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.
The new Civic boasts a flat rear floor providing an average of 2.3 cubic feet of additional interior room, moving the Civic into the "compact" category. The overall size of the cars remains virtually unchanged from the past.
All Civic 2001 models feature a wide range of safety enhancements and Honda is targeting a top-rated Five Star NCAP result for frontal impacts, pending NHTSA certification. Advanced dual-stage front airbags monitor seatbelt use and crash severity and adjust bag deployment accordingly. Front seatbelts feature dual pretensioners.
Three-point seat belts are provided at all seating positions and all Civic models are equipped with the "LATCH" (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren) child seat tether system and an emergency trunk opener that glows in the dark.
Side airbags are available on all Civic models. 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.
All 2001 Civics are powered by new and larger 1.7-liter engines that are both more powerful and more fuel-efficient. Horsepower gains range 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 in all 50 states 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. The Civic Coupe also is available in a high mileage HX version while the Civic GX Sedan will again be equipped with a natural gas powered engine, "the cleanest internal combustion engine in the world."
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-horspower engine (up from 106 hp in 2000), power steering, adjustable steering column, AM/FM stereo and immobilizer theft deterrent system.
The Civic LX Sedan has traditionally been the best-selling Civic model and a LX trim level has been added to the Coupe lineup for 2001. 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 AM/FM stereo. LX Civics go on sale starting at $14,810.
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 anti-lock brakes, 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.
The natural gas powered Civic GX is equipped with the CVT for 2001. The GX also retains its "Super ULEV" emission rating in California, the most stringent emission requirement in the world.
The Civic Coupe is produced and assembled using domestic and globally-sourced parts at the Honda of America Manufacturing plant in East Liberty, Ohio, while Sedan models are made in both Ohio and by Honda of Canada Manufacturing in Alliston, Ontario, Canada. Civic North American production, which began in 1985, has now topped 3.5 million units.