2021 Honda Civic MPG
Across its 8 EPA-rated versions, the 2021 Honda Civic returns 22–32 mpg city, 28–42 highway and 25–36 combined.
The most efficient pairs the 1.5-liter turbo 4-cylinder engine with a CVT and front-wheel drive, at 36 mpg combined. At the other end, the 2.0-liter turbo 4-cylinder engine with a manual transmission and front-wheel drive manages 25 mpg combined, 11 mpg less. That matches the best gasoline version of the 2020 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 5Dr | 1.5 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | Front-Wheel Drive | 31 | 40 | 34 | Regular · 259 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 4Dr | 2.0 L 4-cyl | Automatic (AV-S7) | Front-Wheel Drive | 29 | 37 | 32 | Regular · 277 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 |
2021 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 2021 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 (32 mpg combined) comes to about $2,040 a year, $230 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.
2021 Honda Civic specs
The EPA lists 3 engine choices for the 2021 Honda Civic: 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. For fuel-economy purposes it sits in the EPA's "Midsize Cars" class.
| 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 | 5 |
| 2.0 L | 4 | Automatic (variable gear ratios); Automatic (AV-S7) | Front-Wheel Drive | 2 |
| 2.0 L turbo | 4 | Manual 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 1 |
2021 Honda Civic problems
As of October 2026, NHTSA (the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) holds 161 owner complaints about the 2021 Honda Civic.
Steering is the most-reported area (29% of component mentions), followed by forward collision avoidance (19%) and electrical system (9%).
Spread over its time on sale, that is 27 complaints a year: fewer than the 2020 (34 a year) and the 2022 (190 a year).
That ranks 12th of 17 Honda Civic model years (2008–2024), counting from the most complaints per year.
Of the 161, 7 mention a crash, 3 a fire and 2 an injury.
| Component | Mentions | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 68 | 29% |
| Forward collision avoidance | 43 | 19% |
| Electrical system | 21 | 9% |
| Service brakes | 17 | 7% |
| Air bags | 13 | 6% |
| Unknown or other | 13 | 6% |
| Lane departure | 12 | 5% |
| Engine | 8 | 3% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 6 | 3% |
| Vehicle speed control | 6 | 3% |
| Power train | 4 | 2% |
| Seats | 3 | 1% |
| Suspension | 3 | 1% |
| Back over prevention | 2 | <1% |
| Exterior lighting | 2 | <1% |
| Tires | 2 | <1% |
| Visibility/wiper | 2 | <1% |
| Wheels | 2 | <1% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 1 | <1% |
| Seat belts | 1 | <1% |
| Hydraulic service brakes | 1 | <1% |
| Visibility | 1 | <1% |
What owners told NHTSA
When it is warm and humid, at highway speeds and slight turns, the steering sticks and the wheel does not recenter on its own. All driver assist features are off when this occurs. …
Cruise control does not disengage upon electronic parking brake being engaged while moving, causing the car to accelerate aggressively after the brake is released. …
The infotainment system in these vehicles is poor when using the navigation. Having the phone connected via wire will cause the phone and infotainment system to malfunction constantly causing restarts and making the mobile device extremely hot too the touch. …
2021 Honda Civic recalls
The 2021 Honda Civic has been the subject of 4 recall campaigns.
The most recent, campaign 26V332000 from May 2026, concerns air bags.
Air bags account for 2 of the 4 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 |
Safety ratings
NHTSA crash-tested 1 version of the 2021 Honda Civic; the best overall score is 5 out of 5 stars.
| Version tested | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4-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 2021 models in the EPA's midsize cars class, the 2021 Hyundai Elantra (37 mpg), 2021 Nissan Sentra (33 mpg) and 2021 Chevy Malibu (32 mpg) come closest on combined fuel economy.
| Year | Best mpg | Complaints | Per year on sale | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 2024 | 36 | 142 | 46 | 3 |
Every Honda Civic model year compared →
Similar 2021 models
FAQ
Is the 2021 Civic a good car?
We don't rate cars, but the official data gives a picture. The 2021 Honda Civic has 27 NHTSA complaints per year on sale (12th most of 17 model years), 4 recall campaigns, a best overall crash rating of 5 stars and up to 36 mpg combined from the EPA.
What are common 2021 Civic problems?
The components owners report most to NHTSA are steering (68), forward collision avoidance (43) and electrical system (21). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
How many recalls does the 2021 Civic have?
NHTSA lists 4 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 2021 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 2021 Civic per year?
About $1,810 a year for 15,000 miles in its most efficient form, up to about $2,040 for the thirstiest version, using EPA mpg and the September 2026 U.S. average regular gasoline price of $4.36 a gallon (EIA).