Honda Civic 1996-2000 review

 

Overview

1996 Honda Civic. Click for larger photo 1996 Honda Civic interior. Click for larger view The 1996-2000 model is the sixth generation of Honda Civic. It is a simple, comfortable, economical and long-lasting vehicle. The 1996-2000 Honda Civic was available in North America as a four-door sedan, two-door coupe or two-door hatchback. Honda Civic has front-wheel drive with a 4-cylinder engine and a four-speed automatic or five-speed manual transmission. The HX model came with a continuously variable transmission. Inside, the Civic is comfortable for daily driving and is fairly spacious for a small car, although the rear-seat headroom is limited. Instruments and controls are simple and easy to use. The split rear seat folds down to accommodate longer items. On the road, the Civic handles well. The ride is smooth and well-controlled. On the downside, the engine is a noisy at acceleration. In the NHTSA frontal crash tests, the 1996-1997 4-door models scored 4 stars for the driver and five stars for the front passenger. The 1996-2000 Honda Civic 2-door as well as 1998-2000 4-door model scored 4 stars for both the driver and the front passenger in the same tests. For more details, visit Safercar.gov

Engine

Honda Civic 1.6L SOHC engine The 1996-2000 Honda Civic came with the 1.6-liter SOHC 4-cylinder 16-valve engine as standard. The US EX model and Canadian SI model came with VTEC version of the same engine with more power. Either engine has a timing belt that needs to be replaced in recommended intervals. Honda Civic engine is proven to be reliable if maintained well.

Pros

- Excellent fuel economy
- Durability and reliability
- Low maintenance costs
- Comfortable interior
- Good resale value

Cons

- Paint chips easily
- Cupholder design
- The engine is a bit underpowered at low rpm
- Road noise
- Exterior sheet metal is easy to dent
Problems were fairly rare and mostly minor, like an engine wiring harness, Check Engine light, some electrical. One of the common problems was a bad ignition coil causing the engine not to start.

Overall

The 1996 - 2000 Honda Civic could be a good choice for inexpensive and economical daily commuter or as a starter car. Honda Civic is a simple and easy to work on vehicle - any garage can handle the repairs. Maintenance costs are fairly low.

What to look for buying a used Honda Civic

As a first step, check the used car history records. A history report may help you to uncover some of the problems the car might have in the past such as accidents, flood damage, rolled back odometer, etc. 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.
- If the "check engine" light is on, have the problem assessed with your mechanic or a dealer before buying a car; in worst cases repair might be quite expensive.
There was a Honda technical service bulletin that mentioned the problem where the engine wiring harness is rubbing on the intake manifold bracket under the intake in the back of the engine causing the Check Engine light with codes P1298, P0135 (primary heated oxygen sensor), P0141 (secondary heated oxygen sensor), or P0501 (vehicle speed sensor), as well as a blown Fuse 15 in the under-dash fuse box.
- Black soot in the exhaust or a smoke may indicate excessive oil consumption.
- Look for signs of corrosion at the rear wheel arches and doors.
Learn more what to look for when buying a used car
- Before buying a car, have it properly inspected by a mechanic.
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.

Few maintenance tips

- Wash and wax your car regularly to protect the paint.
- If you live in the area with high humidity, rustproofing will help to protect the car body from corrosion.
- Regular oil changes are very important to keep your engine in a good shape.
- Overheating can cause serious engine problems.
- Winter tires will provide much better traction on the snow.
- Change transmission fluid regularly using only original transmission fluid.
- Use original parts.
- Keep all theoils and fluids clean and topped up.
- If you have the Check Engine light coming on, read here what it means:
Check Engine light
- If you already know the trouble code that caused the Check Engine light in your car, check it here: OBDII Engine Trouble Codes.
- Have your car inspected regularly to keep it safe.
Check more Car maintenance tips

1997 Honda Civic sedan short specifications

Dimensions:
Overall length: Overall width: Overall height: Wheelbase:	175.2 in (4450 mm) 66.9 in (1700 mm) 54.7 in (1390 mm) 103.1 in (2620 mm)
Engine:
Honda Civic DX, LX (US) and LX, EX (Canada): Honda Civic EX (US) and SI (Canada):	1.6-liter, 4-cylinder, in-line, 16-valve SOHC 106 hp @ 6,200 rpm, 103 lb-ft @ 4,600 rpm 1.6-liter, 4-cylinder, 16-valve SOHC VTEC, 127 hp @ 6,600 rpm, 107 lb-ft @ 5,500 rpm
EPA Fuel Economy (US MPG, L/100km):
1.6L SOHC engine, manual transmission: 1.6L SOHC engine, automatic transmission: 1.6L SOHC VTEC engine, manual transmission: 1.6L SOHC VTEC engine, automatic transmission:	city: 28 MPG (8.4 L/100km) hwy: 35 MPG (6.7 L/100km) city: 25 MPG (9.4 L/100km) hwy: 32 MPG (7.4 L/100km) city: 26 MPG (9.0 L/100km) hwy: 33 MPG (7.1 L/100km) city: 24 MPG (9.8 L/100km) hwy: 32 MPG (7.4 L/100km)
Recommended Fuel:	Regular unleaded
Fuel Tank Capacity:	11.9 US gallons (45 liters)