1996-2000 Honda Civic Full Review - Consumer Guide Automotive

Our in-depth review covers everything you need to know about this generation Honda Civic. Get the latest news, find a local dealer, and get a free price quote for this generation Honda Civic.

1996-2000 Honda Civic Review

Subcompact front-drive Civics again came in three body styles: 2-door notchback coupe, 2-door hatchback, and 4-door sedan. Coupes and sedans were about 2.3 inches longer, whereas the hatchback grew by 4.3 inches--now riding the same wheelbase as the coupe and sedan. A 106-horsepower 4-cylinder engine powered the CX, DX, and LX, and could be accompanied by either a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission. The HX coupe's engine makes 115 horsepower, driving either a 5-speed or the innovative new CVT (continuously variable) automatic transmission. It operates somewhat like an electrical dimmer, in contrast to a 3-way light switch. EX Civics hold a 127-horsepower engine, with either manual or automatic shift. Dual airbags were standard on all models. Antilock brakes were standard on the EX sedan, but optional on the LX sedan and EX coupe.

Year to Year Changes

1997 Honda Civic: For 1997, all Civic models wore 14-inch tires. Otherwise, except for the addition of standard wheel covers, changes were minor this year.

1998 Honda Civic: Civic saw little change for '98.

1999 Honda Civic: Honda spruced up the Civic for '99 with minor appearance changes front and rear, plus a revamped dashboard with amber lighting and rotary climate controls in place of sliding levers. Two additional models were added in midyear. The 4-door VP was produced in limited numbers and included air conditioning, keyless entry, and special paint. Also a limited-production model, the 2-door Si got a 160-horsepower engine, 5-speed manual transmission, 4-wheel disc brakes, a rear spoiler, and low-profile tires on 15-inch wheels.

2000 Honda Civic: Redesigned, slightly bigger Civics were expected for 2001, so changes were few for 2000. A standard tilt steering wheel went into the base CX model.

1996-2000 Honda Civic Road Test

Pros	Cons

Antilock brakes	Road noise

Fuel economy	Rear-seat entry/exit

Ride

Visibility

Consumer Guide® Road-Test Evaluation

Based on interior volume, the sedan now qualifies as a compact car, whereas the coupe and hatchback rank as subcompacts. Rear space in any body style is adequate for most people (up to about 6 feet tall) to fit without squeezing. Hatchbacks gained the most interior space. Thinner roof pillars and a bigger rear window improved visibility on all body styles. The driver faces a low steering wheel and easy-to-read gauges. Split folding rear seatbacks on all Civics expanded cargo capacity. The '01 redesign brought obvious gains in space, refinement, and comfort. Acceleration is liveliest with the EX, but all Civics perform at least adequately. Gas mileage also is a bonus: An EX with automatic reached 36 mpg on the highway, averaging 29 mpg in suburban commuting. Engine noise has been quieted, but road noise is still prominent at highway speeds. Except for some overreaction to wavy surfaces, ride comfort is pleasing--well above average for a small car, with few jolts and minimal bounciness. Easy to maneuver, stable, and well-controlled on the highway, the Civic delivers superior steering feedback and excellent response.

Value for the Money
This generation continues Civic's long-standing tradition of reliability and durability. Largely for that reason--coupled with the high new-car prices of LX and EX models, in particular--their resale prices as used vehicles tend to stay high.

Consumer Guide® Road Test Ratings

Honda Civic EX 4-door auto	Rating

Performance	4

Fuel Economy	7

Ride Quality	4

Steering/Handling/Braking	3

Quietness	4

Controls/Materials	5

Interior Room	4

Room/Comfort (rear)	3

Cargo Capacity	3

Value within Class	6

Total:	43

Each vehicle report contains one rating chart for representative model. Consumer Guide® rates in ten key areas: Performance, Fuel Economy, Ride Comfort, Steering and Handling, Interior Noise, Controls and Materials, Driver Room, Passenger Room, Cargo Capacity, and Insurance Costs. These ratings compare the particular vehicle rated to ALL other vehicles, not a vehicle's standing in a particular class. In the ratings table, "1" is the lowest rating and "10" is the highest rating.

