2001 Honda Civic Classic - Review

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Honda has produced another gem, polished to near perfection. The reincarnated 2001 Civic, now in its seventh generation, has emerged once again from Honda's box of magic as a fine, inexpensive little car venerated for reliability, quality and value.

Although Honda is still playing it safe with the iconic Civic's styling, cautiously keeping exterior changes so subtle they can barely be detected without a magnifying glass except for the rear end, the major changes are in performance, spaciousness, and ride.

Remaining faithful to a proven winner is typical of Honda, whose forays into radical restyling have been few and far between and mostly restricted to concept cars like the jazzy Sprocket, a combination of a convertible, pickup and sports car. For production cars that make it into showrooms, the company has opted for traditional, tried-and-true design that makes no dramatic statements.

This is evident on the 2001 Civics. The coupe has a racier C pillar to give the roofline a sleeker look and a different rear bumper compared to the sedan's more conservative appearance but otherwise the new Civics are similar to those we have known and loved.

Under the sheet metal, however, there are huge changes. Most you won't be able to see but you can sure feel. Each 2001 Civic is powered by a new 1.7-liter ULEV (ultra low emission vehicle) engine with improved performance over last year's smaller engine,

including a five to ten-percent increase in fuel economy, an increase in torque output, and 115 horsepower. The EX sedan model boasts a VTEC-E engine, with 127 horsepower. Both offer zippy rides with barely perceptible lag on upgrades.

2001 honda civic interior