Due to extremely high new and used car prices, as well as high interest rate loans, many car shoppers have turned to "older" models to better fit their budgets. And one of their favorites has been the Honda Civic due to its excellent reputation for reliability and dependability.
In fact, a well-maintained 2013 Civic is expected to last in the 20-year range and cover more than 250,000 miles. But, of course, all car models require regular maintenance and have possible mechanical tendencies and quirks, even a Civic.
So here, we'll take a look at its ...
- Reliability
- Common problems
- Pros and cons
- Price negotiation
More On Reliability: Also, if you'd like to compare this Civic model year to the reliability of other model years, be sure to read Honda Civic Reliability & Problems: Best Used Models & Years. This comprehensive guide highlights the best years to buy or avoid, common problems, potential maintenance costs, and more, and will likely help you make the right choice for your needs.
2013 Honda Civic Reliability
The 2013 Civic is widely regarded as one of the best compact cars on the used market. Following a significant refresh for the 2013 model year, Honda improved ride quality, interior materials, handling, and standard equipment while retaining the Civic's outstanding reputation for reliability. With proper maintenance, many examples easily surpass 250,000 miles.
The standard 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine is exceptionally durable and is known for its low operating costs, excellent fuel economy, and long service life. Both the five-speed automatic and five-speed manual transmissions have proven highly reliable, making the 2013 Civic an excellent choice for buyers seeking dependable transportation with minimal maintenance costs.
Most reported issues are relatively minor and typical of an aging compact car. Buyers should inspect for worn suspension components, aging air conditioning systems, brake wear, and routine maintenance records. Overall, the 2013 Civic has very few widespread mechanical problems and remains one of the most dependable vehicles in its class.
- Overall reliability: Excellent
- Expected lifespan: 250,000 to 300,000+ miles with proper maintenance
- Best choice: 1.8-liter four-cylinder with documented maintenance records
- Watch for: Suspension wear, air conditioning performance, brake components, and complete service records
Bottom line: The 2013 Honda Civic is one of the most dependable compact cars of its generation. A well-maintained example offers outstanding reliability, excellent fuel economy, and low ownership costs, making it an excellent used-car purchase.
- Why it's a good choice: Proven powertrain, outstanding reliability, excellent fuel economy, and low ownership costs
- Biggest concern: Verify routine maintenance and inspect for normal age-related wear items
- Best version: 1.8-liter four-cylinder with documented service records
- Buy only if: The vehicle has been well maintained and passes a pre-purchase inspection
The 2013 Civic remains one of the best used compact cars available and is still an excellent choice for buyers seeking dependable, economical transportation that can provide many years of reliable service.
Possibly Buying One? Avoid These Dealer Traps
Before you negotiate, learn:
How to avoid giving the dealer the upper hand on a used car
How to avoid overpaying for a new car
What you may not know about dealer trade-in offers
2013 Civic Mechanical Problem Watchlist:
The 2013 Civic, while generally proven to be quite reliable, still had incidents of owners reporting mechanical issues and concerns. Fortunately, they have not been widespread but should still be checked prior to buying.
Transmission Issues: Some owners reported issues with the automatic transmission, primarily related to hesitation or jerky shifts, especially in the earlier part of the model year. Honda addressed some of these concerns through software updates or replacements under warranty.
Engine Problems: Some owners reported the motor shutting off while driving. This was usually caused by faulty sensor issues which fortunately is a fairly inexpensive repair (in the $200 range).
Brake Problems: There were occasional complaints about premature wear of brake components.
Interior Material Quality: While not a mechanical issue per se, some drivers noted that interior materials showed wear relatively quickly or felt less durable.
Exhaust System Rattles: A few owners reported rattling noises from the exhaust system, which could be bothersome.
Suspension Noise: Some drivers experienced noise or rattling from the suspension system, particularly over rough roads or bumps.
Again, it's important to note that while these issues were reported by some owners, they were not widespread problems across all 2013 Civics. Many owners have had trouble-free experiences with this model when properly cared for.
2013 Civic Pros
Reliability: Honda is known for its reliability, and the Civic is no exception. It generally has a good track record for dependability.
Resale Value: Hondas tend to hold their value well, and the Civic is popular enough that it retains decent resale value compared to some other cars in its class.
Multiple Model And Powertrain Choices: This Civic has wide consumer appeal due to the availability of both coupe and sedan body styles, a performance-oriented Si model, a super-efficient hybrid version and even a natural-gas-powered model.
Safety Features: The 2013 model often comes equipped with features such as stability control, antilock brakes, front-seat side airbags, full-length side curtain airbags, and a rearview camera in some trims.
Excellent Fuel Economy: With the automatic transmission, the 1.8-liter engine gets an impressive EPA-estimated 28 mpg city and 39 mpg on the highway. These numbers decrease slightly with the manual to 28 city and 36 highway, while the HF model comes in at 29 and 41, respectively.
Gas mileage for the more powerful Civic Si is an EPA-estimated 22 mpg city and 31 highway.
Fuel economy for the hybrid, not surprisingly, is the best among the models at 44 mpg city and highway, while the hydrogen model gets a gasoline equivalent of 27 city and 38 highway.
Comfortable And Composed Ride: The Civic has always been one of the nicer-driving cars in the segment and the upgrades to the suspension and steering this year make it even better. The overall ride quality is high, being both smooth and comfortable as most bumps are easily absorbed. It's also easy to drive and a confident handler.
It should be noted, however, that while not harsh, the Si's firmer suspension and 17-inch wheels subtract a bit from ride comfort.
But again on the positive side, the additional noise-insulation is an added plus as it addressed the wind noise problem in previous models.
