Why is it that my right knee winds up being bruised by the parking brake handle every time I drive a Civic? I can't be the only one. I didn't know they made cars this slow any more - the Civic might be able to pull some decent 0-60 times, but its distinct lack of torque makes for a boring ride. Unlike Hondas of ten years ago, this motor isn't in love with revs, so driving quickly results in a lot of screaming from under the hood. The 5-speed automatic's top gear ratio is shockingly long, resulting in fantastic fuel economy - but two-gear downshifts are often necessary just to maintain highway speeds.
The low, expansive dash makes the view out expensive, but gives a strange vantage point on back roads. This is the first time I've driven a Civic with leather seats, and I think Honda's cloth better fits the personality of the vehicle - especially since the seat heaters put out less heat than a 3-watt night light. I love the feel of the turn signal stalks though - they're old-school Honda tight... but the personality that made the mid-90s Civics so much fun is long gone here.