2016 Honda Civic MPG
EPA ratings for the 2016 Honda Civic run from 26–31 mpg in town to 37–42 on the highway, or 30–35 combined, depending on which of its 6 versions you look at.
The most efficient pairs the 1.5-liter turbo 4-cylinder engine with a CVT and front-wheel drive, at 35 mpg combined. At the other end, the 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine with a manual transmission and front-wheel drive manages 30 mpg combined, 5 mpg less. That is 1 mpg better than the best gasoline 2015 version (34 mpg).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Civic 4Dr | 1.5 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | Front-Wheel Drive | 31 | 42 | 35 | Regular · 252 g CO₂/mi |
| Civic 2Dr | 1.5 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | Front-Wheel Drive | 31 | 41 | 35 | Regular · 250 g CO₂/mi |
| Civic 4Dr | 2.0 L 4-cyl | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | Front-Wheel Drive | 30 | 40 | 34 | Regular · 262 g CO₂/mi |
| Civic 2Dr | 2.0 L 4-cyl | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | Front-Wheel Drive | 30 | 39 | 34 | Regular · 265 g CO₂/mi |
| Civic 4Dr | 2.0 L 4-cyl | Manual 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 27 | 38 | 31 | Regular · 287 g CO₂/mi |
| Civic 2Dr | 2.0 L 4-cyl | Manual 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 26 | 37 | 30 | Regular · 293 g CO₂/mi |
2016 Honda Civic fuel cost per year
Driving 15,000 miles a year on regular gasoline at the September 2026 U.S. average of $4.36 a gallon, the 2016 Honda Civic costs about $1,870 a year to fuel in its most efficient form (35 mpg combined), or roughly 12 cents a mile.
The thirstiest priced version (30 mpg combined) comes to about $2,180 a year, $310 more.
This is an estimate from EPA combined mpg and the EIA national average price; your cost depends on how and where you drive and on local prices.
2016 Honda Civic specs
The EPA lists 2 engine choices for the 2016 Honda Civic: 2.0 L 4-cyl and 1.5 L 4-cyl turbo. It came with continuously variable (CVT) and manual transmissions, with front-wheel drive. For fuel-economy purposes it sits in the EPA's "Midsize Cars" class.
| Engine size (L) | Cylinders | Transmissions | Drive | Versions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 L | 4 | Automatic (variable gear ratios); Manual 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 4 |
| 1.5 L turbo | 4 | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | Front-Wheel Drive | 2 |
2016 Honda Civic problems
As of October 2026, NHTSA (the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) holds 1,083 owner complaints about the 2016 Honda Civic.
Steering is the most-reported area (32% of component mentions), followed by electrical system (9%) and engine (7%).
Spread over its time on sale, that is 98 complaints a year: more than the 2015 (33 a year) and the 2017 (60 a year).
That ranks 2nd of 17 Honda Civic model years (2008–2024), counting from the most complaints per year.
Of the 1,083, 36 mention a crash, 4 a fire and 13 an injury.
| Component | Mentions | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 446 | 32% |
| Unknown or other | 253 | 18% |
| Electrical system | 120 | 9% |
| Engine | 95 | 7% |
| Service brakes | 92 | 7% |
| Structure | 48 | 3% |
| Visibility/wiper | 47 | 3% |
| Power train | 37 | 3% |
| Exterior lighting | 30 | 2% |
| Air bags | 28 | 2% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 28 | 2% |
| Electronic stability control (esc) | 27 | 2% |
| Visibility | 20 | 1% |
| Wheels | 19 | 1% |
| Equipment | 17 | 1% |
| Vehicle speed control | 17 | 1% |
| Forward collision avoidance | 11 | <1% |
| Tires | 8 | <1% |
| Lane departure | 7 | <1% |
| Suspension | 6 | <1% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 4 | <1% |
| Seat belts | 4 | <1% |
| Seats | 4 | <1% |
| Parking brake | 3 | <1% |
| Gasoline fuel system | 2 | <1% |
| Air service brakes | 2 | <1% |
| Back over prevention | 1 | <1% |
| Hydraulic service brakes | 1 | <1% |
What owners told NHTSA
Power steering rack needs replacement. No damage cause by myself. Later models of the same vehicle have recalls on the power steering rack. …
Honda civic is stalling while driving due to faulty fuel pump or fuel delivery component. Computer not coordinating correct power.
