Head Office: CAA-Quebec 444 Bouvier Street Qubec, QC G2J 1E3

2004 HONDA CIVIC This years Civic has been touched up front and rear, and for the first time, theres a 127 hp engine for the sedan, in the new Si version. Two other trim lines, DX and LX, are also available; only the DX is still equipped with 14-inch wheels. CAAQuebec tested the Si sedan. Interior and trunk Front access is relatively good, but the narrow rear doors and low roof make it harder in and out of the back, especially for tall individuals. The front seats are very comfortable, with good side support but no lumbar adjustment. Only the drivers seat has an armrest. The driving position is very good for almost all drivers. The rear bench seats two adults in relative comfort. The backseat cushion is higher those in front. Head room is tight for tall people, but there is ample legroom. The floor is now flat, thanks to the repositioning of the exhaust system. The trunk is quite roomy but it has a narrow opening. More cargo can be accommodated by folding the 60/40 splitfold seat. The trunk hinges can easily squash things placed underneath. The lid has a handle so that it can be opened from the inside. Convenience and safety The Civic is very well finished inside. It is quiet for its category, but road noise still filters in all too easily. The cabin has lots of roomy storage spaces and front and rear dome lights. The heating system needs rapid attention, on two levels. First, it is a bit slow, and second, heat is poorly distributed. Almost all the heat goes to the windshield in the floor-windshield setting; as a result, to keep your feet warm, your face gets toasted.
Pictures: Honda Canada

Controls are generally well located except for the sun roof control left of the steering wheel. The cup holders are positioned in front of the gear shifter. If a beverage container is a bit tall, its stuck up under the dashboard. Safety features include front air bags, two locking head restraints, good visibility on all sides (except to the rear, because of the two rear head restraints), antilock brakes (not available on the DX), and good headlights. Side air bags are not available, even as an option. Engine and transmission The 1.7-litre four-cylinder engine develops 127 hp and 114 lb-ft of torque thanks to the VTEC variable valve distribution system. In spite of the 14 hp and 4 lb-ft of torque advantage over the engine in the other versions, performance is rather sedate. Acceleration and pickup are just adequate and then only above 3,500 rpm. On the other hand, you can turn a corner in third gear at 1,000 rpm without protest from the engine. The engine is noisy almost all the time. Easy and fun to use, the five-speed manual transmission has a progressive clutch. In fifth, the engine runs about 500 rpm too fast. On the road The new Civic offers an excellent ride that lets you drive for hours on Quebec roads without slipping a disc. In certain conditions suspension reaction is a bit firm, but never uncomfortable. Road holding is very good, on practically all road surfaces. Lean is normal in curves. The power steering is well weighted. The specs indicate variable steering assistance, but this was not evident in our test. The steering is stable, precise and relatively quick, but it delivers little information on the how the tires relate to the road. Braking is smooth, powerful and fade resistant. An inspection at the CAA-Quebec inspection centre showed that the Civic is very well assembled in general, and that the underside is sturdy and very well protected against corrosion. However, the big openings in the front fender liners are a puzzle. They let an impressive quantity of dirt into the engine compartment, a good portion of which accumulates on the accelerator linkage where it could cause serious problems. The windshield washer fluid tank is on the highway side, which can be a safety hazard if you have to top it up on the side of the road. The coolant expansion tank is low and hard to check. More dirt gets into the engine compartment through the front grill.

Conclusion The new Civic still has what it takes to maintain its position as the top selling vehicle in the country. It offers a roomy interior, comfortable front seats, competent handling, the same legendary fuel economy, and equally legendary reliability. FOR Smooth ride Front-seat comfort Road holding Well-weighted steering Big trunk Handling AGAINST Heating problems Noisy engine acceleration Gearing (manual transmission) Access to back seats Small trunk opening Openings in front fender liners 2004 HONDA CIVIC SEDAN Engine: 16-valve, 1.7-litre 4 cylinder Torque: 110 lb-ft @ 4500 rpm; 114 lb-ft 4800 rpm Suspension: fully independent Length: 445.5 cm Height: 144 cm Weight: 1,117 to 1,208 kg Towing capacity: recommended Horsepower: 115 hp @ 6100 rpm; 127 hp @ 6300 rpm Transmission: five-speed man.; 4speed auto. Brakes: front disc/rear drum Width: 171.5 cm Wheelbase: 262 cm Tires: 185/70R14; 185/65R15; 195/60R15 non- Air bags: standard front

Fuel consumption with 127 hp engine and manual transmission: Transport Canada rating: city: 7.6 L/100 km (37 mpg); highway: 5.9 L/100 km (48 mpg) Test result: 7.5 L/100 (37.5 mpg) Fuel tank capacity: 50 litres Acceleration: 0-100 km/h: 9.7 seconds 60-100 km/h: 5.6 seconds Competition: Chevrolet Cavalier and Optra, Chrysler Neon, Ford Focus, Hyundai Elantra, Kia Spectra, Mazda3, Mitsubishi Lancer, Nissan Sentra, Pontiac Sunfire, Saturn ION, Subaru Impreza, Suzuki Aerio, Toyota Corolla, Volkswagen Golf and Jetta

Warranty: Full basic coverage: 3 years/60,000 km Powertrain: 5 years/100,000 km Surface corrosion: 3 years/unlimited km Perforation damage: 5 years/unlimited km Emissions control system: 3 years/60,000 km (full coverage); 8 years/130,000 km (catalytic converter, electronic control module and on-board diagnosic device) Factory replacement parts: Rear bumper: $608 Brake pads: $68 Front fender: $140 Front brake disk: $79 Muffler: $248

Average insurance premium (Quebec City, replacement cost endorsement, claim-free insurance record, male or female driver 30 to 40 years old): $913 to $1,413 Price according to trim line: DX: $16,100 DX-G: $17,700 LX: $19,500 Si: $21,500 Main options: Automatic transmission: $1,000 Price as tested: $21,500 Freight and preparation: $950 Dealers: Quebec: 60; Canada: 203 CAA-Quebec, April 2004.