SMALL-CAR SHOOTOUT
The all-new Honda Civic takes on five worthy contenders.
BY MICHELLE KREBS
The Honda Civic has long been the gold standard among small cars. Its been the best-selling small car in the United States for each of the past five years. Its won critical acclaim for its engineering excellence and racked up countless quality and durability awards. Its also been a consistent hit among the much-sought-after twentysomethings, a crowd that generally gravitates toward cooler sport-utility vehicles and pickups. In California, in fact, the Civic is a favorite for lowriders and pocket-rocket custom jobs.
With the all-new 2001 Civic arriving in dealer showrooms this falland with gas prices rising to record levelswe thought it an appropriate time to take stock of the small-car market and see if the Civic still reigns supreme. From the list of roughly two dozen small cars that vie for 2.2 million buyers annually, we culled the five that we deem to be the Civics strongest competitors: the Dodge Neon, the Ford Focus, the Mazda Proteg, the Nissan Sentra, and the Toyota Corolla. Like the Civic, all are front-drive, five-passenger sedans equipped with four-cylinder engines. Unlike the Civic, the five other cars we tested were 2000 models. Our comparison is valid, however, as only the Civic has changed significantly for 2001.
To separate the winner from the also-rans, our staff put the six cars through their paces at the test track and on real-world roads. We rated each on appearance inside and out, ride and handling performance, safety, creature comforts, and more.
Well reveal perhaps our most important finding right up front: there wasnt a bad car in this group. A buyer selecting any one of these cars is not likely to regret that choice. Nor were any of our finalists as austere as the econoboxes of the past. All were thoughtfully engineered, well built, and relatively loaded with features. All delivered a lot of car for a small amount of money.
As a result, our task proved tougher than we had imagined and the scoring closer than we had expected. But in the end, we did our duty and selected the best of the best. Heres how the voting turned out:
HONDA CIVIC
The Honda Civic is still No. 1. One of our judges wrapped it up best: superbly competent and solidly built. We voted the new Civic the small car wed most like to live with on a daily basis. That didnt stop us from debating its design, however. Our opinions ranged from best looker of the bunch to unexciting.
The Civic, now in its 27th year as a nameplate and its seventh generation, has been completely redesigned inside and out for the 2001 model year, but the changes are subtle. The new Civic has the same exterior dimensions as the previous model, but its roomier inside. Based on the way the federal government figures interior volume, the Civic has moved from the subcompact category to compact.
Our test car was an EX model, the highest of the three trim levels offered on the Civic sedan. While the lesser Civic sedans get 115-horsepower, single-overhead-cam, 1.7-liter engines, the EX is powered by a 127-horsepower, double-overhead-cam version of the same engine. Our test car also was outfitted with the silky-smooth four-speed automatic transmission (a five-speed manual is available). We rated the Civics automatic the best transmission in this test.
The Civic took first place in braking, too. In fact, the Civic topped the competition in most performance categories. Whether dutifully following the traffic flow around town or ripping freely over backcountry two-lanes, the Civic felt as if it couldnt put a wheel wrong. Through high-speed curves, its chassis remained composed and capable. Our only regret was that the Civic didnt have more horsepower; its extremely solid body structure certainly could handle more. Sewing-machine smooth but needs more muscle, concluded one of our voters.
The Civics interior, said one judge, feels so clean and uncluttered that it seems as if something is missing. Run through a checklist of necessary items, though, and everything is there. Our EX came with standard air conditioning, power windows and locks, and a CD player. It also had anti-lock brakes, which are not available on all Civic models. Side air bags are optional.
The sticker price on our EX was $18,239, but you can get a new Civic sedan for as little as $12,960, plus destination charge.
FORD FOCUS
The Ford Focus ranked a close second in our comparison. Buyers have voted with their pocketbooks. In the first half of this year, the Focus overtook Volkswagens Golf as the bestselling car in the world, and it has won several awards around the globe.
Our judges praised the Focus for its big-car feel, its spacious and easy-to-access interior, its adventurous design, and its driving dynamics. Ford is to be commended for outside-the-box thinking on exterior and interior styling, wrote one of our testers. Introduced last year, the Focus exemplifies Fords New Edge design philosophy. Sharp creases and lines define the shape and create visual tension. The head-turning design makes the Focus stand out from other small cars, which tend to be conservative in styling.
The interior is distinctively styled as well. The Focus took top marks in this test for interior appeal. The cabin is extremely roomy, and wide-opening doors make it easy to climb aboard. In contrast to the other small cars, the Focuss supportive seats offer a high driving position for a commanding view of the road. The Focus hits a home run with its comfy interior and tidy dimensions, commented one of our judges.
Our test car was a top-of-the-line ZTS. The sedan is available in two other trim levels, but the hatchback and station-wagon versions come only one way. The ZTS is powered by Fords 130-horsepower, 2.0-liter engine; other models come with 110-horsepower engines.
Our Focus scored high in most performance categories. Its major weakness was the notchy shifter of the five-speed manual transmission (a four-speed automatic is available). Some drivers said they had to concentrate on each shift to change gears smoothly. A long-throw clutch pedal, which, conversely, engages the clutch very quickly on the return, was another weak point.
The Focus represents an outstanding value. Base prices start at not much more than $12,000. Our test model, outfitted with a leather-wrapped steering wheel and side air bags, topped out at $15,970, a price very competitive with those of rivals that were less decked out.
