The popular Honda Civic coupe and sedan features a new for 2005 Special Edition package that gets a rear spoiler and an MP3-compatible six-CD stereo. Besides this, little has changed from the previous year. There are a couple of new paint colors. The Civic got a substantial face-lift for 2004 that included restyling of the hood, bumpers, grille and headlights. Civics are appealing and undeniably sensible, though they're not overpowering or alluring. Few automakers offer the range or diversity Honda builds into the Civic line.
There are sedans, coupes and a hatchback, with an emphasis on either features and convenience, performance or fuel efficiency and low cost of operation. All are notable for their excellent fuel economy, free-revving engines and solid handling, including the electrically assisted Hybrid. Up-level Civics come with powerful VTEC engines that deliver brisk acceleration. The Si hatchback is the flagship performance model, and a favorite among young enthusiast drivers for good reason. All provide superb comfort for front-seat passengers.
The Civic is easy and pleasant to drive. It is quiet on the inside, Throttle response in the 127-hp EX is good, but its automatic transmission reacts a bit slowly. Honda's manual gearshift, however, is precise, and the clutch performs expertly. The base Civics may be a bit on the bland side in appearance and performance, but reputation for quality and dependability outweighs the lack of thrill. Steering requires only modest effort. This car delivers excellent ride quality and is wholly capable during tight maneuvers.
Except for the Civic Hybrid and Civic Si, all Civics carry a 1.7-liter four-cylinder with outputs that vary from 115 to 127 horsepower, depending on the model. All Civics but the Si earn at least an Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle rating. When installed in DX and LX models, the Civic's 1.7-liter four-cylinder makes 115 hp. In EX models, this engine uses Honda's variable valve timing technology and produces 127 hp. Both engines are available with a standard five-speed-manual gearbox or an optional four-speed-automatic transmission. The HX coupe uses a 117-hp lean-burn engine that operates with reduced emissions and is available with a continuously variable transmission that has no gears. This transmission is standard in the 100-hp GX sedan that runs on compressed natural gas.
Honda's Integrated Motor Assist system in the Civic Hybrid makes the gas engine dominant. The electric motor provides additional power when needed. While yielding impressive fuel-economy figures and reduced emissions, the Civic Hybrid drives like any other automobile. The batteries never need to be connected to a power outlet because they're recharged while driving. An automatic idle/stop feature shuts off the engine when the car comes to a stop as a means of conserving fuel. The Civic Hybrid is available with either a five-speed-manual gearbox or a continuously variable transmission that uses no gears. It's powered by a 1.3-liter four-cylinder and an electric motor/generator that produce a combined 93 hp. Compared with its gasoline-engine sibling, several exterior revisions give the Civic Hybrid a distinctive look. The Civic Hybrid differs little from a regular Civic sedan, so the driving experience is similar. Acceleration is wholly adequate from a standstill and at highway speeds.
The car operates very quietly, but road noise is slightly greater than usual due to the low-rolling-resistance tires. The alternative to the hybrid, for consumers in certain areas, is the Civic GX sedan, which comes with 100-hp, natural gas-powered engine that requires a special fueling station for home use. The GX may have the cleanest internal combustion engine in the world, as Honda claims, but it's also the most expensive and one of the least powerful Civics. For 2005, the GX gets the same styling changes introduced on other Civic sedans in 2004.
The Civic holds five occupants and feels spacious inside for a compact cat. Rear legroom is ample because of the Civic's compact rear suspension. The sedan's trunk offers 12.9 cubic feet of space, and the split rear seatback folds down for additional cargo room. Front-seat accommodations in the Civic are superb for a car in this class. The sedan's seats provide excellent support, thanks to a rigid structure with fairly aggressive side bolsters. High bottom cushions make entry and exit easy, though a lack of height adjustment in the base DX limits tailoring for driver size or taste. The Civic coupe's front seatbacks stretch broad and deep, with headrests that are open at the center like a doughnut. The Si hatchback's front seats are best of all, offering comfort for longer trips and more aggressive bolstering for hard driving.
Coupes and sedans have a similar hood, front fenders, front bumper and headlight styling. However, the two vehicles are clearly different. While they share the same wheel base and inner structure, most of their exterior panels are not interchangeable. The coupe features a more aggressive windshield rake, intended to create a sportier look, and its tail lamps light up in a signature pattern. The appearance of the Civic Hybrid sedan is also subtly different from other four-doors, with a deeper spoiler under the front bumper, a small spoiler on the lip of the trunk lid and Hybrid-specific lightweight alloy wheels.
The four-door Civic is nearly 3 inches shorter than the Toyota Corolla and about the same length as a Ford Focus sedan. Both the Civic coupe and sedan ride a 103.1-inch wheelbase, but the four-door model is 1.6 inches taller than the coupe. The available Civic Si hatchback has a huge, flat windshield is steeply raked, and its nose slopes radically downward, generating excellent aerodynamics and allowing great visibility outward. The Si is slab-sided, without any sculpture in the sheet metal, though in 2004 better proportioned 16-inch wheels gave the car more character by better filling the wheel wells. Overall, this small car packs its motor into a condensed engine bay, leaving more space for passengers, especially in front, without increasing exterior dimensions.
Safety equipment on the 2005 Civic includes two-stage front airbags, child seat anchors for the back seat and an emergency release lever inside the trunk, all standard. Side-impact air bags come standard on the Hybrid and are optional on all models. Anti-lock brakes (ABS) are standard on the EX, Si, and Hybrid, and optional on GX. The Civic scores well in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's crash tests. Nearly four decades after its introduction, the Honda Civic can rightfully be called an automotive icon. It remains one of America's best-selling small cars for good reason. The Civic is perfect for small families, or a commuter looking for a fuel efficient, reliable, and stylish vehicle.
Honda civic 2005
Honda civic 2005
Honda civic 2005
Honda civic 2005
Honda civic 2005
Honda civic 2005
Honda civic 2005
Honda civic 2005
Honda civic 2005
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