Does the Civic have a rearview camera?
3 Answers
The Civic is equipped with a rearview camera. The rearview camera system uses a wide-angle far-infrared camera installed at the rear of the vehicle, allowing the driver to see obstacles behind the car through the in-car display. Taking the 2021 Civic as an example, its body dimensions are: length 4517mm, width 1799mm, height 1434mm, wheelbase 2700mm, minimum ground clearance 104mm, and fuel tank capacity 47 liters. The 2021 Civic is powered by a 1.5T turbocharged engine with a maximum power of 130kW and a maximum torque of 220Nm, paired with a CVT continuously variable transmission.
Last month I just helped a friend pick up a 10th-gen Civic and specifically researched this issue. Most Civic trims now come with a rearview camera, especially models after the 2016 redesign. Mid-to-high trims like the EX and Touring have it as standard factory equipment, with quite clear display quality on the screen. However, some batches of the base LX manual transmission trim indeed didn't come with it and require aftermarket installation. Aftermarket installation isn't too troublesome - you can get it done for about 700-800 yuan at a reliable shop, but be careful with wiring to avoid affecting the original car circuits. The performance definitely won't be as stable as the factory version. If you're planning to buy a used car, it's best to have the seller demonstrate on-site whether the function works properly, as such electronic devices tend to develop minor issues over time.
The rearview camera on the Civic is no longer considered a premium feature these days, as even the Fit comes with it as standard now. After comparing the current lineup's specifications, the base LX trim was the only one that might not include it, but since last year even the LX has been upgraded with a screen, and versions with CarPlay generally integrate the rearview camera function. When you visit a dealership to check out the car, remember to sit in the driver's seat and shift into reverse to test it—some dealerships might try to pass off demo cars without a rearview camera. If you're planning to add one later to a base model, I recommend choosing a camera with trajectory lines. My colleague installed one last year for just over 600 yuan, and it actually provides clearer visibility in rainy nights compared to the factory-installed one.
