Test drive Honda Civic sedan 2000 - 2003 sedan

In the seventh knee

New Sivik - in Russia

Spacious - it means convenient
The new Sivik is a little shorter (-20 mm), but wider (+20 mm) and higher (+50 mm) predecessor. First of all, this favorably affected the size of the salon - now, in a number of parameters, he is the most spacious car in his class. To achieve such spectacular results, I had to work hard. For example, the steering mechanism moved upward, due to this, the length of the motor compartment decreased. A more compact rear suspension allowed 40 liters to increase the volume of the trunk. The hardness of the body has increased markedly - now the entire power frame is made of high -strength steel.
Engines of 1.4 and 1.6 liters did not go unnoticed. Preserving the same power, both became more moment. So, a 1.6-liter engine with a capacity of 110 liters. With. Now it develops 152 N.Ms at 4300 rpm: compare with 143 NM and 4800 rpm in the previous generation. Both motors are aggregated either with five -speed mechanics or with a four -speed automatic machine. The latter is equipped with a blocking of the hydrotransformer, electronic control and logical control system adjusting to the road conditions and the driver's temperament. It is with such a box that we have to get to know each other better, as, however, with another novelty - the steering power steering. After all, Sivik is the first mass car of Honda in Europe, on which this innovation is applied.
A familiar novelty
To admit, if you remove marketing makeup from the body, not allowing you to forget that before us is the latest Honda, Sivik is unlikely to conquer the imagination. The correct modern sedan, like a sponge that has now absorbed the fashionable designer finds and, from this, has hastened his own, truly Honda style. There is no characteristic beak in front, the headlights were sore and, as it were, were Europeanized, the flowing swiftness of the roof was dissolved. Deprived of family features, the new Sivik became outside something average, how pretty, so faceless.
But a practical and even strict interior retained the old Hondovsky sourdough. There is no fake tinsel, there is not even a popular display now - everything is with taste, but very rational. The strict dark contours of the front panel, in tone for the upholstery, and only light inserts for aluminum on the handles of the doors and at the base of the box of the box dilute the asceticism of the salon. An unexpected vertical combination of three rotating handles that control the microclimate, noticeably revives the entire front panel.
Otherwise, everything is convenient and ... for some reason familiar. It seems to have changed the console, a combination of devices, but still there is something in general, the continuity of decisions, or something. The seat looks familiar at all: the same set of three adjustments, the same dense, but clearly short pillow, the same limited longitudinal range of movements - the tall driver will be cramped. However, additional centimeters are felt immediately, especially above the head, and on the sides of the driver. Conveniently, even with some margin, the roof raised, and the passenger on the right somehow moved aside. An even more noticeable increase in the space behind. True, no longer above the head (here is just a acceptor), but in the knees and feet. A flat floor and a dozen centimeters of free space - you sit almost like in a limousine. At first, I can’t even believe it, but getting used to it, you begin to find fault with the little things - they say and the back of the back seat could be placed more turning away, and the ceiling should be lifted.
Motor and automatic union
I admit, for me, Honda is primarily an engine, and it doesn’t matter what working volume it is. In this case, at first, a combination of a small engine of 1.6 liters and automatic transmission awarded. However, Sivik from the first minutes of communication made him look at the ladies' package in a completely different way: he turned out to be sharp, dynamic, sometimes even unnecessarily. A light touch on the accelerator makes Honda immediately shoot in a given direction. Well, if the gas is on the floor - here it is, a powerful acceleration, accompanied by a spectacular slip of the drive wheels on sulfed winter asphalt, here it is, the true character of Honda! And it is necessary, the machine is dissolved in this energy, recalling itself only with small plugs with a completely twitching ride. It seems that the logical control system and the hydrotransformer have found a common language. The new engine is distinguished by a more even moment characteristic and ... limited promotion. No matter how zealous, an electronic limiter interferes with 6500 rpm in the case. I remember that the old motor allowed more. Nevertheless, there are harsh notes in the character of the new Honda. For example, when maneuvering or in a close parking lot, its impulsiveness even interferes: you have to use the accelerator very dosed.
On the road, the car behaves reliably, although not perfect. New pendants, decreasing in size, essentially remained European. On a relatively flat road, Sivik with a sort of elastic ball energetically overcomes the seams, joints and other trifles. But it is worthwhile to appear traditional gentle waves and other characteristic pardins, like suspensions quickly surrender, and the body begins to swing intensively, missing more and more series of blows. You can deal with this in only one way - reduce speed.
But Honda-Sivik controlled. Of course, on winter tires it is difficult to feel all the nuances of the behavior of the car: nevertheless, it somehow immediately has a quick, accurate feedback, elastic, intelligible steering wheel and unusual for the old Sivik ease of passing the most insidious turns. I remember that the previous one more rested at the entrance to the turn, trying to straighten the given trajectory. And this one goes to himself and rides, even with an automatic box very sensitively reacting to the accelerator pedal.
Sivik is quite peculiar in terms of vibroacoustics. It is felt that they diligently worked on the car, reducing the vibrations of the engine, aerodynamic noises - but the temperamental engine still breaks into the salon after 4000 rpm with an excessive reminder of its indefatigable energy.
Not the usefulness of a single
The seventh Sivik is clearly more than the previous one oriented to the mass consumer. A convenient, spacious salon, a roomy trunk, of course, is useful in everyday life. At the same time, now there are less and less cars with character. The delicious becomes the lot of exclusive versions. Here is a new Sivic, rather, a pleasant exception. And having felt this, you are no longer so skeptical about a boring appearance and by no means a small price of $ 21,000. What, the honda were never cheap.

SUMMARY
Honda Sivik is a very successful combination of practicality with a driver’s orientation.

The Civik car debuted in 1972, it was he who brought Honda to the number of leading world manufacturers. In May 1995, a 10 millionth Sivic was assembled at the Suzuk factory - from the fifth generation of these machines. The new, already seventh Sivik will be released in three countries: Japan (four-door sedan and five-door hatchback), the USA (two-door coupe) and the UK (three- and five-door hatchbacks). All models are built on a single platform and uniform units and only the base of the two -door compartment is shorter by 60 mm.
In Russia, the novelty is still represented by a sedan - it is from it that we will begin acquaintance.

Honda Civic
General data: number of places - 5; Equipped mass - 1147-1240 kg; maximum speed - 192 km/h; acceleration time from a place to 100 km/h - 11.7 s; fuel consumption in conditional combined and city cycles - 8.2; 9.3 l/100 km; fuel supply - 50 liters; Fuel - AI -95. Dimensions, mm: length - 4460; width - 1715; height - 1445; base - 2625; The track in front/back - 1471/1478; Road clearance - 155; trunk volume - 450 l; The turning radius is 5.5 m. Engine: four-cylinder, 16-valve with variable phases of gas distribution VTEC-2; working volume - 1590 cm; cylinder diameter and piston stroke - 75x90 mm; compression degree - 9.6; Power - 81 kW/110 liters. With. at 5800 rpm; The maximum torque is 152 N.M at 4300 rpm. Transmission: front wheel drive; The gearbox is automatic, four -speed, with blocking the hydrotransformer and a logical control system. Suspension: front - such as McEferson, the back is an independent two -leaf. Brakes: front - disk, ventilated, rear - drum. Steering: rheck with an electric power. Tires: 185/70R14 or 195/60R15.
Text / Sergey Voskresensky
Photo / Vladimir Trusov

Source: The magazine "Driving"