Relatively Spacious Cabin: The sedan's front legroom and headroom is on par with other class leaders, while the rear quarters provide generous legroom, moreso than top competitors such as the Chevrolet Cruze and Ford Focus.
2013 Civic Cons
Interior Quality: Although improved, some feel the interior materials were still not up to par compared to competitors, giving it a slightly cheap feel.
Uncomfortable Seating: The Civic is an economy car and doesn’t have the same level of cushioning as more expensive vehicles. For some owners, the seats are unsupportive and uncomfortable.
Infotainment System: The technology in the 2013 model might be outdated for some drivers. The infotainment system and interface might feel behind compared to more modern cars.
Over-Loaded Dash With Navigation: While most of the controls are properly-placed, and the steering wheel's menu buttons and keypads are user-friendly enough for those accustomed to a smartphone, there just can seem to be an overload of inputs and gauges.
Just the steering wheel by itself sports as many as 14 directional commands and buttons, while models equipped with navigation are particularly busy-looking.
Adequate But Uninspiring Brakes: The braking system remains the same as last year's, which was found to be a bit ho-hum in independent performance tests. The Civic EX-L stopped from 60 mph in a somewhat long 131 feet. The Hybrid did a little better at 124 feet, while the Si did best at 120 feet ... all trailing other top rival compacts.
Small trunk In Some Models: While the Civic sedan offers an adequate 12.5 cubic feet of cargo capacity and 11.7 in the coupe, the Hybrid's battery pack limits trunk space to a small 10.7 cubic feet. The Natural Gas model's trunk is smaller still due to its larger fuel tank.
High-Tech Features Lag Rivals: While Honda has added popular tech features such as hands-free text messaging and Pandora Internet radio as standard, more serious techies may be attracted to the superior infotainment offerings of some rivals, although many are available as options only.
Lack Of Versatile 5-door Hatchback Model: Unlike the Ford Focus, Mazda3 and Hyundai Elantra, this Civic lineup does not include a sporty and versatile 5-door hatchback.
How Much Can You Negotiate on a 2013 Honda Civic?
The negotiating room is usually smaller than average because these cars have an excellent reputation for reliability, strong resale value, and remain in high demand on the used-car market.
Here's what I'd consider realistic:
| Seller Type | Typical Negotiating Room |
|---|---|
| Private seller | 3–8% |
| Independent used-car dealer | 3–7% |
| Franchised Honda dealership | 2–6% |
| High-demand, low-mileage example | 0–3% |
| High-mileage or needs tires/brakes | 5–10% |
Example
If a dealer is asking $11,995:
- Excellent deal: $10,900–$11,300
- Typical purchase price: $11,300–$11,800
- Paying full asking price: Only if the car is exceptionally clean, low mileage, and recently serviced.
If you follow my preferred negotiating method, detailed in my Used Car Negotiation Price Guide, you'll often do better.
(For "new" cars, see our "New" Car Negotiation Price Guide.)
What Creates Negotiating Room?
You may be able to negotiate several hundred dollars more if the vehicle needs:
- New tires ($600–$900)
- Brake work ($300–$700)
- A 100,000-mile service
- Suspension repairs or alignment work
- Cosmetic scratches or dents
- Has multiple previous owners or an accident history
- Has been on the dealer's lot for 45–60 days or longer
My rule of thumb: For a typical 2013 Honda Civic priced between $10,000 and $14,000, I'd usually expect a successful buyer to negotiate about $500 to $1,000 off at a dealership. More than that is certainly possible, but usually only if the vehicle has obvious shortcomings or has been sitting unsold for an extended period.
Because the Civic is one of the strongest-selling used compact cars, dealers generally don't have to discount them as heavily as many competing vehicles. Your best strategy is to shop several similar Civics at different dealerships and let them compete for your business rather than negotiating against just one seller. In my experience, that's where buyers usually achieve the biggest savings.
Other Price Negotiation Considerations
If you'd like to get a realistic estimate of how much you can negotiate off other year, make, and models, this is also included in my Used Car Price Negotiation Guide.
A trade-in also significantly effects the bottom-line price. To get an accurate and fair price, it's important to learn how dealers really determine trade-in prices and exactly what car buyers can do to assure the proper offer. Please see my Fair Trade-In Value Guide.
2013 Honda Civic Overview
2013 was an important year for the Civic. After being matched and even surpassed by strong competitors in previous years, the 2013's upgrades addressed its weaknesses and added improvements that once again placed it among the very best values available.
It benefited with a sportier look while the interior was also upgraded with higher quality materials that give it a more upscale overall look and feel.
The standard feature offerings were also expanded to include some that are usually options on its rivals, such as a rearview camera, Bluetooth, an iPod interface, hands-free text messaging and Pandora functionality.
Beyond its looks and features, there were significant mechanical revisions as well. Both the suspension and steering were recalibrated for improved handling, while additional noise-insulation provided a quieter ride.
Rivals
Also, it's always a good idea to check out the other top choices before making a final buying decision. Those worthy of consideration would include the Chevy Cruze, the Ford Focus, the Hyundai Elantra, the Mazda3, the all-wheel drive Subaru Impreza and the Volkswagen Jetta.
Before Selling Or Trading Your Current Car
Dealers Are Looking For Used Cars
Strong demand for used vehicles means many dealers are actively buying cars directly from consumers, often paying more than buyers expect.
- You may receive a better offer than you think.
- A private sale means advertising, meeting strangers, test drives, paperwork, and negotiating.
- Many owners also prefer to avoid the stress of negotiating a trade-in at the dealership.
If a fast, hassle-free sale sounds appealing, or you simply want to see a no-obligation offer, you can get an instant online offer here.