We’ve told you about a number of audacious dealer markups and add-on fees in the past. The power of the internet allows the common person to rise up and call out dealers for such greedy practices. And that’s exactly what’s going on right now over on Reddit where one user is trying to wrap their head around a convoluted, roughly $3.6k markup – and that’s not including any suspicious and totally arbitrary dealer fees worth a few thousand dollars extra, listed on an everyday Honda Civic hatchback that has a $26,240 MSRP.\
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Let’s be clear too that we’re not talking about a Civic Type R and we’re not even talking about a Civic Si. The Civic in question is evidently just an everyday Civic with a manual transmission. User cfvhbvcv posted an image allegedly from West Shore Honda near Tampa, FL.

On it we see a bunch of red flags. Instead of starting with Honda’s MSRP (Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price), the top line lists the MVSP (Market Value Selling Price). Guess which one of those is an arbitrary number that the dealer gets to decide on. Next, we see a discount of $9,400.84 which is frankly surprising and fantastic frankly. Of course, it’s followed up just three lines down by a $9,995 market adjustment.




So the dealer offers a discount only to then charge roughly $600 more than that discount. On top of all that, there’s a $2,995 “Westshore Adv” line which seems to be the dealer’s suite of random services that many customers don’t want or even care about like “Nitrogen Tire Service”, and “Anti-Theft VIN Etching.”According to the original poster, he’s negotiated a few of these fees down so that the total price has dropped from what was originally $45k. Currently, he’s about to be on the hook for $34,999. He’s evidently been told that some fees like the Westshore Advantage Plan are non-negotiable.

Those unreasonable negotiating tactics and greedy extra fees have the comment section rolling. “Greedy Dealerships worlds taking advantage of people in an economic downturn,” read one comment. “If you bought this you’re a borderline idiot. you’ll be stuck in a huge loss for years to come,” said another.

The original poster got some helpful advice too though. One comment read “Don’t be afraid to travel to buy a car either. I find it hilarious that people won’t buy a $400 airline ticket to fly a few states way to save $5000+. Makes zero sense.” Another one had a personal experience to share “Thats very similar to the best price I was quoted on a Civic in Tampa. I was able to do much better on a Corolla, I would have preferred Civic but Corolla was a much better deal once markups we’re considered.”There are a number of important lessons here. Firstly, ask advice from other knowledgeable car people before you buy. Secondly, be willing to look outside of your local area because good dealers (which we’re told do exist) will sell you the car you want at a reasonable price. Then you can have it delivered or take a one way flight, train ride or bus ride to go pick up your new car before driving it home.

We’re not sure exactly how this saga will end but we can assure you that this poster seems intent on buying THIS Honda Civic even if it costs him thousands in the long run. One commenter might have summed it up best. “$35,000 for a civic LOL you’re the reason we have runaway inflation.”

Honda issued a stop sale on the Civic Type R Friday over faulty welds in the driver's side seat cushion frame, according to a dealer communication from the automaker.

The issue means that the frame could fail to secure the seat during a collision, reducing the effectiveness of restraining safety measures, according to a dealer notice posted to the Civic XI forum and filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Friday.

The weld issue is a result of "improper manufacturing," the document says. While a failure during a crash is the most catastrophic risk, the weld issue can also lead to squeaking and rattling noises that have been noted by Civic Type R owners on the same forum since November.

No specific VIN range or build window is included in the notice, but the document does clarify that an internal system would return which cars do and do not need the repair. At least one user on the Civic XI forum thread has already reached out to their dealer and found that their car is not impacted.

The document claims that parts for the repair are not yet available and says that Honda will not begin notifying owners of cars with the relevant issue until mid-May 2023. The stop-sale is dated as starting on March 31 and set to continue "until further notice," presumably when a repair procedure is set and completed.

Tucked in a dry press release, American Honda has just revealed the first official images of the redesigned Civic in Sedan Hybrid form while mostly talking about the sales it wants to achieve this year.

