Honda Civic

The Swindon-built hatchback offers excellent interior space and is fun to drive, thanks to its VTEC engines and dash-mounted gearshift

Auto Express Car Reviews

November 2002

It's now nearly two years since the current-shape Honda Civic hit the showrooms, and in that time it has become a strong seller for the Japanese marque.
The Swindon-built hatchback offers excellent interior space and is fun to drive, thanks to its VTEC engines and dash-mounted gearshift. It's a much better looking car than its predecessor, too. The short nose and high roofline aren't to everyone's tastes, but they do give the Honda a more youthful image. Prices are remaining strong as well, so does the mid-size Honda make sense as a used purchase?
Checklist
* Early cars recalled because of fuel pipe problem that could have caused a fire in rear end impacts. Check this work has been done by a dealer.
* Bumpers are prone to knocks and scratches due to their low mounting. New ones cost more than GBP600.
* Check for crash damage on Type R, which can be a handful for inexperienced drivers. Also inspect the suspension components and wheels.
* A few Civics have had new gearboxes under warranty, so listen carefully for noises from the transmission.
Glass's View
Hondas have a reputation for holding their value due to their reliability and popularity with older motorists, says trade bible Glass's Consumer Values, Although the Civic has a more youthful image than the model it replaced, the car is still held in high esteem and is a desirable model for dealers to stock. For the private buyer, that means prices are quite high - but you get a superb car for your money.
My Honda Civic...
When he retired last year, Norman Ambrose wanted a smaller car. He traded his Nissan Primera 2.0 SE in for a three-month-old Honda Civic 1.6 SE Executive in March 2001, having read various Auto Express road test reports before making his decision.
"I always keep in touch with what's happening in the car industry and knew it was either a Civic or a Ford Focus for me," he said. "I chose the Civic as it appeared to be a better all-round package." Norman, 62, lives in Ruislip, Middlesex, and wanted an automatic because he often drives in London. "I think the Civic's auto gearbox is better than the Ford's, and the car is also more economical to run and cheaper to insure," he added.
Norman loves the interior space and dash-mounted gearlever (above), and reckons the roadholding and performance are superb for a car in its class. However, he's not fond of the leather seats, which he says are too hard, while the rear parcel shelf obstructs the load space in the boot.
"It's also a noisy car and much louder inside than my wife's Vauxhall Astra," he added. "That's not a major issue, however, because I love driving the Civic and it hasn't used a drop of oil in 15,000 miles. The engine is superb and I really like the car's lively character."