The all-new Honda Civic takes on five worthy contenders.
BY MICHELLE KREBS
The Honda Civic has long been the gold standard among small cars. Its been the best-selling small car in the United States for each of the past five years. Its won critical acclaim for its engineering excellence and racked up countless quality and durability awards. Its also been a consistent hit among the much-sought-after twentysomethings, a crowd that generally gravitates toward cooler sport-utility vehicles and pickups. In California, in fact, the Civic is a favorite for lowriders and pocket-rocket custom jobs.
With the all-new 2001 Civic arriving in dealer showrooms this falland with gas prices rising to record levelswe thought it an appropriate time to take stock of the small-car market and see if the Civic still reigns supreme. From the list of roughly two dozen small cars that vie for 2.2 million buyers annually, we culled the five that we deem to be the Civics strongest competitors: the Dodge Neon, the Ford Focus, the Mazda Proteg, the Nissan Sentra, and the Toyota Corolla. Like the Civic, all are front-drive, five-passenger sedans equipped with four-cylinder engines. Unlike the Civic, the five other cars we tested were 2000 models. Our comparison is valid, however, as only the Civic has changed significantly for 2001.
To separate the winner from the also-rans, our staff put the six cars through their paces at the test track and on real-world roads. We rated each on appearance inside and out, ride and handling performance, safety, creature comforts, and more.
Well reveal perhaps our most important finding right up front: there wasnt a bad car in this group. A buyer selecting any one of these cars is not likely to regret that choice. Nor were any of our finalists as austere as the econoboxes of the past. All were thoughtfully engineered, well built, and relatively loaded with features. All delivered a lot of car for a small amount of money.
As a result, our task proved tougher than we had imagined and the scoring closer than we had expected. But in the end, we did our duty and selected the best of the best. Heres how the voting turned out:
HONDA CIVIC
The Honda Civic is still No. 1. One of our judges wrapped it up best: superbly competent and solidly built. We voted the new Civic the small car wed most like to live with on a daily basis. That didnt stop us from debating its design, however. Our opinions ranged from best looker of the bunch to unexciting.
The Civic, now in its 27th year as a nameplate and its seventh generation, has been completely redesigned inside and out for the 2001 model year, but the changes are subtle. The new Civic has the same exterior dimensions as the previous model, but its roomier inside. Based on the way the federal government figures interior volume, the Civic has moved from the subcompact category to compact.
Our test car was an EX model, the highest of the three trim levels offered on the Civic sedan. While the lesser Civic sedans get 115-horsepower, single-overhead-cam, 1.7-liter engines, the EX is powered by a 127-horsepower, double-overhead-cam version of the same engine. Our test car also was outfitted with the silky-smooth four-speed automatic transmission (a five-speed manual is available). We rated the Civics automatic the best transmission in this test.
The Civic took first place in braking, too. In fact, the Civic topped the competition in most performance categories. Whether dutifully following the traffic flow around town or ripping freely over backcountry two-lanes, the Civic felt as if it couldnt put a wheel wrong. Through high-speed curves, its chassis remained composed and capable. Our only regret was that the Civic didnt have more horsepower; its extremely solid body structure certainly could handle more. Sewing-machine smooth but needs more muscle, concluded one of our voters.
The Civics interior, said one judge, feels so clean and uncluttered that it seems as if something is missing. Run through a checklist of necessary items, though, and everything is there. Our EX came with standard air conditioning, power windows and locks, and a CD player. It also had anti-lock brakes, which are not available on all Civic models. Side air bags are optional.
The sticker price on our EX was $18,239, but you can get a new Civic sedan for as little as $12,960, plus destination charge.
FORD FOCUS
The Ford Focus ranked a close second in our comparison. Buyers have voted with their pocketbooks. In the first half of this year, the Focus overtook Volkswagens Golf as the bestselling car in the world, and it has won several awards around the globe.
Our judges praised the Focus for its big-car feel, its spacious and easy-to-access interior, its adventurous design, and its driving dynamics. Ford is to be commended for outside-the-box thinking on exterior and interior styling, wrote one of our testers. Introduced last year, the Focus exemplifies Fords New Edge design philosophy. Sharp creases and lines define the shape and create visual tension. The head-turning design makes the Focus stand out from other small cars, which tend to be conservative in styling.
The interior is distinctively styled as well. The Focus took top marks in this test for interior appeal. The cabin is extremely roomy, and wide-opening doors make it easy to climb aboard. In contrast to the other small cars, the Focuss supportive seats offer a high driving position for a commanding view of the road. The Focus hits a home run with its comfy interior and tidy dimensions, commented one of our judges.
Our test car was a top-of-the-line ZTS. The sedan is available in two other trim levels, but the hatchback and station-wagon versions come only one way. The ZTS is powered by Fords 130-horsepower, 2.0-liter engine; other models come with 110-horsepower engines.
Our Focus scored high in most performance categories. Its major weakness was the notchy shifter of the five-speed manual transmission (a four-speed automatic is available). Some drivers said they had to concentrate on each shift to change gears smoothly. A long-throw clutch pedal, which, conversely, engages the clutch very quickly on the return, was another weak point.
The Focus represents an outstanding value. Base prices start at not much more than $12,000. Our test model, outfitted with a leather-wrapped steering wheel and side air bags, topped out at $15,970, a price very competitive with those of rivals that were less decked out.
