My wife and I recently purchased our 5th Honda. (Three Accords and two Civics.) This one is the 4-door Civic LX Sedan to replace her 12 model-year 1995 Civic DX Coupe. This car has a 5-speed fully automatic transmission that shifts smoothly and quietly while accelerating up to freeway speeds and adjusts well and quickly to steep hills -one of which we happen to live on! It is an Ultra-Low Emission Vehicles (ULEV) – the planet benefits, too, in a small way from a person who needs to drive choosing and using this car.
A couple of quick comments right off the bat:
100K+ miles: NO SCHEDULED “MAJOR” TUNE UPS (Plug and point replacements). All other services are computed and ‘announced’ by an automated system depending on your own driving patterns. (See more note on the automatic Maintenance Reminder feature below.)
NO LONGER REQUIRES PERIODIC TIMING BELT REPLACEMENTS!!
A Few of This Car’s MANY Good Features:
Front Driver and Passenger Dual-Stage airbags: Standard these days, but smoothly and so inconspicuously mounted as to be functionally invisible unless/until they are called on to save your life.
Front (both) side airbags: Not routinely installed in cars of this size, giving added security.
Side curtain airbags: More of the same.
Anti-lock braking system (ABS): A former option on older models, now standard. The brakes feel tight and are smoothly but precisely responsive in both dry and wet road conditions. I can’t speak about snow conditions – because this car has yet to see any of them.
Side impact door beams: Rated 4 and 5 stars in ALL government crash test ratings!
Front and rear crumple zones: Another element of safety for me and my family.
Security (alarm) system: Another former option, now standard.
Fold-down rear seats: A real convenience when you have to haul something too large to fit into the trunk!
Cruise control: Again, a former option now standard and a real boon for those of us who drive long distances on highways at reasonably constant speeds.
And, yes, Honda now INCLUDES the floor mats. While less fancy that the ones I used to buy (they are not imprinted with either the brand or model of this car as have been past Honda mats), they are tightly woven and fit/hold well and securely into the four floor spaces that they cover.
Lots of interior storage spaces and compartments including a trunk with more than adequate space for a family week-long trip or, more recently, two days of non-stop (and unloaded) Christmas shopping!
Power windows and door locks, of course.
A Maintenance Reminder system that tells you what is due and in how long/ in how many miles that I find to be a mixed blessing. We are asked to trust that an onboard computer will take our driving habits and history into account in determining what kind of service is necessary and when. A dash warning system alerts the driver when a necessary maintenance activity is coming up. For me, this is so profoundly different that printed maintenance schedules, that I find myself, somewhat reluctantly, mistrustful of it and will need some actual experience with it before feeling really OK (I hope) with it.
Incidentally, my own dealer still recommends oil changes every 3,500 miles!
A paint job and finish that needs to be seen up close to be believed! In 15 years of owning Hondas, I have never had a problem with a paint job. They have all successfully resisted road ‘wear’, sun-induced fading or rust/corrosion. I expect no less form this new sedan. The front seats are quite comfortable – even for large adults, and two adults can ride in reasonable comfort in the back. Recently, we had two adults and a baby in a car seat in back – no one complained – but I expect that was out of courtesy. It looked kind of tight to me!
The controls are well appointed and highly intuitive to operate. Everything is easily visible and uncomplicated to operate. The large LED speedometer takes a little getting used to, but I think I will grow to like it a lot as it puts speed feedback to the driver directly at eye level in BIG numbers!
The visibility, generally, is worth mentioning as it is rather extraordinary. Starting in front, the windshield is, proportionately, quite large – offering a range of vision, both vertically and horizontally – that is outstanding. Complimenting this, side visibility has been enhanced by adding small windows, in the front of the front doors and the rear of the back doors that open the driver’s view of the road around him/her to substantial pieces of older ‘standard’ blind spots. Rear windows on Hondas have, traditionally, offered a full field of rear vision and, both by sheer size as well as be design, give a better range of vision than do many other small sedans.
This modestly sized but well designed 4-cylinder engine is peppy and responsive – sufficiently so at freeway speeds when rapid/passing acceleration is needed…. nicely in synch with the car’s essential road stability which I had cause to experience, in tandem, on several recent VERY wet and stormy days when I had to cover some extended highway distances.
Finally, this would be incomplete if I were not to mention the overall ‘feel’ of a Honda vs. many other cars. In this car, the driver feels the road and is aware of the car’s contact with it. Unlike many other cars (Toyota, GM, Ford, etc. are a few that come to mind) there is no attempt to give the driver the feeling of driving on a perfectly smooth bed of mush. Consequently, the ride might be described by someone who prefers that ‘softer’ feel as being ‘hard.’ To me, it is a clear advantage in the sense and feel of being in control of one’s cars. This feel compliments the responsive steering, brakes and other dash and floor-mounted controls.
All-in-all, a great little car for the money. (MSRP delivered is $18,355. We paid nearly 2K less than that by shopping competitively and aggressively.) As with most other products, the object is to find the best price you can and then ask a local, convenient dealer to match or beat it. More often than not, they will even if it means earning less on the sale. After all, the real profits in the car business do not come from the sale of the vehicle itself, but from the service and maintenance it will require over time. For Honda enthusiasts and new purchasers alike, this sedan offers many features that were extras not too long ago, along with adequate mileage (30 -40 MPG on the sticker according to currently allowed lab/non-road testing to be adjusted by new Federal regulations beginning with the 2008 models – My actual city/highway mileage average has been closer to 26 MPG), ultra-low emission and top ratings in all crash testing. And, to top it all off, the overall assembly is tight with no obvious gaps or other sloppy molding or component fittings so common in many other cars. It doesn’t have to be big to be good and it doesn’t even have to be expensive to be great.
When you’re ready to shop for a new can, don’t overlook a test drive in this powerfully upgraded once basic car.
