Honda · 2000–2005

Honda Civic 7th generation

The seventh-generation Honda Civic is an automobile produced by Honda from 2000 until 2005. It debuted in September 2000 as a 2001 model. Its exterior dimensions stayed similar to the outgoing predecessor, with interior space significantly increased, bumping it up to the compact car size designation. A notable feature was the flat rear floor that gave better comfort to the rear seat passengers. This generation abandoned the front double wishbone suspension, used previously from fourth to sixth generations, replacing it with MacPherson struts. This generation was the last to offer 4WD variants. Upon its introduction in 2000, it won the Car of the Year Japan Award for a record fourth time. It also won the Japan Automotive Researchers' and Journalists' Conference Car of the Year award in 2001.

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Predecessor: Honda Civic (sixth generation) · Successor: Honda Civic (eighth generation)

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History

Spring of 2002 debuted the hybrid version in North America as the 2003 model. It used both a small 1.3-liter I4 main gasoline engine and auxiliary electric motors, producing a combined 93 hp. The electric motors are powered by a battery array which is charged by regenerative braking during deceleration, thus reducing exhaust emissions and extending fuel mileage to 46 mpg city / 51 mpg highway with the manual transmission according to EPA fuel mileage estimates. The Hybrid also had unique lightweight wheels, a rear spoiler, different front bumper, folding mirrors, and aerodynamic enhancements underneath. The Civic received a facelift in late 2003 (2004 model year) with new headlights, bumper, and grille; it also received side skirts, and body-coloured bonnet and boot trim. In September 2004, the Special Edition trim level was introduced for the 2005 model year, available as the LX or EX Special Edition. A sporting hatchback model called the Si was unveiled in August 2005 for the European market only. This model featured from launch a 1.4-liter i-DSI and a 1.6-liter VTEC rated at 83 PS (81 hp/61 kW) and 140 PS (138 hp/103 kW) respectively, with 177 and 207 km/h (110 and 129 mph) top speeds and 14.2 and 13.6 s 0–100 km/h sprint. The Sport Hatchback was also available with a 1.7-liter diesel engine. Starting with this generation, cabin air filters (also known as pollen filters) were installed as standard equipment and are located behind the glove compartment internationally.

Markets

=== Japan (JDM) === In Japan, a VTEC-E equipped 1.5-litre version was marketed with a CVT transmission called "Honda Multimatic". This was discontinued in September 2003. The EP3 Civic Si hatchback body shell was also used for the second-generation Civic Type R which was sold only in Europe and Japan. Honda of Europe designed the EP3 Civic Type R hatchback to be marketed in Europe. Then Honda of Japan marketed the EP3 Civic Type R using the more powerful DC5 Integra Japanese-spec K20A powertrain and an electric steering rack. USDM (United States and Canada). Coupe: Trim levels available in North America for the coupe body style were the VP, DX (up to 2003), HX, LX (EM2), EX, LX Special Edition or EX Special Edition, Si and RAJ. The coupe, no longer available in Japan, was still sold in Europe. Sedan: Trim levels available in the sedan body style were the DX (ES1), VP (ES1), LX (ES1), EX (ES2), LX Special Edition (ES1), EX Special Edition (ES2), GX (EN2), and MX Hybrid (ES9). EX trim includes sunroof. The LX, EX & RAJ Special Edition included a six-disc changer, rear spoiler, ABS, larger 15-inch wheels and a more powerful engine (see below). There was also the EX Special Edition which added a sunroof and rear single cup holder. The Hybrid was the only trim available for the sedan style in Europe. In Canada, until 2003, there were DX and LX trims for both sedan and coupe, with the coupe additionally having the Si trim, largely equivalent to the US market EX coupe. In 2002, Honda Canada, in recognition of the one millionth sale of the Civic in Canada, introduced a limited-edition version of the Civic called the Civic Coupe Si Veloz ("Veloz" - Spanish word, meaning "fast"). The Veloz edition adds a front, rear and side skirts, rear spoiler, carbon fibre trim pieces, chrome

Engines

Most DX and LX models were built with the D17A1, the HX had the D17A6 and the EX (US only) was powered by the D17A2. The Si/SiR (EP3) USDM had the K20A3. The JDM 5-door hatchback (EU) had the D15B. The GX runs on CNG. The Philippine and Middle East version of the seventh-generation Civic used the 3-stage VTEC mechanism for their VTi/VTi-S/RS and the Pakistan version VTi Civic, equipped with a D16W9 rated at 130 hp (97 kW) at 6600 rpm. There was another seventh-generation Civic in Pakistan, which is known as EXi, the non-VTEC variant equipped with a D15Y3 capable of producing 115 to 117 HP (86 to 87 KW) at 6200 RPM. The Japanese RS model was equipped with the D17A. Thai models received the 1.7-liter stroked engine in regular models, with the 2.0 i-VTEC available as the top model. In Europe, the Civic was sold with a D16V1 rated at 110 hp and a D14Z6 rated at 88 hp. It was also Honda's first diesel offering, equipped with Isuzu's 1.7-litre 4EE2 engine (called the Circle L by GM) with 100 PS (74 kW). The European Type R Civic was equipped with a K20A2. In North America, a 115 hp (86 kW) engine powered all Civics except the Hybrid, EX, and Si models, up 9 hp (7 kW) from the previous model. Power in the EX remained at 127 hp (95 kW), and all engines except for the Si were stroked to 1.7 liters. The seventh-generation North American Civic DX/LX/Value Package (VP) engines were the last Hondas not to use the company's variable valve time system (VTEC); the second to last was the 1996-2004 Acura 3.5RL.

