Question 1

How much does it cost to maintain a Honda Civic per year?

Accepted Answer

A Honda Civic averages about $563 per year in scheduled maintenance and repairs over the first 10 years (roughly $5,632 total per CarEdge data). Year 1 is the cheapest at ~$234 with only oil and tire rotation; costs climb to ~$841 by year 10 and ~$985 by year 12 as struts, the timing chain, and CVT services come due. RepairPal pegs the all-Civic average annual repair cost at $368.

Question 2

What year does Honda Civic maintenance get expensive?

Accepted Answer

The first real spike comes at year 6 (brakes — about $673) and the steepest jump is year 11–12, where major-repair probability climbs from ~16% to ~25%. Plan for $900+ per year once you cross 110,000 miles, primarily for struts, wheel bearings, second CVT fluid service, and (on 1.5T turbo trims) oil pan gasket and turbocharger inspection.

Question 3

Which Honda Civic generation is cheapest to own?

Accepted Answer

The 9th-gen Civic (2012–2015) with the R18Z1 1.8L engine is widely considered the cheapest to own long-term — about $350–$480/year in maintenance, no CVT, no turbocharger, and a refined version of the bulletproof R18 platform. The 11th-gen hybrid (2025+) is projected to be the lowest running cost in absolute terms but is too new for confirmed long-term data.

Question 4

Is a Honda Civic cheaper to maintain than a Toyota Corolla?

Accepted Answer

No — the Corolla wins on total cost by about $1,200 over 10 years. CarEdge data puts the Civic at $5,632 and the Corolla at $4,434. The biggest drivers of the delta are the Civic CVT fluid intervals (30k–40k vs Corolla 60k), the 1.5T turbo service complexity, and slightly more frequent brake wear. Both are top-tier choices for reliability.

Question 5

Do I really need to change Civic CVT fluid if Honda says it's lifetime?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Honda's owner's manual implies lifetime fluid, but independent transmission shops and high-mileage Civic owners consistently recommend a drain-and-fill at 30,000 miles, then every 30,000–40,000 after — especially on 1.5T turbo trims where the CVT runs hotter. DIY cost is $60–$80 for 3 quarts of Honda HCF-2 — a fraction of a $4,500+ CVT rebuild.

Question 6

How much can I save doing Honda Civic maintenance myself?

Accepted Answer

DIYing the routine items (oil, cabin filter, engine filter, brake pads, spark plugs, CVT fluid) saves about $2,100 over 10 years — roughly 38% off the all-shop bill. Oil changes alone save ~$50–$70 each, and DIY iridium spark plugs at 60k miles save $150+ over a dealer visit. The Civic is one of the easiest mainstream cars to work on.

Honda Civic Maintenance Cost by Year: What You'll Really Pay