t:The 2001 model had improved interior space, better safety and a fresh model range. link me 8409530
Honda rationalised the Civic range to just two body styles and two specifications, rather than the many variants found with previous Civic models.
You could choose from a four-door sedan in GLi trim and a five-door hatch in Vi trim.
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The 2001 Civic had a short nose to maximise interior length. This was achieved by adopting a very compact engine/transmission unit and modified front suspension. Interior space was further improved by the use of a flat floor made possible by compact rear suspension, a clever moulded fuel tank and repositioned exhaust system.
There is a lot more interior space, although the short nose and upright stance made the vehicle look a little less dynamic than the previous model. It retained the big, boggle eyes, however.
The engines were bumped up to 1.7 litres for more performance and they were claimed to be cleaner and more efficient. Both 2001 Civic versions were powered by engines that met the Low Emission Vehicle (LEV) targets that some manufacturers are still struggling to come to terms with.
Part of that was achieved through the use of variable valve timing technology (VTEC), which acted on a single overhead camshaft that operated four valves per cylinder.
Sweet and smooth, the engine also had a better than average torque curve and, in Vi trim, made 96 kW of power and 155 Nm of torque.
For the GLi Civic, the same sized engine lost the VTEC facility to emerge with 88 kW of power and 150 Nm of torque; still handy figures and enough to give the car more than adequate performance.
The 2001 version of the Civic hatch (and not the sedan) was also our first taste of Honda's electric power steering for the marque (we had already seen it in the NSX and S2000), which, rather than use a pump driven off the engine, uses an electric motor to spin the pump and provide steering assistance. Frankly, it's not the great leap forward expected, instead being chosen for saving fuel.
A five-speed manual transmission was offered on both versions and would be our pick of the gearboxes, but for those who prefer the vehicle to select its own gears, there was a four-speed automatic on offer. Making even more of the flat floor in the Vi hatch was the use of a funky dashboard-mounted shifter in both manual and automatic variants.
Passive safety was taken care of by Honda's passenger-cell technology as well as height-adjustable front seatbelts, pre-tensioners, dual front airbags and a three-point seatbelt in the centre-rear position. A fuel cut-off valve was also triggered in any crash to prevent spillage.
Pedestrian safety was the subject of Honda's attention too, and the Civic used an energy-absorbing front bumper, compressible bonnet hinges and wipers designed to snap off under impact.
Active safety measures ran to four-wheel disc brakes and ABS.
Standard equipment was pretty good in line with Honda's perceived place at the top of the small-car class, and in the sedan you got keyless entry, power windows, an adjustable steering column, a split-fold rear seat, CD player and full instrumentation.
The Civic appears to have stood up well to the years and kilometres and Honda's reputation for reliability hasn't been earned by accident.
Servicing at the appropriate intervals, however, is important if the engine is to go the distance, since both engines are quite high-stepping units that need a good supply of fresh oil. CV joints need checking to ensure there is none of that click-clack on U-turns, and make sure coolant is used in the radiator, not tap water, which kills the cylinder head quicker than you think.
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