2001 Honda Civic Coupe

I’m not positive, but I think the sky may be falling. I base this on the fact that the Honda Civic Coupe I’m test-driving has – gulp – a rattle. In fact, sometimes it has several, one the dash, one in the sunroof cover. But the most constant is in the rear deck. I know, I know. Hondas don’t rattle. It’s why so many people adore them and why I suspect this could be a sign the world is coming to an end.
I prefer to think that this terrible discovery is merely an aberration of the test car, which spends its life being abused by writers like me. Moreover, I should note that almost every other aspect of this new Civic Coupe lives up to Honda standards, and then some. But a rattle in a new Honda? What’s next? Slow Corvettes?

I write this only a few weeks after my review of the four-door Civic EX (March 12) because I note some real distinctions between the two, not to mention lots of interest in such popular cars. They were designed separately -- the Coupe here in the U.S., the sedan in Japan -- and share few body parts. None of which, by the way, rattled in the sedan.

Good News
Many of the things I admired about the four-door Civic are evident in the coupe. Both got makeovers that gave them roomier interiors, better looking bodies and a more refined demeanor overall than their predecessors. Like the sedan, the coupe is now classified as a compact, up from a subcompact, and has the trunk to prove it.

The top-line EX coupe I drove has the 1.7-liter VTEC-E engine that only increases torque this year, but results in more satisfying acceleration. A significantly more rigid structure smoothes out the ride, underscores handling and reduces noise and vibration.

Safety improvements, a better sound system and elegant exterior packaging merged with the same miserly fuel consumption and affordable pricing all serve to enhance the Civic Coupe’s reputation of being much more car than you expected for what you paid. From its all-around performance to its newfound elegance and increased interior room, this refreshed Civic Coupe advances from simply being the econo-coupe of choice to a more sophisticated, more civilized car.

Bad News
Some of the Good News is also the Bad News. Enthusiasts-on-a-budget who have loved the Civic coupe for its crisp performance and control-arm suspension setup are in for a big disappointment. The latter has been replaced by strut suspension to allow Honda to gain cubic feet inside without enlarging the Civic’s exterior.

Also, its cushier ride inevitably means gentler handling, adjectives many Civic coupe devotees don’t want to hear. In short, it’s bye-bye hot rod, hello pleasant two-door. The Civic hatchback is also a thing of the past, but the 160-horse Si might be reintroduced in a year or so.

The Civic sedan I drove had a five-speed manual; this coupe gave me the opportunity to experience the same engine mated to four-speed automatic. No thank you. Not only does the automatic rob acceleration, it downshifts way too abruptly.

Inside, I find several drawbacks. Unlike the sedan, increased interior room in the coupe doesn’t translate into decent headroom or a comfy backseat. Only those who practice yoga regularly can reach back for the front seat belts without pulling something vital. And then, of course, the annoying rattle.

Gas Mileage
EPA rated at 30 mpg city/36 highway.

Price
Manufacturer’s base for the EX model, $16,410;
Price as tested, $18,239

Is it worth it?
The EX comes standard with power sunroof, CD audio, cruise, remote entry and power windows, door locks, mirrors, etc. The final price on mine includes side air bags, floor mats and $1,050 for the automatic transmission I’d rather not have. It’s well-equipped for its price.

Changes to both the Honda Civic sedan and coupe are much the same, yet how those changes play out differs. In the sedan the larger interior, easier handling and quieter, heftier ride create a much more appealing, more useful car. In the coupe, however, those same changes serve mostly to take the edges off what used to be a really fun, kicky little ride. In its place is a much more sensible car which will probably draw customers in record numbers. Personally, I’m disappointed. I miss the old Civic coupe’s sassy personality. And I wouldn’t be surprised if that rattle weren’t its restless spirit haunting this strange, new unfamiliar skin. That, or a chunk of the sky hitting the roof.