American Honda finished 2023 with a red ribbon – annual sales were up no less than 33%, topping 1.3 million units – primarily thanks to the namesake Honda brand, which finished the tally with 1,162,531 deliveries, up almost 32%. Acura's percentage was even higher (+42%), but the figures are quite small - 145,655. However, they have high hopes for wrapping 2024 with even higher figures.

For example, Honda achieved record electrified sales in 2023 – the CR-V Hybrid was even America's best-selling hybrid model, and the Accord Hybrid was on the throne of hybrid passenger cars. In total, CR-V and Accord hybrids represented over one-quarter of total Honda brand sales last year, according to the company. So, it's only natural they want to keep the strong momentum.

The best way to do so is simple – customers will have an additional hybrid option alongside the Accord and CR-V. More precisely, the Japanese automaker is prepared to launch the eagerly awaited 2025 Civic Hybrid on the US market, and the good news is that the four-door sedan comes rocking a subtle facelift procedure. Tucked in that business-focused press release, the accompanying images presented the refreshed 2025 Honda Civic Sedan Hybrid in all its glory, dressed in crimson and sporting the Sport Touring Hybrid trim level.

As far as we can tell, the styling of the redesigned 2025 Civic makes the eleventh generation more mature than ever, and it's probably coming to the market later this year with pricing that is hopefully competitive with the $23,500 starting MSRP of the 2024 Toyota Corolla Hybrid. The interior hasn't been shown yet, and we bet that Honda will soon give us a dedicated press release moment to address all 2025 Civic facelift and Hybrid questions sooner rather than later, now that the red cat is out of the bag.

Oh, in case anyone wondered what the business outcome for 2024 is all about, Honda's Senior Vice President of Sales, Mamadou Diallo, explained: "In 2023, we were finally able to meet the pent-up demand for our products with both brands rebounding and American Honda finishing the year up over 30%. We projected a strong recovery, and we achieved that. This year, we will continue to capitalize on hybrid models and light trucks as we begin sales of our first high-volume BEV models. Along with continued investment in our ICE products, we are anticipating increased annual sales for both Honda and Acura in 2024."

So, the Honda Prologue and Acura ZDX are coming, but there's also a CR-V Fuel Cell Vehicle (FCEV) on the way. Additionally, Acura will introduce the 2025 MDX with "significant enhancements" and a new touchscreen driver interface, perform upgrades on the RDX, and bring out an all-new base crossover to sit alongside the Integra. Honda, meanwhile, will boast Hybrid options for both the Sedan and Hatchback 2025 Civic models, in addition to the facelift. Last but not least, the Odyssey will also receive "styling and technology enhancements to maintain its competitiveness in the minivan segment."

So, what do you think – will Honda present an excellent alternative to the 2024 Toyota Corolla Hybrid, or will the Civic Hybrid be too expensive for its own sake?

Coachbuilding is almost a lost art, but Japanese company Mitsuoka is trying to keep the magic alive. It has built some weird cars over the years, including a retro Miata that looked like a Morgan Aero 8 and a Jaguar XK120 had an affair. The most unconventional build in recent memory was this – the M55. Initially a concept, the fake muscle car is going into production.

Unveiled in November 2023 to celebrate Mitsuoka's 55th anniversary, the quirky Dodge Challenger lookalike is actually a Honda Civic underneath its vintage body. In the months that have passed, the company has received more than 1,300 messages from people wanting to buy the contraption: "This was the first time for us to receive such passionate messages directly from so many people of all ages and both sexes."

Due to popular demand, Mitsuoka has decided to make the M55 a reality. However, it's going to take a while. The company intends to have the car on sale near the end of 2025. Additional details are yet to be disclosed but we'll remind you the concept was based on the Civic five-door hatchback and had a 1.5-liter engine hooked up to a six-speed manual gearbox.

Last month, Honda brought a sporty Civic RS prototype to the 2024 Tokyo Auto Salon, possibly hinting at a Civic Si hatchback with a stick shift. It'd be great if Mitsuoka would build the M55 with the larger and more potent 2.0-liter engine. Either way, the fake Challenger with right-hand drive is going to be sold only in Japan.

