- sedan 199,591
- Carlisle, PA
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- autoshopper.com
- sedan 199,591 green automatic
1995 honda civic review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. Economy has its price as well; inexpensive seldom coexists with loaded, and few miserly powerplants are particularly inspiring when asked to perform. the honda civic family, however, is a well-rounded suite of small cars that does almost everything well. Since its introduction, in fact, the civic has been a multi-personality machine, and the latest versions do nothing to tarnish that tradition. careful engineering is the key: a company that earned its stripes as a motorcycle manufacturer understands the need for light weight and optimum efficiency. Honda's product-planning side has been equally successful, specifying those touches, both large and small, that mark the civic as a quality car. walkaroundhonda tends to keep its innovations hidden under conservative sheet metal, and the civic is no exception. Instead, it was an exercise in good taste: unadorned and pleasing, but visually unexciting. The same can be said for the other members of this versatile family, which includes sedans and one of the few remaining hatchbacks available in america. even though the civics are relatively anonymous, there are more good points than bad to relate. first and most important are the short front and rear overhangs - not much car protruding beyond the axles at either end - which allow the driver to slot the 14. 5 ft. Civic coupe into a 15 ft. Parking space with ease. It doesn't really matter though; both body styles - and their companion sedan, for that matter - can be kitted out with the same features, making all three civics equal when it comes to fun, economy and convenience. interiorsimplicity. In a word, that's the civic's interior story. This is a basic car, particularly in its base editions. It has few accessory controls and no confusing design features to intimidate the driver. a new dashboard, looking very much like the one it replaced, accommodates a passenger-side airbag, which complements the existing driver airbag ensconced in the steering wheel hub. Directly in front of the driver are the essentials - gauges for speed, fuel level and engine temperature; a tachometer on the ex; and a couple of stalks for lamps and wipers. Easy to use and sharp-looking. the front seats are well-designed and supportive, though slightly short on thigh support, and are trimmed in handsome and durable fabrics. This is, after all, a coupe, though it's significantly better than many others like it on this score. Shorter (less than 6-foot-tall) riders will find brief trips on the back bench endurable. one practical aspect of the civic's makeup is an already large cargo area (11. 8 cu. Ft.), which can be made even bigger by folding back the rear seat. driving impressiondriving fun is standard equipment on any civic, even the humblest model. Maximum fun adds about $4000 to the tab. what the extra money buys is honda's superb vtec engine technology on the ex. The acronym denotes a powerplant with variable intake valve timing that, without getting into technicalities, allows the engine to operate with optimal efficiency at both high and low rpm. And operate it does: peak horsepower is developed at a lofty 6600 rpm. And there's no serious penalty for turning the vtec engine so fast, as it stays remarkably smooth right up to the point where its electronic rpm limiter steps in. the less-powerful but still responsive dx engine need not be wound as tight to extract maximum horsepower, but it develops less overall. The manual transaxle gets top marks for shift linkage and ratio selection, and the self-shifter rates highly for smooth operation. both the dx and ex are a joy to drive on the open road. And, like all hondas, they're strong in the area of rigid chassis design. one downside to this wonder chassis is less-than-perfect ride quality. On smooth roads the civic is just fine, transmitting little harshness through the body. Rough roads are another matter. But to be fair: this is a short, light car that manages to offer a better ride than most of its competition. It's just not in the same class as, say, a honda accord. Aside from offering outstanding driving pleasure, both are reliable, efficient (the ex gets a 29 mpg city/35 mpg hwy. Rating from the epa; we averaged 33 mpg under a variety of conditions) and nicely finished cars. this is a mature, innovative, high-quality line of small cars that's among the best in the world. Tachometer✔ Anti-lock Brakes✔ Driver Airbag✔ Sunroof/Moonroof
Carlisle, PACarlisle, PA at autoshopper.com