1996-2000 Honda Civic Reliability

Trouble Spots

Consumer Guide's® Auto Editors have scoured repair bulletins and questioned mechanics to search for commonly occurring problems for a particular vehicle. In some cases we also give possible manufacturer-suggested solutions. In many instances these trouble spots are Technical Service Bulletins posted by the manufacturer, however, we have our own expert looking at additional vehicle problems.

Audio system: Installing an aftermarket radio can result in loss of dome lights and keyless entry. Those two systems are tied into the Honda radio. (1997)

Automatic transmission: Automatic transmission may shift harshly due to contaminated linear shift solenoid. Fix includes repeated fluid changes plus installation of a new solenoid. (1996-2000)

Check-engine light: "Check Engine" light may glow on vehicles used where salt is used on the roads because the EVAP solenoid fails. (1998-00)

Cupholders: The cupholder lid sticks closed or will not close due to missing latch. (1996-97)

Electrical problem: Surging, similar to lock-up torque converter dithering, is caused by a poor electrical ground between the chassis and transmission. (1999)

Seatbelts/safety: Seatbelts may not retract or may retract slowly. Also, the button that keeps the seatbelt tongue from sliding down breaks. The belts should be serviced under the Honda Lifetime Seat Belt Limited Warranty. (1996-97)

Water leak: Water leaks onto the front floor (either or both sides) due to insufficient sealer on body seams. (1996-97)

Wipers: If windshield wipers don't park in the correct position, wiper motor may need to be replaced. (1998-2000)

Consumer Guide® Estimated Repair Costs

This table lists costs of likely repairs for comparison with other vehicles. The dollar amount includes the cost of the part(s) and labor (based on $50 per hour) for the typical repair without extras or add-ons. Like the pricing information, replacement costs can vary widely depending on region. Expect charges at a new-car dealership to be slightly higher.


Item Name	Repair Cost

A/C Compressor	$465

Alternator	$310

Automatic Transmission or Transaxle	$800

Brakes	$185

Clutch, Pressure Plate, Bearing	$470

Constant Velocity Joints	$590

Exhaust System	$405

Radiator	$515

Shocks and/or Struts	$690

Timing Chain or Belt	$185

NHTSA Recall History

1996: Soapy lubricant used to insert brake-booster check valve into vacuum hose causes sticky valve and loss of power assist.

1996-98 w/accessory floormats: Mispositioned floormat could interfere with accelerator pedal.

1997-98: Some passenger airbag modules were improperly assembled; could prevent proper deployment.

1999-00: Electrical contacts in the ignition switch can degrade, making the engine stall, due to high electrical current passing through the switch at startup.

2000: Certain rear-seatbelt buckles were improperly manufactured and may be difficult to unlatch after a crash.

1996-2000 Honda Civic Prices

Prices	Good	Average	Poor

1996
Civic	$2,200-3,000	$1,600-2,100	$400-600
Civic EX	$3,200-3,900	$2,500-3,000	$800-1,000

1997
Civic	$2,500-3,300	$1,800-2,400	$500-700
Civic EX	$3,700-4,400	$3,000-3,600	$1,100-1,300

1998
Civic	$2,900-4,000	$2,200-3,000	$700-900
Civic EX	$4,400-5,100	$3,700-4,200	$1,500-1,800

1999
Civic	$3,400-4,800	$2,700-3,800	$900-1,200
Civic EX	$5,000-5,700	$4,300-4,800	$2,000-2,300
Civic Si	$6,500-7,300	$5,700-6,400	$2,900-3,300

2000
Civic	$3,900-5,700	$3,200-4,700	$1,200-1,800
Civic EX	$6,000-6,700	$5,200-5,800	$2,500-2,800
Civic Si	$7,200-8,000	$6,400-7,100	$3,500-3,900

This chart details a range of prices in year-by-year listings for vehicles in three condition levels:

Good: a clean low-mileage, solid-running vehicle that needs little or no repair.

