2001 - 2005 Honda Civic sedan review

2005 Honda Civic. Click for larger photo

Honda Civic interior. Click for larger photo

The seventh generation Honda Civic, introduced in 2001, is a simple, economical and easy to maintain small car.

The 2001-05 Civic comes as a four-door sedan or two-door coupe. A hybrid version was available starting from 2003, but it's rare to find.

The Civic has front-wheel drive with transversely mounted 4-cylinder engine and five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission. It rides on MacPherson struts in the front suspension and double wishbone in the back. The ABS was standard on EX models.

Inside, the Civic is fairly roomy for a small car. The interior fit and finish is very good. The controls are simple and conveniently located. The instrument panel is straightforward and easy to read. The driver's seat is comfortable and supportive; the rear seat folds down for extra cargo room. The trunk is surprisingly spacious for a small car.

On the road, Honda Civic handles well, although the ride feels stiff and a little bumpy. The engine is a bit noisy on acceleration. Road noise is noticeable at highway speed.

In the NHTSA frontal crash tests, the 2001-2005 Honda Civic has received five stars for both the driver and the front passenger. In the frontal offset crash tests performed by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the 2001-2005 Honda Civic received "Good" overall rating.

The engine

Honda Civic 1.7-liter VTEC engine. Aside from rare-to-find hybrid and natural gas powered models, the 2001-2005 Civic comes with two main engine choices: the 4-cylinder 1.7-liter 115-hp 16-Valve SOHC (Single OverHead Cam) and the more powerful 4-cylinder 1.7-liter 127-hp 16-valve SOHC with Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control (VTEC). Both engines have a timing belt that must be replaced at recommended intervals. Either engine is proven to be very reliable if properly maintained.

Strengths

- Good fuel economy
- High resale value
- Interior quality and comfort
- Low maintenance costs
- Great trunk space for a small car

Weaknesses

- Road and engine noise
- Stiff ride
- Paint scratches easily

Overall

If you are looking for a small economical sedan, Honda Civic is one of the best choices. It's cheap on gas and easy to maintain. Overall, the 2001-2005 Honda Civic was pretty reliable, however, there were complains about an automatic transmission, especially in early models.
Check more used small car reviews

What to look for buying a used Civic

As a first step, check the used car history records; this could help you to avoid cars with hidden problems. Follow this link: How to check used car history
- Check the service records if available - it's important to verify that the car was properly maintained.
- Look for leaking front shock absorbers.
- Clunking noise from the front suspension while braking may indicate bad suspension components (e.g control arm bushings).
- Check if the timing belt has been replaced; if not, you will have to do that.
- Watch for any "racing" modifications: aftermarket air filter unit, performance muffler, altered suspension, etc. - the Civic is popular model with street racers and you don't want a car that could have been abused.
- If the "check engine" light is on, have the problem assessed with your mechanic or a dealer before buying a car - in worst cases the repair might be quite expensive.
- Blue smoke at start-up may indicate engine problems - avoid such a car.
Learn more what to look for when buying a used car
- Prior purchase have the car inspected by a mechanic of your choice.
Shop wisely, check few cars to compare; it's worth to pay a little extra for a well-maintained vehicle in good condition. Check our step-by-step used car buying guide for more information.
Some models may be costly to insure. Get the insurance quotes first.
Consider an extended warranty to protect from unexpected repair costs.

Few maintenance tips

- Wash and wax your car regularly to protect the paint.
- Frequent oil changes are very important to keep your engine in good shape.
- Change transmission fluid in recommended intervals; use only original Honda transmission fluid.
- Stick with original Honda parts.
- Take care of minor problems as soon as you can, before they lead to expensive repairs.
- Overheating the engine may cause serious problems.
- It might be a good idea to replace the water pump when changing the timing belt.
- Follow recommended maintenance schedule and keep all the fluids clean and topped up.
- Have your car inspected, at least once a year, in a garage on the lift (e.g. when doing tire rotation) to keep it safe. Many components (e.g. brakes, steering, suspension) cannot be properly inspected during a simple visual inspection at fast lube places - the vehicle must be on the lift.
To know more about your Honda maintenance, visit Honda’s Ownerlink website (see links section below). Check more Car maintenance tips

Honda Civic sedan short specs. (2003 US model)

Links

Repair information

If you need a repair manual with diagnostic procedures, check engine codes description, wiring diagrams, maintenance schedule, component location, technical service bulletins, recalls, etc. - follow this link:

by Vlad Samarin