph, the headlights will adjust between high or low beams based on the surrounding conditions.
• Multi-Angle Rearview Camera: Choose your preferred view to back up safely.

Reason #4: Honda Civic’s are Affordable

The Honda Civic is often an affordable option if you’re looking for a budget-friendly starter vehicle. Whether you’re looking for a brand new Honda Civic, a certified pre-owned vehicle, or even an older used Honda Civic, a Honda Civic can be an excellent investment as a starter vehicle. Its low price point makes it accessible for new drivers and their families, and its reliability and durability mean it is likely to hold its value over the years.

• 2025 Honda Civic Starting Price: $24,250
• 2015 Honda Civic Used Car Price: $9,616

Reason #5: Honda Civic Offers User-Friendly Technology

For most new drivers, the first thing they do when taking a car on a test drive is press all the buttons inside. User-friendly features matter and make the ride more enjoyable. Whether you buy a new or used vehicle, Honda offers a variety of user-friendly technology options.

Some options come standard and have been around for several model years, while some are optional upgrades to consider with your trim package choice, so it’s important to see what your particular model includes.

• Easy-to-Use Infotainment System: The intuitive touchscreen infotainment system often includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, allowing you to connect with your smartphone for seamless navigation, music, or hands-free calling.
• Charging and Connectivity: Connect your device with Bluetooth connectivity options and charge it with wireless smartphone charging pads, USB ports, or USB-C ports.
• Keyless Entry and Push-Button Start: Some Honda Civic models have convenience options like keyless entry and push-button start.
• Climate Control: Dual climate control options allow drivers and passengers to select a temperature setting that is right for them.

Reason #6: Honda Civic Has Excellent Performance and Handling

The Honda Civic is remarkably easy to drive with its responsive performance and handling characteristics. The easy maneuverability in urban and highway settings helps build the confidence of new drivers. It is responsive and offers a smooth ride, absorbing bumps and road imperfections to improve everyone’s comfort.

In select models, you can even choose the best driving mode for your driving style, such as Eco, Normal, or Sports car modes. You can reserve your fuel or amp up your horsepower, giving the Civic the ability to tailor to your needs for various driving conditions.

Extended Warranties for Honda Civics: Enhancing Peace of Mind

When drivers are starting out with their first car, they often don’t have significant savings to pay for unexpected car repairs. If they buy a new Honda Civic or a certified pre-owned Civic, the manufacturer’s warranty protects drivers from most major car repair bills. However, the bumper-to-bumper factory warranty eventually expires, leaving drivers with the option to pay out-of-pocket for vehicle repairs or invest in an extended car warranty.

Extended warranties for used cars, also known as contratos de servicio de vehículos (VSCs) or auto protection plans, are available from third-party warranty providers. These independent companies, like Garantía Endurance, offer customizable and comprehensive plans that fit a wide range of budgets. Plus, they often come with bonus benefits that aren’t available from the automaker or car dealership.

Let’s take a look at some of the benefits vehicle protection plans offer for new drivers:

Cobertura completa

Endurance Warranty covers all of your vehicle’s essential components. The best part is you get to decide which car parts need protection and which don’t. Whether you want a limited powertrain warranty covering the major parts that make your vehicle drive or comprehensive coverage similar to your original factory warranty,

Endurance Warranty has coverage plans that suit your lifestyle and needs. Mechanical breakdowns don’t have to mean costly repair bills. Endurance can protect nearly everything from the engine and the transmission to the high-tech advanced technology features, ensuring your Honda Civic stays on the road longer.

Financial Protection

Many new or teen drivers don’t have experience with routine maintenance and repair costs. Not only that, but many don’t have experience in performing their own vehicle maintenance. Often, new drivers overlook minor vehicle problems until they become major car repairs.

An extended car warranty for the Honda Civic can provide a financial safety net against high out-of-pocket repair expenses. An extended vehicle warranty can give new drivers peace of mind, knowing that their major repairs are covered in the event of a mechanical breakdown, ensuring their car gets the repairs it needs to last longer.

Budget Planning

It takes time for new drivers to learn how to manage their finances and expenses on their own. Having a new car is a huge financial responsibility. An expected monthly payment of an extended car warranty is often easier to budget for than unexpected repair bills with a great first car like a Civic.

Reliable Vehicle Repairs

When you experience your first vehicle breakdown or malfunction, knowing who to trust with the repairs can be difficult. An auto protection plan from Endurance Warranty ensures that your car will be repaired by an Mecánico certificado ASE, repair shop, or dealership so that your repairs are done efficiently and correctly with quality replacement parts.

With Endurance, you can choose any ASE Certified automotive technician you trust. If you don’t have one, Endurance customers have access to the vast network of trusted mechanics through the RepairPal Partner Network, so you can locate a reliable mechanic nearby.

Transferability and Resale Value

Honda Civics are so durable that you’re likely to be ready to upgrade to another vehicle long before your Civic wears out. Endurance Warranty plans are transferable to the next owner when you’re ready to sell your car. An existing warranty helps potential buyers feel confident that the vehicle was well cared for and that they’re protected in case something unexpected happens. A transferable extended car warranty can increase the car’s sellability and boost the overall resale value.

Beneficios adicionales

Every Endurance Warranty plan comes with a suite of additional benefits, ensuring that your new driver won’t be stranded on the side of the road. Benefits include Asistencia en carretera 24 horas al día, 7 días a la semana, towing, and lockout services, rental car reimbursement, and trip interruption coverage, to name a few.

New drivers can add another layer of protection to their starter vehicle by activating a year’s worth of Beneficios de Endurance Élite, maximizing their savings. Add on protection for tire replacements or repairs, key fob replacements, collision discounts, and more to your umbrella of financial security.*

Protect Your New Driver and Investment with Endurance Warranty

The Honda Civic is one of the best first cars on the market. It’s a budget-friendly, safe, and reliable car, helping new drivers and Honda enthusiasts alike get to their destinations safely.

An extended car warranty for a Honda Civic is often an excellent investment to keep your vehicle running smoother and safer for new drivers. Before signing any vehicle service contract, though, new drivers need to review the terms and conditions, exclusions, deductibles, and fine print to ensure that they have the best extended car warranty for their lifestyle and budget.

Call an Endurance plan advisor at (800) 253-8203 for your complimentary quote today. Our team is ready to answer any questions you may have and help you find the best option for your Honda Civic and your budget. Don’t wait until you’re stuck on the road to get protection — see your price now by shopping online!

Still looking around? The Endurance Warranty blog is an excellent resource for answering your frequently asked questions, definitions for common extended car warranty terminology, and informational automotive blogs like warranty plan comparisons, which vehicles to avoid, y how to identify necessary repairs.