Small Car Comparison- 2nd/6 place -updated-
Written: Jul 22 '03 (Updated Jul 22 '03)
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Pros: Handling, responsive engine, fuel economy, control layout, roomy interior, reliability.
Cons: Ride, noise.
The Bottom Line: The Civic is a very good choice and beat the Toyota Corolla, Mazda Protege, Nissan Sentra and Hyundai Elantra. It didn't top VW's Jetta, though. It is overall excellent.
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| pmm2422's Full Review: 2003 Honda Civic 4 door |
DESCRIPTION
The small Civic DX is powered by a 1.7 liter, 115 hp engine. It is responsive and refined. It also delivers excellent fuel economy (30 mpg). Priced around $13,000, the Civic is an excellent value for such a great car.
I thought the Civic would be a great car. I was right. I was very pleased with its roomy interior, fuel economy, crisp handling and refined engine, but its ride is stiff and wind noise is pronounced. Overall, it is a low cost alternative to the even more refined VW Jetta.
PERFORMANCE
The refined 4 cylinder, 115 hp engine delivers decent acceleration and excellent fuel economy (30 mpg). But it sounds a bit harsh under hard acceleration. It is smooth at all times, even at idle. It is refined and responsive. Handling is crisp and nimble and safe in emergency maneuvers. It has very good road feel and the steering is quick and responsive with little body lean. The 4 speed automatic transmission works very well. Braking is impressive, with short and straight stops. I noticed no fading in the brakes.
COMFORT
The Civic’s front seats are comfortable and well-shaped, but not as good as the VW Jetta’s are. The rear seat is roomy, but won't fit 3 adults in comfort. The ride, though, is stiff and uncomfortable, even on fairly smooth roads, and too much wind noise finds its way into the Civic’s cabin. Noise gets increasingly worse at higher speeds, making it a bit tiring to live with. The interior is the roomiest here, with an airy feel. Most people should be able to find a good driving position. Overall, the Civic’s comfort is good but unexceptional.
CONVENIENCE
The Civic’s trunk is fairly large and access in front and rear is easy. The user-friendly controls are large, well-build and nicely laid out. All important controls are easy to reach and simple to find. The Civic is definitely a car that doesn't take "getting used to." The Civic is the most convenient small car in this comparison.
INTERIOR
The Civic’s interior is nicely made, but isn’t nearly as luxurious as the Jetta’s. There are even a few cheap materials, but all the pieces fit well together and are tightly fitted. Everything works and nothing has come out of place or broken (wow!). The fit and finish of the Civic is very good overall.
SAFETY
The Civic is decent in terms of safety. It has occupant sensing- only the Civic and Jetta offer it. Side air bags are optional. Head protection bags are not available. ABS can be a bit hard to find on lower trims of the Civic. The Civic earned 4 and 5 star crash test results and a ‘Good’ rating for a frontal-offset crash test result. Overall, the Civic has good safety but nowhere near is good as the Jetta’s.
RELIABILITY
The Civic’s reliability is excellent, it should last nearly problem-free for about 3 years, and nothing breaks when you first get it. The engine is most impressive in terms of reliability, where I have heard it lasts problem-free for even 6 or 7 years. None of the fluids got messed up (surprising, I'm cursed with screwed fluids and leaks), and the CHECK ENGINE light doesn't come on on the first 200 miles, like the Hyundai Elantra and Volkswagen Jetta's.
OVERALL
The Civic is a very well rounded vehicle and a good choice for most people. I recommend the Civic mainly to people who care most about their budget. Overall, the Civic is an excellent small car.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 13,000
Condition: New
Model Year: 2003
Model and Options: DX
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Epinions.com ID:
pmm2422
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Reviews written: 7
Trusted by: 0 members
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