While the car's front says Challenger, the rear makes us think of 1970s Japanese coupes, such as a Nissan Skyline or a Mitsubishi Galant GTO. The profile is an obvious reminder that the automotive oddity is a Civic at its core. Inside, Mitsuoka went through the trouble of adding retro-looking blue upholstery and it swapped out the Honda badge on the steering wheel for its logo.


The M55 may be an acquired taste but we must give credit where it's due. Mitsuoka certainly has imagination, and there are apparently enough people interested to warrant the development of a production model. This is more than just a comprehensive body kit since the headlights and taillights are also tailor-made, as is the front grille. The rear window louvers seem to take inspiration from a 1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1.

Mitsuoka reckons it won't be able to build enough cars to meet demand because the conversion will take time since all necessary changes will be performed manually. Pricing has yet to be disclosed but given the extent of the modifications, it's safe to say it won't be cheap.

Building on the success of the 11th generation Civic - the 2022 North American Car of the Year - the refreshed 2025 Honda Civic adds more style, more tech and with the available two-motor hybrid powertrain, a lot more power. Positioned at the top of the lineup and expected to receive an EPA combined fuel economy rating nearing 50 mpg, the new Civic hybrid, offered as either a sedan or hatchback, combines the fun-to-drive spirit of Civic with the award-winning Honda two-motor hybrid system.

The 2025 Civic will be available in four trim levels, starting with LX (sedan only) and Sport, and topped by the hybrid-powered Sport Hybrid and Sport Touring Hybrid. The new hybrid-electric models will represent about 40% of Civic sales as a key step in the Honda electrification strategy. The 2025 Civic sedan will begin arriving at Honda dealers next month, while the Civic hatchback will arrive later this summer.

"The new Civic hybrid is a perfectly-timed addition to the Honda lineup as hybrid-electric sales continue to grow, providing Honda with an important building block toward 100% zero-emissions vehicle sales by 2040," said Lance Woelfer, assistant vice president of Honda National Auto Sales, American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "Honda hybrid-electric models represented over one-quarter of our overall brand sales in 2023, and the fun-to-drive Civic hybrid is a fantastic new product at the gateway of our popular electrified lineup along with Accord hybrid, CR-V hybrid and the all-electric Prologue."

Civic is Honda's longest-running automotive nameplate and Americans have purchased more than 12 million Civics since 1973, making it one of the top three best-selling passenger cars in America over the past 51 years. An unparalleled success, the 11th-generation Civic serves as the gateway to the Honda brand and America's most popular vehicle with Gen Z buyers, first-time new car buyers as well as multicultural customers.

Most Powerful Non-Type R Civic Ever

With an anticipated combined 200 horsepower and an impressive 232 lb.-ft. of torque,the new Civic hybrid-electric powered trims are the most powerful non-Type R Civics ever, providing quick, effortless acceleration while receiving outstanding EPA fuel economy ratings. Linear Shift Control further elevates the driving experience by mimicking the vehicle speed-linked rev feel typically associated with a conventional drivetrain shifting gears under acceleration. The resulting performance is even quicker than the outgoing 1.5L turbo-powered Civic.

The Honda two-motor hybrid system maximizes efficiency without compromising dynamic performance or passenger and cargo space. Optimized for the Civic and delivering a sporty driving experience, the refined Honda two-motor hybrid-electric power unit features two large and powerful electric motors.

In addition, the new Civic hybrids have four levels of regenerative-braking deceleration available through selector paddles on the steering wheel. The multiple levels provide a wide range of control during deceleration.

To further amplify Civic's legendary fun-to-drive spirit and class-leading ride comfort, the ride and handling dynamics of Civic hybrid have been optimized with unique spring and damper tuning, and a specifically-developed tire. Hybrid trims also enjoy the lowest NVH levels in the Civic lineup, with a robust noise reduction package that includes Active Noise Control on all hybrids, and wheel resonators on Sport Touring trims.

To support affordability for young buyers, Civic LX and Sport trims continue to be powered by a responsive and efficient 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine. Sport Hybrid and Sport Touring Hybrid trims benefit from Honda's powerful yet efficient two-motor hybrid system.

