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What's New for the 2004 Honda Civic?
With fresh styling front and rear, the 2004 Honda Civic continues as a coupe or sedan in a wide variety of configurations and trim levels. Coupes and sedans get a new hood, grille, bumpers, and headlights. All Honda Civics have 15-inch wheels for 2004, and EX models are equipped with standard alloy wheels. A DX Value Package includes air conditioning, a CD player and a center console. Remote keyless entry is added as standard equipment on the LX and the GX, floor mats are standard on all but the DX, and all Civics receive additional sound dampening with upgraded audio. The 2004 Honda Civic Hybrid also meets strict Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emission Vehicle (AT-PZEV) standards in California and New England. New colors round out the changes to the 2004 Honda Civic. Advantages of the 2004 Honda Civic:
- Hybrid model available
- Natural gas model available
- All Civics rated an Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle (ULEV) in all 50 states
- Five-star crash test ratings for front and side protection
- Deserved reputation for reliability
- Proven ability to hold value over time
Objections to the 2004 Honda Civic: - Low, flat, mushy seats
- Tall dashboard with murky ergonomics
- Hybrid model not as powerful or as frugal as the Toyota Prius
- Rear suspension bobs oddly on dips
Editor's Advice:
Honda’s best-selling Civic defined the economy car class at one time. Today, that’s no longer the case. In our opinion, the primary reasons are increased competition and an interior that is poorly designed, noisy and uncomfortable. Honda has added more sound insulation for 2004, but we haven’t driven a new Civic and cannot comment on the effectiveness of this change. Our 2003 Honda Civic Hybrid test vehicle produced lots of wind noise, tire roar, road rumble and engine racket. Plus, the front seats were awfully uncomfortable, flat and mounted too close to the floor. On a longer trip, the cushions begin to feel like they’re filled with cement, and the hard plastic on the upper door panels can rub elbows raw. We also take issue with the flawed ergonomics of the center stack, where small stereo controls swim in a sea of wasted space. Still, there’s no denying that the 2004 Honda Civic is a handsome, reliable, and affordable car possessed with impressive crash test scores and a talent for holding its value over time. And with ULEV engines, an available natural gas model (the GX sedan) and a hybrid version available, the Honda Civic is environmentally responsible. Plus, a wide variety of aftermarket speed parts go a ways toward improving the Civic’s somewhat lackluster performance. Honda is trading more on the Civic’s image than substance, and if the current Accord is any indication, we’d expect that the next iteration of the Honda Civic, due for 2006, will be substantially improved.
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