On the road
The base 1.6L is not performance oriented although the engine could be described as being punchy. What it does best is carry the Civic to speed
without much fuss and without consuming much fuel either. Having to ring the engine to get the most out of it is perhaps the worst outcome when serious acceleration is required. It does get a little noisy as the RPMs build, however the overall road and tire hums are very tolerable.
The tested car had a 4-speed automatic transmission. Like a trusty friend, the gearbox is always doing what is expected of it. It will hold the right gear for the right amount of time and will cheerfully downshift for passing manoeuvres.
The Civic's ride is relatively dry but certainly not uncivilised nor uncomfortable. Potholes are crisply soaked up and the car remains fairly stable and confident at highway speeds. Steering is light and precision is fine although on-center feel could be tighter. Brakes are responsive and pedal feel is generally good.
Safety
The Civic has standard dual front air bags (optional passenger for 3-dr 1996) and optional ABS brakes on the Si (standard on SiR). The NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) awarded the car 4 out of 5 stars (a good result) for both passengers in frontal impacts. In 1996 and 1997, the passenger side frontal rating was of 5 out of 5 stars (a perfect result). The IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) rated the Civic "Average" in its category.
Conclusion
Way back in 1998, the Civic was crowned "best selling car in Canada" and eight years later, it has yet to relinquish this title. "Why is that?" you may
ask. The answer comes from those that own and drive these cars. They are arguably some of the easiest and most enjoyable cars to own.
Nearly every generation Civic has had a few bugs, like all automobiles. The thing about this car is how much fun it is to drive and how inexpensive it is to run. Few compact cars, or any automobiles for that matter, actually own a description such as this. It is no wonder then that the Civic is so popular.
The base 1.6L is not performance oriented although the engine could be described as being punchy. What it does best is carry the Civic to speed
 |
The tested car had a 4-speed automatic transmission. Like a trusty friend, the gearbox is always doing what is expected of it. It will hold the right gear for the right amount of time and will cheerfully downshift for passing manoeuvres.
The Civic's ride is relatively dry but certainly not uncivilised nor uncomfortable. Potholes are crisply soaked up and the car remains fairly stable and confident at highway speeds. Steering is light and precision is fine although on-center feel could be tighter. Brakes are responsive and pedal feel is generally good.
Safety
 |
Conclusion
Way back in 1998, the Civic was crowned "best selling car in Canada" and eight years later, it has yet to relinquish this title. "Why is that?" you may
 |
Nearly every generation Civic has had a few bugs, like all automobiles. The thing about this car is how much fun it is to drive and how inexpensive it is to run. Few compact cars, or any automobiles for that matter, actually own a description such as this. It is no wonder then that the Civic is so popular.