Engine Automotive

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.

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.