2005 Honda Civic S 1.4i from F.Y.R.O. Macedonia

Summary:

A reliable, practical and economical car, ideal for business users who make big mileages

Faults:

Slight rattle from the left-hand front pillar.

General Comments:

Firstly, let me clear out that this is a saloon (4-door) model of the Civic.

Engine runs very smoothly, and is quiet even when pressed hard. The power (90bhp) is adequate, although I have experienced some poor pooling when driving uphill loaded with 4 passengers with AC on.

Road noise is generally OK, unless it rains or the road is wet, in which case you get the impression you are driving with the rear window open.

Ride is stiff; suspension is sporty, so I guess it is more suited for a sports drive. Personally, I would prefer a softer suspension, but most new cars have firm ride. Not very good for a relaxed drive through the city, especially if streets are poor quality. Handling is, however, superb, especially on the open road, or on mountainous curves.

Quality in the cabin is OK, but not spectacular, I am a bit disappointed by the plastic quality, which is below par vs. most competitors in its class. However, all switches and buttons are really smooth and ergonomically laid: you do not need to read the instructions in order to figure out how it all works.

Space is fantastic. This has got to be the most spacious car in its class, and I have checked most. My boss has an Accord, and I can say the Civic is more spacious in the cabin, even though slightly shorter. The flat rear floor is especially practical, making it possible for 3 adults to fit easily. Boot is also very generous, it has enormous surface area, so it looks bigger than the claimed 440 L. It is not very practical though, like all saloons, as you cannot load bulky objects: I had hard time placing my daughters bike, which is medium sized.

Fuel economy is fine, not as advertised, but close: 9L/100km in the city, and 6L/100km on the open, among the best in its class.

Equipment contains all essentials. What I would add however, would be remote central locking (it is manual), a trip computer, and a clock. See, Honda figured they don’t need to include a clock, since most audio systems have one integrated. I happened to purchase an audio system without a clock (probably the only one on the market), so now I need to add one extra. No, they don’t supply a built in CD player, which for me was good, since I bought a MP3 player, a much better option, especially on longer trips.

The price for the Civic in Macedonia was very competitive, which was an argument plus.

Not perfect, but a very good package for the money.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 15th November, 2005

2nd Oct 2009, 13:01

After 70,000 km I can confirm the car is going strong without any major problems. The only weak spot seems to be the lights, as most of them had to be replaced, both outside and inside the car.

2005 Honda Civic EX from North America

Summary:

I love this car

Faults:

Nothing has gone wrong with the car.

General Comments:

The car is very comfortable.

The transmission is very responsive for an economy car.

I'm a big guy and I sat in the back seat comfortably.

The gas mileage is great. I got over 36 miles per gallon on the first gas tank ran through it. Now that I've been running the air conditioner all summer and pushing the car quite a bit harder I'm still getting over 32 miles per gallon.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 18th July, 2005

2005 Honda Civic EX 1.7 VTEC from North America

Summary:

Stylish, fun to drive, reliable car

Faults:

Nothing has went wrong with the car.

General Comments:

This car handles really well. The body is very stylish and clean. The engine seems quite refined. The seats are comfortable and offer great lateral support. Ergonomics are user friendly. Automatic transmission shifts smoothly with no hunting for gears. The headlights are really bright. The 6 speaker radio system sounds decent.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 16th June, 2005