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Honda Civic EF For Sale — Import From Japan

Grand Civic was Honda's marketing name in Japan for the EF, the fourth-generation Civic, which launched there in September 1987. You could have it as a three-door hatchback, a four-door sedan or the five-door Shuttle, and all of them had double-wishbone suspension at all four wheels. At launch the sporting model was the Si (EF3), with the 130 PS ZC 1.6-liter DOHC. Then in September 1989 Honda added the SiR and SiR II (EF9). Their B16A was the first VTEC engine in a Civic, rated at 160 PS and sold only with a five-speed manual. The rest of the range used 1.3- and 1.5-liter SOHC engines, carbureted or injected, and the sedan and Shuttle were also offered with four-wheel drive. Grade names encode the car. The first digit is the body (2 for the three-door, 3 for the sedan, 5 for the Shuttle) and the second is the engine size, which makes a 25XT a 1.5-liter three-door and a 36i a 1.6-liter injected sedan. Most buyers want the EF9, and the chassis plate is how you confirm one.

18available now
1988–1991model years
$10,013–$29,180approx. USD in Japan
45–60 daystypical delivery

Honda Civic EF market snapshot

$21,170median price in Japan
$20,025–$24,293middle half of prices
from $13,363shipped to a US port
13 of 18manual transmission
182000 or older and legal to import now
4price on request

These numbers come from our live Japan dealer stock today. Shipped prices include ocean freight to your nearest US port plus export fees.

Honda Civic EF variants

VariantEngineDriveNotes
SiR II (EF9)B16A 1.6L DOHC VTEC I4, 160 PSFWDArrived in September 1989, five-speed manual only. A viscous LSD was optional, and Honda catalogued a sunroof version.
SiR (EF9)B16A 1.6L DOHC VTEC I4, 160 PSFWDThe plainer spec, also five-speed manual only. Power windows were standard on the SiR II alone.
Si / Si Extra (EF3)ZC 1.6L DOHC 16-valve I4, 130 PSFWDThe sport model from before VTEC, with a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic. Later in the run the three-door was sold as the Si Extra, and there was an Si sedan too.
25X / 25XT (EF2)D15B 1.5L SOHC twin-carburetor I4, 105 PS (manual) / 100 PS (automatic)FWDThe mainstream three-door grades, the 25XT Formula among them.
RTi / RT-Si / RTX sedan (EF5)ZC 1.6L I4AWDSedans with Real Time 4WD. INTRAC versions were offered on cars with anti-lock brakes.

Honda Civic EF available now

What to check on a Civic EF

What it costs to import a Civic EF

The card prices above are what each car costs in Japan. The shipped price on a card is that car delivered to your nearest US port, with ocean freight and export fees included. We then clear it through US customs as your importer of record and handle the title, so there's no customs broker for you to hire. The full cost breakdown has the details.

Is the Civic EF legal to import?

Any vehicle 25 years or older is legal to import into the USA without meeting modern FMVSS safety or EPA emissions standards. Eligibility runs on the month and year of manufacture, not just the model year. If the exact EF you want is not yet eligible, we can buy it and store it in Japan until it is. See the 25-year rule explained.

How buying one from us works

We bid at Japanese auctions and buy from dealer stock on your behalf. Before any money moves, the car is physically inspected in Japan, with photos, video, and a condition report, not just an auction sheet grade. After purchase we handle export, ocean freight to your nearest US port, customs clearance, import duty, and US title, so the car arrives ready to register. Typical timeline is 45–60 days from purchase to delivery.

Honda Civic EF FAQ

How much does a Honda Civic EF cost?

In our Japan stock, the 14 Honda Civic EF with a listed price run from about $10,013 to $29,180 before import costs. The median is $21,170, and the middle half sits between $20,025 and $24,293. Shipped to your nearest US port, with ocean freight and export fees included, prices start at about $13,363 and a median car comes to about $24,330. After that we handle US customs as your importer of record and title the car for you.

How many Honda Civic EF are for sale right now?

18 in Japanese dealer stock today (14 with a listed price, 4 price on request). It changes every day as cars sell and new ones get listed.

How many Honda Civic EF for sale are manual?

Counting the 18 that list a transmission, 13 are manual and 5 are automatic.

Can I import a Honda Civic EF to the USA?

Of the cars in stock, 18 are from 2000 or earlier and qualify under the 25-year rule now. Month and year of manufacture are what count, and we check the exact build date before you commit.

How long does it take to get a Honda Civic EF from Japan?

Plan on about 45–60 days from purchase. The car is inspected and exported in Japan, spends 3–5 weeks at sea to your nearest US port (East Coast, West Coast, Gulf and Honolulu), and then goes through US customs, duty and title. We handle every step as your importer of record.

What do you check before buying a Honda Civic EF?

Every car is inspected in person in Japan before any money moves. On this chassis we look hardest at: On the chassis plate, an SiR reads EF9 and an Si reads EF3. EF2 shells with B16A swaps and SiR badges need a second look; Match the engine type and number to the model code. An EF9 should have a B16A, an EF3 a ZC and an EF2 a D15B; On an SiR, ask for a compression test and make sure VTEC engages cleanly and the B16A pulls to its 7,600 rpm power peak; There are a lot of rubber bushings in the all-wishbone layout, so check for vague steering, clunks and uneven tire wear.

Si or SiR: which EF is the sporty one?

They both are. The Si (EF3) was the top three-door from launch, with the 130 PS ZC DOHC engine. Honda added the SiR (EF9) in September 1989, with the 160 PS B16A VTEC and only the five-speed manual.

What do EF grade names like 25XT or 36i mean?

In names like these, the first digit gives the body (2 three-door, 3 sedan, 5 Shuttle) and the second the engine size (3 for 1.3 liters, 5 for 1.5, 6 for 1.6). An i means fuel injection, and an X means twin carburetors. Si, Si Extra and SiR sit outside the system.

SiR or SiR II?

The SiR II is the better-equipped version, with power windows as standard, and it's the only one Honda catalogued with a sunroof. The engine and five-speed gearbox are shared. A viscous LSD was listed as an option, but not on every SiR, so check the car itself.

Other Honda Civic generations

Civic EG (35) · Civic EK (64) · Civic EK9 Type R (36)

Honda Civic EF grades & special editions

Civic SiR-II (4 EF) · Civic SiR (2 EF) · Civic Si (1 EF)

All Honda Civic for sale ›

Want a specific Civic EF?

Send us the year, transmission and spec you want, and we'll find one at auction and quote it shipped to your US port or imported and titled.

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