2020 Honda Civic MPG
EPA ratings for the 2020 Honda Civic run from 22–32 mpg in town to 28–42 on the highway, or 25–36 combined, depending on which of its 16 versions you look at.
The most efficient pairs the 1.5-liter turbo 4-cylinder engine with a CVT and front-wheel drive, at 36 mpg combined. The thirstiest version uses the 2.0-liter turbo 4-cylinder engine with a manual transmission and front-wheel drive and is rated 25 mpg combined. That matches the best gasoline version of the 2019 model.
| Version | Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Civic 4Dr | 1.5 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | Front-Wheel Drive | 32 | 42 | 36 | Regular · 248 g CO₂/mi |
| Civic 2Dr | 1.5 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | Front-Wheel Drive | 31 | 40 | 35 | Regular · 256 g CO₂/mi |
| Civic 5Dr | 1.5 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | Front-Wheel Drive | 31 | 40 | 34 | Regular · 259 g CO₂/mi |
| Civic 2Dr | 1.5 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (AV-S7) | Front-Wheel Drive | 30 | 37 | 33 | Regular · 269 g CO₂/mi |
| Civic 2Dr | 2.0 L 4-cyl | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | Front-Wheel Drive | 30 | 38 | 33 | Regular · 264 g CO₂/mi |
| Civic 4Dr | 1.5 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (AV-S7) | Front-Wheel Drive | 30 | 38 | 33 | Regular · 266 g CO₂/mi |
| Civic 4Dr | 2.0 L 4-cyl | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | Front-Wheel Drive | 30 | 38 | 33 | Regular · 268 g CO₂/mi |
| Civic 5Dr | 1.5 L 4-cyl turbo | Manual 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 29 | 37 | 32 | Premium · 274 g CO₂/mi |
| Civic 5Dr | 1.5 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (AV-S7) | Front-Wheel Drive | 29 | 35 | 32 | Premium · 279 g CO₂/mi |
| Civic 2Dr | 2.0 L 4-cyl | Automatic (AV-S7) | Front-Wheel Drive | 29 | 36 | 32 | Regular · 280 g CO₂/mi |
| Civic 4Dr | 2.0 L 4-cyl | Automatic (AV-S7) | Front-Wheel Drive | 29 | 37 | 32 | Regular · 276 g CO₂/mi |
| Civic 2Dr | 1.5 L 4-cyl turbo | Manual 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 26 | 36 | 30 | Premium · 294 g CO₂/mi |
| Civic 4Dr | 1.5 L 4-cyl turbo | Manual 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 26 | 36 | 30 | Premium · 294 g CO₂/mi |
| Civic 2Dr | 2.0 L 4-cyl | Manual 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 25 | 35 | 29 | Regular · 304 g CO₂/mi |
| Civic 4Dr | 2.0 L 4-cyl | Manual 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 25 | 36 | 29 | Regular · 300 g CO₂/mi |
| Civic 5Dr | 2.0 L 4-cyl turbo | Manual 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 22 | 28 | 25 | Premium · 358 g CO₂/mi |
2020 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 2020 Honda Civic costs about $1,810 a year to fuel in its most efficient form (36 mpg combined), or roughly 12 cents a mile.
The thirstiest priced version (29 mpg combined) comes to about $2,250 a year, $440 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.
2020 Honda Civic specs
2020 Honda Civic buyers could choose between 3 engines, according to EPA records: 1.5 L 4-cyl turbo, 2.0 L 4-cyl and 2.0 L 4-cyl turbo. It came with continuously variable (CVT) and manual transmissions, with front-wheel drive. The EPA classes it as a midsize car.
| Engine size (L) | Cylinders | Transmissions | Drive | Versions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5 L turbo | 4 | Automatic (variable gear ratios); Automatic (AV-S7); Manual 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 9 |
| 2.0 L | 4 | Automatic (variable gear ratios); Automatic (AV-S7); Manual 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 6 |
| 2.0 L turbo | 4 | Manual 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 1 |
2020 Honda Civic problems
Owners have filed 237 complaints about the 2020 Honda Civic with NHTSA, the U.S. vehicle-safety agency, as of October 2026.
Electrical system is the most-reported area (12% of component mentions), followed by power train (10%) and steering (10%).
