The 9th generation Honda Civic is a tale of two distinct vehicles: the European market received a highly practical hatchback and Tourer (estate) built in the UK (FK/FB chassis), while North America and Asia received a more traditional sedan and coupe. Initially criticized in North America for cost-cutting and poor interior quality, Honda issued an unprecedented 'emergency facelift' for the 2013 model year to address these issues. In Europe, the Civic retained its futuristic styling and class-leading practicality thanks to the 'Magic Seats' and a massive boot. Regardless of the market, the 9th gen Civic remains one of the most reliable compact cars of its era, particularly when equipped with the naturally aspirated petrol engines.
The 9th generation Honda Civic is a phenomenal used car purchase if reliability and low running costs are your primary goals. While the early North American models (2012) suffered from cheap interiors, the 2013+ models rectified this. The European hatchback remains one of the most practical compact cars ever built. The 1.8 i-VTEC petrol engine is the absolute sweet spot: it is virtually indestructible, reasonably efficient, and requires minimal maintenance. Avoid the diesels if you only drive in the city, and be cautious of high-mileage hybrids. Overall, it is a highly recommended buy.