Car of the Year for 2003: The Honda Civic Hybrid
As time has gone by several things can be said about the Honda Civic series: including the strong reaction most buyers have towards their car. The 4-cylinder engine is at the core of the strong emotions, it is reliable for its class and delivers a huge amount of torque.
Honda Civic Engine Specs
The restyled Civic Hybrid is equipped with a Honda 1.3-liter 4-cylinder engine that utilizes a total of 8 valves. The VTEC engine is paired with a Honda 5-speed transaxle. This configuration has proven to be a successful design for Honda.
The Civic uses power-assisted brakes, with 4-Wheel ABS support. The front brakes are disc while the rear brakes are drum. Steering is handled through a power-steering rack-style configuration. The car uses coil and coil springs front and rear respectively.
The fuel system for the 2003 Civic is a traditional PGM-FI, running on ELECTRIC/GAS fuel. The fuel is controlled by an electronic system and is a fuel-injected MFI design. The capacity of the fuel tank is 13.20 gallons.
Vehicle Statistics
103.10 of wheelbase allows for limited leg room for the backseat passengers. It sits a comfortable 55.10 inches off the ground. It seats a standard five passengers, with 4 doors. The dimensions of the Civic Hybrid are 174.70 inches long by 66.70 inches wide.
There is a 36,000 mile, 36 month warranty with this vehicle, including a powertrain warranty of 36,000/36 miles/months. This is normal for this price range.
Cost is an important factor when buy a car. The Honda Civic lists at $17,060 when new. The dealer cost on the car was $15,592. This price was high compared to the industry standard price for a 4-door sedan.
Fuel Efficiency
The 2003 Civic gets 38 miles/gallon on the highway and only 32 in the city. This is exceptional for a sedan car.
In 2002 and 2003 the Civic Hybrid was availble in the exterior colors of Eternal Blue Pearl, Nighthawk Black Pearl, Rallye Red, Satin Silver Metallic, Shoreline Mist Metallic, and Taffeta White.
Conclusion
There are several reasons why the Honda Civic Hybrid sold well in 2003. Mainly the increase in availability and a marked improvement in quality meant the buying public was more apt to choose a Honda, specifically a Civic.