Honda Civic Sedan and Coupe - Clean, Understated Good Taste
Honda is making waves in the automotive industry lately with last month's Detroit introduction of an all-new 8-passenger SUV named Pilot, and the announcement of a new light pick-up truck based on last year's Model X concept vehicle, to be built alongside the venerable Civic at Honda America's East Liberty (Ohio) plant. As for cars, the 160-hp Civic Si hatchback, now made in Britain, is coming to North America in limited numbers soon, as a 2003 model. Still, it's the bread-and-butter Accord sedan and Civic sedan and coupe that make up the majority of Honda sales in Canada.
While Honda had taken a stab at the North American market with a tiny air-cooled, rear-engine model in the late 1960's, the Civic was the car that put the Japanese company on the map when it was launched in 1972. Marking the models sixth update in almost 30 years, both 2-door and 4-door Civics went under the surgical knife again last year. That said modifications for 2002 are minor. The current design is a departure from the soft round corners of the 1990's cars to new sharply creased lines. A sculpted ridge in the hood sweeps forward to meet Honda's now trademark trapezoidal grille, the sedan getting two horizontal slats while the coupe incorporates one. New triangular taillights are especially pronounced on the coupe, while chrome trim gives the sedan an upscale appeal. Overall the design is fresh, while conservative enough not to upset Honda traditionalists.