Average: a car with normal miles on the odometer, perhaps a few scrapes or dings; engine might need a minor repair or two, but runs acceptably well.

Poor: might have potentially dangerous problems with the engine and/or body, or abnormally high mileage; definitely in need of mechanical attention. Valuations reflect wholesale prices paid by dealers at auction, and retail prices on used-car lots. Each range covers all trim levels and engine types for a vehicle with a typical amount of equipment--usually an automatic transmission, air conditioning, stereo, etc. Fully loaded vehicles may cost more. Average mileage is 12,000 miles per year. Keep in mind that these are guidelines only. Actual selling prices vary- especially from region to region.

1996-2000 Honda Civic Specs & Safety

Vehicle Dimensions

Specification	2-door coupe	2-door hatchback	4-door sedan

Wheelbase, in.	103.2	103.2	103.2

Overall Length, in.	175.1	164.5	175.1

Overall Width, in.	67.1	67.1	67.1

Overall Height, in.	54.1	54.1	54.7

Curb Weight, lbs.	2262	2222	2319

Cargo Volume, cu. ft.	11.9	13.4	11.9

Standard Payload, lbs.	--	--	--

Fuel Capacity, gals.	11.9	11.9	11.9

Seating Capacity	5	5	5

Front Head Room, in.	38.8	38.8	39.8

Max. Front Leg Room, in.	42.7	42.7	42.7

Rear Head Room, in.	36.2	37.2	37.6

Max. Rear Leg Room, in.	34.1	34.1	34.1

Specifications Key: NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist.

Powertrain Options and Availability

Civics had a choice of three 1.6-liter, overhead-cam, four-cylinder engines. A 106-horsepower version went into CX, DX, and LX models. The Civic HX coupe got a 115-horsepower engine, while the EX used a 127-horsepower four. Three transmissions were available: 5-speed manual, 4-speed automatic, or (for HX coupe only) Honda's CVT unit. In mid-1999 Honda added the Si with a 160 horsepower version of the EX engine. It came only with a 5-speed manual.

Engines	Size liters / cu. in	Horse- power	Torque	Transmission: EPA city/hgwy	Consumer Guide Observed

ohc I4	1.6 / 97	106	103	5-speed manual: 33/38 4-speed automatic: 29/36	5-speed manual: -- 4-speed automatic: --

ohc I4	1.6 / 97	115	104	5-speed manual: 39/45 CVT automatic: 35/39	5-speed manual: -- CVT automatic: --

ohc I4	1.6 / 97	127	107	5-speed manual: 30/36 4-speed automatic: 28/35	5-speed manual: 33.8 4-speed automatic: 31.4

dohc I4	1.6 / 97	160	111	5-speed manual: 26/31	5-speed manual: --

Specifications Key: NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist.

NHTSA Crash-Test Results

Test	1999 Civic	1999 Civic

Front Impact, Driver	--	--

Front Impact, Passenger	--	--

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) tests a vehicle's worthiness in front- and side-impact collisions and rates its resistance to rollovers. Front-impact crash-test numbers indicate the chance of serious injury: 5 = 10% or less; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-35%; 2 = 35-45%; 1 = More than 45%. Side-impact crash-test numbers indicate: 5 = 5% or less; 4 = 6-10%; 3 = 11-20%; 2 = 21-25%; 1 = More than 26%. Rollover resistance numbers indicate the chance for rollover when the vehicle leaves the roadway: 5 = Less than 10%; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-30%; 2 = 30-40%; 1 = More than 40%.

Built In: Canada, USA

Drive Wheels: transverse front-engine/front-wheel drive

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Also in the 1996-2000 Honda Civic Review:

Honda Civic

Honda Civic Road Test

Honda Civic Reliability

Honda Civic Prices

Honda Civic Specs & Safety

Honda Civic Photos

Honda Civic Full Review