10-generations of Civic is a brilliant Honda history lesson

The second-gen Civic was even more of a success than the first. Its wheelbase was slightly longer by two inches, and both of its engines now used the CVCC (or, Compound Vortex Controlled Combustion) design that was introduced on the update in 1975.

By the mid ‘80s, the Honda Civic had transformed from niche to mainstream. The five-door hatchback and wagon models merged into a single four-door “shuttle wagon,” or “wagovan,” and the wheelbase grew by five inches over the previous generation. 

In 1987, Honda wholly redesigned the Civic. It still had some of the same boxy cues of previous generations, but the engine now featured electronic fuel injection.

The fifth-gen Civic, which graced the market from 1992 to 1995, was the most dramatically updated generation of the bunch. It ditched most of its signature boxy styling in place of a smoother look. This new Civic was now much larger than most of its predecessors, but that didn't stop it becoming a legend among the tuning community.

The sixth-gen Civic was less radically redesigned than its predecessors. The same sleek, aerodynamic design from the fifth-gen model carried over, but now a new headlight and taillight treatment set the updated car apart.

The seventh-gen Civic made its debut in September of 2000. The new model actually measured in at the same size as the previous model, but now the cabin was more spacious, moving the Civic up to the compact car segment.

Just five years after the seventh-gen Civic was introduced, Honda started selling the eighth-gen model. Two different platforms were used for the US-market saloon and coupe, as well as one for the European hatchback. As of 2006, 16.5 million Civics had been sold worldwide.

Nearing 40 years on the market, the ninth-gen Civic introduced an "energetic, sleek and aerodynamic" new look. This iteration of the Civic went on sale in 2012, bringing with it a slightly less radical but somehow more divisive look than its predecessor.

An impressive 45 years after its initial debut, the Honda Civic is still very much alive and kicking. The tenth-gen Civic was introduced to the UK in 2017. It rides on the all-new Honda compact global platform, and comes with a chunkier, more brutish image. Best of all, though, the fire-breathing Type R version is among the best yet.

Here’s to another 50 years, Honda.