2000 Honda Civic EX Review

Do I like this car? We plan to drive this 2000 Honda Civic EX until the wheels fall off, which isn't going to be real soon. If we stick to the maintenance schedule and don't get caught in an accident, the car should last another 7 years. It still looks new, probably because no children or teenagers drive it.

Specifications: 4-door, 4-cylinder, automatic transmission, air conditioning, ABS brakes, sun roof, CD player ... nothing special.

Passenger Comfort:

For a small sedan, the 2000 Honda Civic EX has good passenger space, better than some larger vehicles. The driver's seat comfortably accommodates a 6-footer. The head room is adequate for a 6'4" driver, better than in some larger vehicles, but the leg room could be better.

Theoretically, the 2000 Honda Civic EX holds 5 adult passengers. That is true only if some of them are short, because a 6-foot tall passenger in the back seat will be cramped if the front-seat occupant moves the seat all the way back.

My car has after-market seats, mounted to give the extra-tall driver extra legroom. When the driver's seat has maximum leg room, there is no room for a passenger in that side of the back seat.

Driving Experience:

As a commuter car, the Honda Civic has been superb. The freeway mileage is about 33mpg, it handles easily, and has a good sound system. Interior noise is moderate: I've had quieter cars and I've had much noisier ones. The air conditioning handles Arizona summer afternoon driving easily.

As an "around town" car, for errand running and grocery shopping, it handles almost everything. It's small enough to park easily between 2 space-hogging SUVs. The trunk The rear seats fold forward to make a fake hatchback for more cargo space. I've carried 8-foot lumber in it, or 15-gallon trees from the nursery.

For ski trips, the 2000 Honda Civic EX has been adequate, but not great. It doesn't have the horsepower it takes to climb mountains without noticeable strain, and it's crowded with a week's worth of gear for 2 people. We managed one trip with four skiers, but all of the passengers were buried in luggage. They were not happy. The ABS brakes are helpful on packed snow and glare ice, but we got stuck in snow several times. Fortunately, the car is not heavy, so pushing it out of a snowdrift is possible.

For camping trips, the 2000 Honda Civic EX is pathetic, It's a good road car, but it's not big enough to hold camping gear and passengers too.

For off-road use, the only good point about the 2000 Honda Civic EX is that it's small enough to push out of a soft, sandy wash when it gets stuck. The usual unimproved dirt roads the Forest Service provides are not a problem for a cautious driver, but it's best to avoid them if you can.