This asymmetric three-door splits into two personalities: buy the base 2.0L and you get a buzzy economy car that looks quick but drives like it's apologizing, while the Turbo and especially the N deliver genuine hot-hatch thrills that embarrass cars twice the price. The 2013s grenaded engines with rod knock and bearing failures, avoid completely. Later first-gen models (2015+) and the second-gen (2019-2021, now discontinued) are far more solid, but every year suffers from comically persistent horn failures that need replacement after replacement, even under warranty. If you're considering a 2015+ Turbo or any N, commit to 4,000-mile oil changes and accept the horn lottery, you'll get a legitimately fun driver's car for used Civic money. Skip the base model unless you need cheap transport and nothing more.
This Scandinavian sedan chooses comfort over corner-carving, think of it as the anti-BMW, built for people who'd rather arrive relaxed than exhilarated. The current T8 plug-in hybrid is genuinely quick (455hp, sub-5-second 0-60) and can run 35-50 miles on electricity alone, making it a fuel-sipping commuter that occasionally shocks M340is at stoplights. The older 5-cylinder models are legendary for durability, with owners routinely crossing 200k+ miles on wear items alone. The catch: the infotainment crashes more often than it should in a $50k car, and if you want a car that begs for backroads, this isn't it. Buy it if you value seats that feel like first-class airline lounges and safety ratings that read like a Volvo press release, skip it if you want steering feedback and a chassis that rewards spirited driving.