2005 Honda Civic S review from F.Y.R.O. Macedonia

Slight rattle from the left-hand front pillar.

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.