The 2008 Honda Civic 1.8 L uses a 1.8-liter inline-4 i-VTEC gasoline engine from Honda’s R18 family, delivering about 140 horsepower and around 128 lb-ft of torque in US-spec Civics.
In more detail, this engine is part of Honda’s R18 line introduced in the mid-2000s for the Civic lineup. It features a dual overhead cam (DOHC) configuration with 16 valves and the i-VTEC variable valve timing system to balance responsiveness with fuel efficiency. For the 2008 Civic LX and EX, the 1.8 L engine could be paired with either a 5-speed manual or a 5-speed automatic transmission, a setup common across this generation aimed at practical daily driving with reasonable fuel economy.
Engine design and specifications
Below are the core technical specifications of the 1.8 L engine used in the 2008 Civic. These details cover configuration, displacement, valvetrain, output, and fuel system.
- Engine type: 1.8-liter inline-4 gasoline engine
- Displacement: 1,799 cc
- Configuration: Inline-4 with DOHC
- Valvetrain: i-VTEC (variable valve timing)
- Valves per cylinder: 4, for a total of 16
- Power (approx.): ~140 horsepower
- Torque (approx.): ~128 lb-ft (174 N·m)
- Fuel delivery: Multi-point fuel injection
- Transmission options: 5-speed manual or 5-speed automatic
In summary, the engine is Honda’s 1.8-liter i-VTEC inline-4 from the R18 family, designed to balance performance with efficiency in the 2008 Civic lineup.
Summary
The 2008 Honda Civic’s 1.8 L engine is a 1.8-liter inline-4 i-VTEC (R18 family) with DOHC and 16 valves, producing about 140 hp and 128 lb-ft of torque, paired with either a 5-speed manual or 5-speed automatic transmission for a practical blend of power and fuel economy.


