2008 Used Honda Civic New Hampshire

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Handling of the 2008 Honda Civic

The ride quality in the Honda Civic solid but not overly firm, with less road noise and wind whistle than is common for the class. The exceptionally stiff chassis gives the Civic a solid and planted feel. The brake feel is solid as well. Thoroughly modern front and rear suspension designs deliver impressive stability and certain steering response. The long wheelbase smoothes the ride.

The five-speed automatic is just that, a select-it-and-leave-it transmission, and it does the job admirably. Thankfully, Honda has not fallen prey to the Sport-Shift fad.

Interior of the Used Honda Civic

The Civic LX sedan remains the most comfortable Civic available. The DX edges more toward Spartan inside, while the EX heads toward lush. Fit and finish meet Honda standards. Plastic trim elements look high-grade.

Seats are comfortable, not plush. The fabric upholstery feels durable, and its robust nap assists the modest side and bottom bolsters in restraining occupants during spirited motoring. Seat bottoms provide better than average thigh support. The manual height adjustment on the driver's seat pivots on front hinges, forcing drivers to choose between seat height and legroom. The Si and Mugen models get sport front seats with synthetic suede upholstery and more aggressive bolsters both bottom and side for improved support. The view out the front, with the expansive windshield, low cowl and sloping hood, is excellent. 

2008 Honda Civic Design

The Honda Civic sedans and coupes don't share any body panels. Details and markings distinguish each trim level. A bright horizontal bar, with a prominent Honda H in the middle, dominates the sedan's grille. Slender headlamp assemblies angle upwards as they curve around the fenders. A single, broad air intake fills the lower portion of the fascia.

The coupe grille is more delicate, with the Honda logo suspended in a two-tier frame. The central lower air intake opens between two geometric side recesses that feed cooling air to the front disc brakes and house the optional fog lamps. Even more so than with the sedan, the coupe front end pushes the leading corners down and outward, emphasizing the wide track.

2008 Honda Civic Lineup

The 2008 Honda Civic is available in coupe and sedan versions. The DX, LX, and EX models share a 140-hp, 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine with a standard five-speed manual transmission. A five-speed automatic is optional.

The Honda Civic DX coupe and sedan are the base models. Standard equipment is confined to power windows, tilt-and-telescope steering wheel, height-adjustable driver's seat and fold-down rear seatback. The coupe gets a rear decklid spoiler.

The Civic LX coupe and sedan add air conditioning; cruise control with steering-wheel-mounted controls; power door locks with keyless entry; center console with sliding armrest; overhead map lights; and express up/down for the driver's power window; P205/55R16 tires on steel wheels with covers. The sedan gets a four-speaker, 160-watt AM/FM/CD audio with MP3/WMA capability and auxiliary input jack. The coupe has six speakers and a rear-seat walk-in feature that remembers the front passenger seat's setting.

The Civic EX coupe and sedan add power moonroof; variable-speed windshield wipers; a second 12-volt power outlet; a 60/40 split folding rear seatback; and outside temperature indicator. The keyless remote adds a trunk release button. The EX is upgraded with four-wheel disc brakes, alloy wheels, and a seven-speaker, 350-watt, XM-ready premium stereo with steering wheel-mounted controls. The Civic EX-L adds heated leather seats, leather-trimmed steering wheel and armrest, and heated mirrors.

Conclusion

The Honda Civic is the benchmark for compact cars. The Civic LX sedan is a superb choice for someone who wants a practical compact that is smooth, comfortable and quick. The EX models add all the conveniences, including heated leather seats in the EX-L. The GX offers basic transportation with the potential economy and real emissions reduction of natural gas. The Hybrid makes a good commuter car. The Si Coupe and Si Sedan deliver sporty performance for driving enthusiasts. The new Mugen Si is a quick ticket into the Fast and Furious.

Some information for this review was obtained from NewCarTestDrive.com