2004 Honda Civic EX Test Drive

Gone are the days when Civic meant basic transportation. This 4-cylinder 4-door sedan is sporty and fun to drive, is almost as big as the Accord was a few years ago, and comes equipped with all the needed comforts and conveniences. Honda build quality is an attractive plus. Base price: US$17,260; Warranty US: 3 years, 36,000 miles.

Heritage

The Honda Civic made its debut here in 1972 and since then fifteen million have been built worldwide. A lot has changed from those early years when the Civic was truly small by anyone's standards. But it was tough and willing and, unlike most of its competitors, had character. Which, when you consider Honda's background in motorsport, might have been expected. Well, the Civic grew up to become a hot hatch, the basis for many of those modified sport compacts the young generation now likes to play with. That's great, except it kept growing and growing, and is close in size to the Accords of a few years ago. The 2004 Honda Civic, with updated styling, comes as both coupe and, in the case of our test car, a sedan. The 160 hp British-built Civic Si hatchback is quite a different animal, one we'll save for a later review.

Coachwork

A friend recently drove a Civic loaner when his Mazda was in for repair and came away impressed. He did, however, remark on the blandness of its styling. I pointed out that in this case the beauty is in the details, so to see the Civic as it really is you have to get up close and run your eyes over the bodywork, examining how forms flow into each other, how each panel has been integrated, how the little things are nicely done. From that aspect it is quite attractive. But perceived blandness is a curse in this business so for 2004 Honda upgraded the front and rear, adding Accord styling touches. This is an easy car to get into; not once did I hit my head. Until I climbed into the back and was immediately whacked by the door frame. Rear seat space is adequate for a small family and no one should complain about comfort up front but in my view a car of this size functions better as a hatch-type wagon. Dashboard and controls have been laid out with typical Honda emphasis on ease of operation. Forward sightlines are good, too. The EX I drove featured a leather steering wheel and gear knob, power moonroof, power windows, doors, mirrors, air and cruise, all of which combined to negate any perception of economy, except on the price tag.

On the Road

One characteristic that has always separated Civics from the competition is the driving experience. A peek at the double-wishbone rear suspension is enough to explain why: Honda engineering, where a little more is spent to get the best. As a result, the Civic handles nicely and even has a hint of race-car directness in the steering. And yet there is no compromise in ride, so while the driver can enjoy the pleasures of the road, passengers feel confident and comfortable. Noise levels, wind noise in particular, are relatively low except when the engine is pushed hard. I wouldn't exactly call the 2004 Honda Civic EX a true sport sedan but it comes close enough for the price. This Civic comes with a 1.7 liter, single-overhead-cam four producing 127 hp. Not the largest nor most powerful in its class, it performs best when the revs are pushed higher. Which worked fine in the 5-speed manual version I tested, though this leads to a tendency to drive hard and fast. The 4-speed automatic might be a better choice for cautious buyers.

Summary

In the cruel world of must-have marketing, where mere refinement is not enough, the 2004 Honda Civic, even with its Accord-like styling updates, is beginning to fall behind some of the competition's newest efforts. Once the pacesetter, it now runs with the pack. Still, refinement can only be nurtured through time, and so the Civic offers a well-built automobile that meets most family needs in comfort and spaciousness, sips fuel, and provides the driver with an entertaining experience when carving the curves or slipping through gaps in the traffic. I had no complaints about the trunk space, surprisingly large and with the 60/40 rear seat folded, adaptable to long, awkward loads. Crash test results are a plus, so is fuel economy. More mainstream than it used to be, the 2004 Honda Civic offers good value as a family car, and just enough spirited performance to satisfy the owner who likes to have a little fun for his or her money.