Are any Honda Civics rear wheel drive?
No. Honda Civics have been front-wheel drive since the model’s debut, and there are no factory rear-wheel-drive Civics in production as of 2025.
Over more than five decades, the Civic lineup has prioritized compact packaging, efficient engineering, and accessible handling, all built around a front-wheel-drive layout. While enthusiasts sometimes discuss or attempt rear-wheel-drive configurations, those are not official Honda offerings. The following article explains the current status and the historical context of Civics’ drivetrain choices.
Current production stance
Before shopping or comparing generations, it helps to know how the Civic is driven today. The list below summarizes the official drivetrain approach across recent generations.
- Since its 1972 launch, every Civic generation has used front-wheel drive with a transversely mounted engine.
- Honda has not offered a factory rear-wheel-drive Civic in any market; there is no production model with RWD under the Civic name.
- There is no official all-wheel-drive option for the Civic in current production; any AWD appearance would be the result of aftermarket work or mislabeling rather than a Honda-backed configuration.
In practice, the Civic lineup today remains front-wheel-drive, including the high-performance Civic Type R, which uses FWD with a refined chassis and differential setup to optimize grip rather than any rear-wheel-drive architecture.
Notable exceptions and aftermarket moves
There have been limited concepts and enthusiast projects exploring rear-wheel-drive configurations for Civics, but none have been released as a production model by Honda. The following notes help distinguish factory practice from aftermarket curiosity.
One-off concepts and enthusiast projects
- No official production Civic has ever been offered with rear-wheel drive by Honda.
- Enthusiasts have occasionally attempted RWD swaps on older Civics; these projects are rare, costly, and not supported by Honda for street use in most regions.
- Over the years there have been show-car concepts or discussions about alternative layouts, but none progressed to mass production.
For readers who prefer a Honda with rear-wheel drive, the practical takeaway is that such a variant does not exist within the Civic lineup today. If RWD is a priority, buyers may explore Honda’s non-Civic models from the past, such as the Prelude, or consider other brands altogether for RWD options.
Summary
Bottom line: no factory rear-wheel-drive Civics exist, and the Civic has remained front-wheel drive through all generations up to the present. Any RWD Civics you may encounter are either aftermarket modifications or non-production concepts, not Honda-backed production models. For RWD driving dynamics, options outside the Civic line or historical models like the Honda Prelude would be the relevant alternatives.
Has Honda made any RWD cars?
You will be able to actually get a Honda and rearwheel drive on these crossovers a Honda and rear wheel drive that's what electrification affords. You it's super easy just put the motor in the back
Is the Honda Civic EX FWD or RWD?
front-wheel drive
The 2022 Honda Civic EX Sedan comes equipped with a gasoline powered engine that produces 180 hp @ 6000 rpm and front-wheel drive.
Is the Honda Civic RWD in India?
Even the 'luxury' cars like Honda Civic or Chevy Cruze are FWD. RWD cars are fun to drive, and are easy to drift. Ambassador was the last affordable RWD car sold in India, but it has been discontinued. The cheapest RWD car available right now is the BMW 3 series, the cheapest one is 26 lakh rupees.
Do civics come in RWD?
Hondas are front-wheel drive. That's just a fact. You can claim that the company has built some incredible rear-wheel drive cars in the past, like the S2000 or NSX, but they're simply the exceptions proving the rule. There was never a rear-driven Civic, and there never will be.