The check engine light came on the car had no power. The head gasket was blown.
2016 Honda Civic recalls
The 2016 Honda Civic has been the subject of 5 recall campaigns.
The most recent, campaign 26V332000 from May 2026, concerns air bags.
16V725000 · October 11, 2016 · Parking brake
Problem: The electric parking brake (EPB) may not engage if it is applied immediately after turning the ignition off.
Risk: If the EPB is not applied, the vehicle may roll away, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will update the vehicle's software to allow the EPB to engage immediately after the ignition is turned off, free of charge.
16V526000 · July 11, 2016 · Exterior lighting
Problem: The affected vehicles may have a damaged LED side marker light circuit board inside the taillight assembly, making the marker light inoperable. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Assoc.
Risk: If a side marker light does not function, vehicle visibility can be decreased to other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect both the taillight assemblies, replacing them as necessary, free of charge.
16V074000 · February 9, 2016 · Engine and engine cooling
Problem: The affected vehicles have engines with piston assemblies that may have been manufactured without a piston wrist pin circlip or with an incorrectly installed piston wrist pin circlip.
Risk: If a circlip is missing or incorrectly installed, the piston wrist pin may not be secure and may drift and damage the engine cylinder causing the engine to seize, and increasing the risk of a crash or a fire.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the piston assemblies and damaged engine components, as necessary, free of charge.
| Campaign | Reported | Component | Civic years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26V332000 | May 21, 2026 | Air bags | 2016–2022 |
| 23V858000 | December 18, 2023 | Gasoline fuel system | 2016–2021 |
Safety ratings
NHTSA crash-tested 2 versions of the 2016 Honda Civic; the best overall score is 5 out of 5 stars.
| Version tested | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4-door FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
| 2-door FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
Crash-test photos: NHTSA (public domain). NHTSA can reuse a test for later model years of the same design.
Compared with other years
Complaints per year on sale divide each model year's NHTSA complaints by the years since it went on sale, so older and newer Honda Civics can be compared fairly. Among other 2016 models in the EPA's midsize cars class, the 2016 Toyota Corolla (34 mpg), 2016 Nissan Sentra (33 mpg) and 2016 Hyundai Elantra (31 mpg) come closest on combined fuel economy.
| Year | Best mpg | Complaints | Per year on sale | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 44 | 329 | 23 | 0 |
| 2014 | 44 | 298 | 23 | 2 |
| 2015 | 44 | 394 | 33 | 1 |
| 2016 | 35 | 1,083 | 98 | 5 |
| 2017 | 36 | 606 | 60 | 6 |
| 2018 | 36 | 756 | 83 | 6 |
| 2019 | 36 | 456 | 57 | 4 |
Every Honda Civic model year compared →
Similar 2016 models
FAQ
Is the 2016 Civic a good car?
We don't rate cars, but the official data gives a picture. The 2016 Honda Civic has 98 NHTSA complaints per year on sale (2nd most of 17 model years), 5 recall campaigns, a best overall crash rating of 5 stars and up to 35 mpg combined from the EPA.
What are common 2016 Civic problems?
The components owners report most to NHTSA are steering (446), electrical system (120) and engine (95). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
How many recalls does the 2016 Civic have?
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns. To see whether a recall is still open on a specific car, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2016 Civic get?
The EPA rates the versions at 30–35 mpg combined (26–31 city, 37–42 highway).
How much does it cost to fuel a 2016 Civic per year?
About $1,870 a year for 15,000 miles in its most efficient form, up to about $2,180 for the thirstiest version, using EPA mpg and the September 2026 U.S. average regular gasoline price of $4.36 a gallon (EIA).