Spread over its time on sale, that is 34 complaints a year: fewer than the 2019 (57 a year) and more than the 2021 (27 a year).
That ranks 9th of 17 Honda Civic model years (2008–2024), counting from the most complaints per year.
Of the 237, 15 mention a crash, 1 a fire and 10 an injury.
| Component | Mentions | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 38 | 12% |
| Unknown or other | 37 | 12% |
| Power train | 32 | 10% |
| Steering | 32 | 10% |
| Air bags | 31 | 10% |
| Forward collision avoidance | 30 | 9% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 24 | 8% |
| Engine | 13 | 4% |
| Service brakes | 13 | 4% |
| Gasoline fuel system | 9 | 3% |
| Visibility | 7 | 2% |
| Visibility/wiper | 7 | 2% |
| Wheels | 7 | 2% |
| Structure | 6 | 2% |
| Suspension | 6 | 2% |
| Lane departure | 4 | 1% |
| Vehicle speed control | 4 | 1% |
| Parking brake | 3 | <1% |
| Equipment | 2 | <1% |
| Exterior lighting | 2 | <1% |
| Seats | 2 | <1% |
| Hydraulic service brakes | 2 | <1% |
| Tires | 2 | <1% |
| Back over prevention | 1 | <1% |
| Electronic stability control (esc) | 1 | <1% |
| Equipment adaptive/mobility | 1 | <1% |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | <1% |
| Seat belts | 1 | <1% |
What owners told NHTSA
On September 27, 2026, at approximately 90,800 miles, the body control module (BCM) in my 2020 Honda Civic Hatchback failed. …
I am the second owner of this year and model of Civic. I initially bought it back in 2021 with 14,000 miles on it. The clutch slipped and blew at around 29K miles in 2023. …
The wheel becomes sticky/ jerky when driving at speeds over 40 mph and causes overcorrecting. It is worse around bends and makes holding the wheel straight difficult. …
2020 Honda Civic recalls
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2020 Honda Civic.
The most recent, campaign 26V332000 from May 2026, concerns air bags.
Air bags account for 2 of the 5 campaigns, more than any other area.
| Campaign | Reported | Component | Civic years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26V332000 | May 21, 2026 | Air bags | 2016–2022 |
| 24V064000 | February 1, 2024 | Air bags | 2020–2022 |
| 23V858000 | December 18, 2023 | Gasoline fuel system | 2016–2021 |
| 23V458000 | June 29, 2023 | Hydraulic service brakes | 2020–2021 |
| 21V215000 | March 25, 2021 | Gasoline fuel system | 2019–2020 |
Safety ratings
NHTSA crash-tested 4 versions of the 2020 Honda Civic; the best overall score is 5 out of 5 stars.
| Version tested | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Si 2-door FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
| 4-door FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
| Si 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 2020 models in the EPA's midsize cars class, the 2020 Hyundai Elantra (36 mpg), 2020 Toyota Camry (34 mpg) and 2020 Nissan Sentra (33 mpg) come closest on combined fuel economy.
| Year | Best mpg | Complaints | Per year on sale | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 36 | 606 | 60 | 6 |
| 2018 | 36 | 756 | 83 | 6 |
| 2019 | 36 | 456 | 57 | 4 |
| 2020 | 36 | 237 | 34 | 5 |
| 2021 | 36 | 161 | 27 | 4 |
| 2022 | 36 | 961 | 190 | 4 |
| 2023 | 36 | 336 | 83 | 5 |
Every Honda Civic model year compared →
Similar 2020 models
FAQ
Is the 2020 Civic a good car?
We don't rate cars, but the official data gives a picture. The 2020 Honda Civic has 34 NHTSA complaints per year on sale (9th most of 17 model years), 5 recall campaigns, a best overall crash rating of 5 stars and up to 36 mpg combined from the EPA.
What are common 2020 Civic problems?
The components owners report most to NHTSA are electrical system (38), power train (32) and steering (32). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
How many recalls does the 2020 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 2020 Civic get?
The EPA rates the versions at 25–36 mpg combined (22–32 city, 28–42 highway).
How much does it cost to fuel a 2020 Civic per year?
About $1,810 a year for 15,000 miles in its most efficient form, up to about $2,250 for the thirstiest version, using EPA mpg and the September 2026 U.S. average regular gasoline price of $4.36 a gallon (EIA).