2007 Honda Civic EX review from North America

Nothing so far, but it's only been a month (although it has been more than 4,000 miles).

I love this car. I bought it to replace a 1999 Civic that I had very stupidly lowered and fitted with after-market wheels and brakes. That car was mechanically sound with 153,000 miles, but wore through (expensive) tires like crazy. Plus the spare no longer fit over those fancy disc brakes I just had to have. I spent a lot of money trying to get the camber fixed, but it just wouldn't work. Lesson learned, I traded it for a brand new Civic EX that will be left completely stock. Maybe if the '99 EX had come stock with alloy wheels and four-wheel disc brakes I wouldn't have started that car down the path of destruction...

That being said, Honda made a lot of improvements to the Civic over the last eight years. It's no rocketship, but it doesn't leave me (seriously) wishing I had ponied up for the Si. The clutch is smooth (one passenger commented she hadn't even realized it was a stick shift after riding through town in it) and engine noise is minimal. Road noise may be a little high, but nothing like the old Civic with the lo-pro tires and stupid exhaust (again, I learned my lesson!) The brakes are responsive and smooth.

Honda also improved some creature comforts in the car, such as the sound system (in the EX and Si). I spent a lot to beef up the system in my old Civic, and I don't think that one sounded any better. The EX and Si come stock with a sub and seven speakers. It's not something you'll find winning a sound-off, but it sounds a lot better than the stock system you'll find in most compact cars.

The seats feel firmer, the construction feels tighter, it's just a great little car.

The only thing I don't like about this car over the last Honda I owned (and the '87 Accord before it) is that the rearview mirror is attached to the windshield now, instead of the ceiling, so it may unattach some day. Other than that, it's all better.

I drive a lot. I put more than 4,000 miles on the car in the month I've had it. The more I drive it, the more I like it. It's a well-made, reliable, reasonably-priced, fun to drive car.

I will be keeping this car a long time.