Evaluating a 2019 Honda Civic CVT purchase: Buy or pass?

My other options are a new Creta or Seltos, but both of them have a long waiting period

BHPian sp2894 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hi, I am based out of Delhi NCR and am currently evaluating a Civic ZX CVT Oct 2019 make which has done 27,000 kilometres. This car will be almost exclusively used by me and my sister. Other cars currently with us are a 2020 Endeavour and a 2014 Celerio manual.

The Civic is owned by a close relative in MP and hence service history and past issues are not a concern. My other options include a new Creta or Seltos but the waiting periods are insane. I already have a booking for Creta SX IVT however the dealer is unable to commit to a delivery date.

Regarding the Civic, I love its styling and sporty nature. However, This shall be my first car and hence immediate family is a little sceptical about going the used route.

As I require a car urgently, request forum members to share their points of view.

Also please share the ballpark fair price if I were to go ahead with this car!

Here’s what GTO had to say on the matter:

Go for it. The 10th-gen Civic looks awesome has a smooth CVT and is a fun handler. What’s more, Honda gives you extended warranties up to the 10th year, making long-term ownership relatively fuss-free.

1. Follow our used car checklist to the T (including service history, checking past insurance claims etc.).
2. Go through our Honda Civic Review to better understand the car.

27,000 km is nothing for this car and it’ll easily serve you & your sister well for 150,000 – 200,000 km. Because you already have a big SUV & a small hatchback, the Civic will nicely slot in between them.

Here’s what BHPian NarediAni7518 had to say on the matter:

Have been driving once since March 2019 and with about 22k on the odo, get the car eyes closed. There are a few issues which I would like to address:

1. CVT has really messed up with the car’s engine & performance
2. There’s a lot of road noise with the stock tyres
3. Music system could have been much better
4. A few other essentials could have been provided like ventilated seats, sunshades for the rear windscreen and a bigger boot in a notchback style like the Octavia. If you want to know anything specifically about the car then do let me know I’ll be happy to answer them.

Here’s what BHPian ajmat had to say on the matter:

I tested it and liked it a lot.

It handles really well and was the only car worth considering as a Jetta replacement in that segment. However, the only fly in the ointment is the CVT box. It requires a little getting used to and you need to be resigned to chilled-out driving.

Also, if you prang it, parts might be difficult to get hold of! A holiday in Thailand might be a great excuse for parts gathering!

Bring in the new B-EV version and I might buy it.

Here’s what BHPian Dead_Pedal had to say on the matter:

I’m not sure about the ease of getting a car from a different state due to RTO-related challenges but if that’s sorted then go for it! I got one with less than 8000km on the odo and couldn’t be happier with my choice. There were many other options(new City, Creta, Seltos, Taigun, Kushaq etc) at that price point however I was never convinced by them. While it raised a lot of eyebrows for spending a big sum of money on a pre-owned car, I was clear about my choice. It had to be a well-kept Civic/Corolla only. You will not get that quality in any other new car currently in the market at that price. They are compromised in one way or the other.

But the Civic is more suited for the highways and nice wide roads which our cities lack due to its nearly 6m turning radius. If you plan to take it out on short runs with frequent getting in and out, it’s going to tire you out as you’re literally falling into a pit inside. But, once seated it’s very comfortable and you’ll enjoy the low and sporty posture! Also, you need to open the front door more than 60 degrees wide to be able to get out of it comfortably. Parking in tight spots can be a challenge and the car definitely isn’t senior citizen friendly.

The spares if required will take at least 3 weeks to reach the dealership in the South once ordered as they have to be dispatched from Greater Noida.

Have a look at the Civic and you’ll immediately figure out the magic of getting well-kept pre-owned cars from a segment above. The Civic never made sense to me at 27.5 lakh OTR but it’s an absolute steal in the pre-owned car market. It’s a first-world car and it shows. For example, compare it with the Honda City 5th gen itself and you’ll immediately realize the difference. Get it before the rest of the crowd suddenly starts loving sedans again over SUVs, picks it up and get lucky.

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