The Honda Civic, the best- selling small car in the U.S. for the past five years and an American favorite for nearly 30, has been completely re-designed and re-engineered for the 2001 model year.
The all-new, 7th generation, 2001 Civics offer sporty new styling, improved engine performance, a host of safety and environmental enhancements, significantly more interior room, added value and a new level of comfort. Combined with Honda's traditional leadership in dependability, quality and reliability, the all-new 2001 Civic moves beyond its benchmark status, creating a class all its own.
Prices for 2001 Civic sedan models will increase an average of just 0.5 percent or $80, on a sales-weighted basis. Prices for the best-selling Civic LX Sedan, which accounts for more than half of all sedan sales, will increase $80 to $15,010.
Civic coupe models increase an average of 2.5 percent or $376, much of the increase coming from the addition of anti-lock brakes as standard equipment on EX Coupe models. Other coupe models increase in price from $60 to $80. The Civic DX Coupe, the lowest priced Civic model, will have a price of $12,760. New for 2001 is the Civic LX Coupe, which will have a base price of $14,810.
Highlights for the 2001 Civic lineup include:
- Targeted Five Star frontal impact NCAP rating (pending NHTSA certification);
- Larger, more powerful and more fuel-efficient engines; * All new suspension and chassis;
- A flat rear floor, contributing to an average of 2.3 cubic feet of additional interior room, moving Civic into the "compact class," while maintaining virtually the same overall exterior size; * Advanced dual-stage front airbags;
- Dual seat belt pretensioners;
- "LATCH" (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) seat tether system; * Immobilizer anti-theft system, standard on all models.
Side airbags are available on all Civic models as a $250 option. When equipped with side airbags, the front passenger seat has a side airbag cutoff system that will prevent the side airbag from deploying if a child or small- statured adult is out of position or leaning into the side airbag deployment path.
The new 1.7-liter engines provide horsepower gains ranging from 5 to 10 percent while fuel economy has been improved up to 10 percent. The new engines are also cleaner burning than the ones they replace. All Civics will have an Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV) rating -- the first car to be sold nationwide with a ULEV rating.
The 2001 Civic lineup will include distinct sedan and coupe body styles available in DX, LX and EX trim levels. Both 5-speed manual and automatic transmissions are available on all models. The Civic Coupe also is available in a high mileage HX version, with both a 5-speed manual transmission and improved automatic Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT). The Civic GX Sedan will again be equipped with a natural gas powered engine, "the cleanest internal combustion engine in the world." The CVT transmission has been added to the GX for 2001. Although the DX trim level is considered the entry vehicle into the Civic lineup, it is also packed with features. With a base price of $12,760 for the Coupe and $12,960 for the Sedan, the Civic DX comes equipped with such features as a more powerful 115-horsepower engine (up from 106 hp in 2000), power steering, adjustable steering column and AM/FM stereo. All Civic LX models add a wide range of features including air conditioning, power windows, power door locks, cruise control and a cassette player to the stereo.
Civic EX models are powered by the 127-horsepower VTEC engine with improved torque characteristics for 2001 (to 114 lb.-ft. @ 4800 rpm from 107 lb.-ft. @ 5500 rpm). Other standard EX equipment includes, a moonroof, a CD player, keyless entry system and larger 15-inch wheels and tires. EX models start at $16,410.
The Civic HX Coupe is again the fuel economy leader in the Civic lineup. With a 36/44 city/highway EPA rating for an HX equipped with a 5-speed manual transmission and 35/40 rating for the HX with an automatic CVT (continuously variable transmission), both HX models should again be among the 10 most fuel efficient vehicles in America. HX models start at $13,560.
2001 HONDA CIVIC PRICES AND EPA DATA
EPA
Model Transmission MSRP City/Hwy.
Civic DX Coupe 5-Speed Manual $12,760 32/39
4-Speed Automatic $13,560 30/38
Civic HX Coupe 5-Speed Manual $13,560 36/44
CVT $14,560 35/40
Civic LX Coupe 5-Speed Manual $14,810 32/39
4-Speed Automatic $15,610 30/38
Civic EX Coupe 5-Speed Manual $16,410 32/37
4-Speed Automatic $17,210 31/36
Civic DX Sedan 5-Speed Manual $12,960 32/39
4-Speed Automatic $13,760 30/38
Civic LX Sedan 5-Speed Manual $15,010 32/39
4-Speed Automatic $15,810 30/38
Civic EX Sedan 5-Speed Manual $16,910 32/37
4-Speed Automatic $17,710 31/38
Destination and Handling Charge is $440 per vehicle.