Drivers can seamlessly switch between selectable drive modes to optimize the Civic driving experience for various conditions. Econ, Normal, and Sport (Sport and hybrid trims only) modes feature pre-set performance settings for powertrain response, steering assist level and gauge cluster layout. Civic Sport Touring Hybrid models also feature a new Individual mode that enables customization of the driving experience.

Enhanced Design

The exterior styling of every 2025 Honda Civic is enhanced with a new more aggressive front fascia and grille, while new darker taillights give Civic sedan a sharper look. For an even sportier look, the new more-powerful hybrid-powered trims get a distinct body colored headlamp garnish and front lower spoiler. All Sport trims continue to feature dark trim and black 18-inch wheels. A new machine-finished wheel design is exclusive to the top-of-the-line Sport Touring Hybrid.

Four bold new colors including Solar Silver Metallic, Urban Gray Pearl, Blue Lagoon Pearl (exclusive to Civic sedan) and Sand Dune Pearl (exclusive to Civic hatchback) enhance the appearance of the 2025 Civic.

Inside, the simple and clean Civic interior is also refreshed. All hybrid models are now available with a gray interior color. Sport Hybrid also comes standard with a moonroof, heated front seats and dual zone climate controls.

The Sport Touring Hybrid adds leather seating, a 12-speaker Bose premium audio system and intuitive technology, including a larger 9-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto™ compatibility and a wireless smartphone charger. All Civic models now come standard with front USB-C ports.

Google built-In

Additionally, the top-line Sport Touring Hybrid features Civic's first integration of Google built-in. This includes apps like Google Assistant, Google Maps and more on Google Play for a helpful, personalized and connected driving experience with a complimentary 3-year unlimited data plan.

With Google Assistant, users can get things done while keeping their eyes on the road and their hands on the wheel. Talk to Google to easily call or text a friend, set reminders, or even change the temperature in the car. Users can also navigate to the next destination or look up what's nearby. For example, Google Assistant enables users to set their destination in Google Maps using just their voice, with the route map then displayed in the instrument cluster.

Drivers can control their media by asking Google to skip to the next track or rewind a podcast using their favorite media apps with just their voice. Google Play enables users to download various 3rd-party apps for music, podcasts and audiobooks, just like they would on their smartphone.

Safety for Everyone

The 11th-generation Civic is a safety leader in the compact class thanks to advanced active and passive safety technology that comes standard on every Civic. This includes Honda's proprietary Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure designed to help protect occupants in a wide variety of frontal collisions, along with advanced supplemental restraint systems.

Civic's driver and passenger front airbags were designed to minimize the potential for severe brain trauma associated with angled frontal collisions. The front driver's airbag uses an innovative donut-shaped structure to cradle and cradle the head to reduce rotation. The passenger-side front airbag uses a three-chamber design with the two outer chambers designed to achieve a similar result. All Civic models also feature pretensioning front seatbelts, and front, side, knee and side-curtain airbags.

Based on Honda's long standing "Safety for Everyone" approach, which focuses on advancing safety for everyone sharing the road, all Civic models are equipped with the Honda Sensing® suite of safety and driver-assistive technologies, which includes Collision Mitigation Braking System™ (CMBS™) with Pedestrian Detection; Forward Collision Warning; Road Departure Mitigation (RDM) incorporating Lane Departure Warning (LDW); Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS); and Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC). All Sport models are now also equipped with Blind Spot with Rear Cross Traffic Alert.

Manufacturing

Honda has produced more than 11 million Civics in North America, including more than five million in the United States, accounting for more than a quarter of our vehicle production in the region since Honda began making cars in America in 1982. The 11th-generation Civic continues to build on that legacy with production of the Civic Sedan in Alliston, Ontario, Canada, and Civic Hatchback at the company's Greensburg, Indiana plant.

Associates at Honda Power Unit Operations facilities in Ohio - including the Anna Engine Plant and Ohio Transmission Plant - build both the two-motor hybrid-electric power unit and 2.0-liter Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder engine for the Accord, CR-V and Civic hybrids.