Hybrid

The hybrid version was first introduced to the Japanese market in December 2001. Honda claimed it was the most fuel-efficient 5-passenger gasoline-powered production vehicle in the world at the time. It was introduced to the U.S. in spring 2002 as a 2003 model. It is the first hybrid vehicle to be certified as an Advanced Technology Partial Zero- Emissions Vehicle (AT-PZEV) from CARB. Design. The first-generation Civic Hybrid was based on the seventh-generation Civic sedan. It was the first mainstream vehicle from Honda equipped with a gasoline-electric hybrid system and became the second hybrid model of the company after Insight. Model with manual transmission was rated city 46 mpg‑US (5.1 L/100 km; 55 mpg‑imp) / highway 51 mpg‑US (4.6 L/100 km; 61 mpg‑imp) according to United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) fuel mileage estimates, about the same combined mileage as for the Toyota Prius, and became the most fuel-efficient five-passenger sedan ever sold in North America at the time. The following is a list of its technical features: Twin spark plugs light the lean fuel-air mixtures sent to the two-valve combustion chambers. 1.3-litre single overhead cam i-DSI lean-burn internal combustion engine with VTEC Cylinder Cut-off System, which allows three cylinders to deactivate during deceleration. The engine generates 85 hp (63 kW) at 5,700 rpm and 87 lb⋅ft (118 N⋅m) of torque at 3,300 rpm. Idle stop - when stopped at a traffic light, the engine shuts off automatically, then restarts immediately when the driver takes their foot off the brake, contributing to both greater fuel efficiency and lower emissions. 10 kW (13 hp) brushless, permanent magnet assist motor, which functions as a generator during deceleration recharging the battery (regenerative braking). Co

Awards and recognitions

2001 – recognized by the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy: the natural gas powered Civic GX tied for the top spot with Honda's hybrid vehicle Insight; the Civic HX took the best vehicle in class award 2002 – recognized by the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy amongst the top ten Greenest Vehicles: the natural gas powered Civic GX tied for the second best score with an electric vehicle; the Civic HX coupe took the fourth place and the rest Civic models took the seventh place 2003 – Consumer Reports gave the Civic EX sedan a Recommended

Sections adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0); text is shortened. Read the full article for the complete history and citations.

Specifications

name

Honda Civic, Seventh generation, (EU/ES/EP/EM)

Manufacturer

Honda

aka

Honda Civic Ferio (sedan, Japan)

Production

June 2000–September 2005

Model years

2001–2005

Assembly

Swindon, United Kingdom (hatchback versions only), Suzuka, Japan, Lahore, Pakistan, East Liberty, Ohio, United States, Alliston, Ontario, Canada, Hsinchu, Taiwan (Contract manufacturing ended 2002), Ayutthaya, Thailand, Sumaré, Brazil, Santa Rosa City, Laguna, Philippines, Gebze, Turkey, Alor Gajah, Malaysia, North Jakarta, Indonesia (2001–2003), Karawang, Indonesia (2003–2005)

Designer

Shuji Koman (sedan: 1997, coupe: 1998), Satoshi Kazama (Si: 1999)

Class

Compact car

Body style

2-door coupé (EM, North America and Europe only), 3-door hatchback (EP), 4-door sedan (ES), 5-door hatchback (EU)

Layout

Front-engine, front-wheel-drive

Related

Honda Integra (fourth generation), Acura EL, Honda CR-V, Honda FR-V, Honda Stream

Engine

gasoline:, 1.4 L D14Z6 I4, 1.5 L D15Y3/Z6 I4, 1.6 L D16V1/W7/W9 I4, 1.7 L D17A1/A6 I4, 1.7 L D17A2 VTEC LEV I4, 2.0 L K20A2/A3 I4, gasoline hybrid:, 1.3 L LDA I4, diesel:, 1.7 L Isuzu 4EE2 I4

Transmission

5/6-speed manual, 4/5-speed automatic, Continuously variable transmission

Wheelbase

2620 mm (sedan/coupé), 2581 mm (3-door hatchback)

Length

4437 mm (2001-03 coupé), 4435 mm (2001-03 sedan), 4277 mm (3-door hatchback), 4455 mm (2004-05 sedan/coupe)

Width

1720 mm (Int'l), 1694 mm (Japan)

Height

1400 mm (coupé), 1440 mm (sedan), 1491 mm (3-door hatchback)

Kerb weight

1245 kg (hatchback), 1091 kg (coupé), 1098 kg (sedan)

Predecessor

Honda Civic (sixth generation), Honda Domani (MB3-5)

Successor

Honda Civic (eighth generation)

Specification summary from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Check the linked sources for citations.

More photos

US EPA fuel-economy records

US EPA test figures (US MPG, US test cycle).

Sources

• Wikidata — https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1519939CC0 1.0 · retrieved 2026-10-01
• Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_Civic_(seventh_generation)CC BY-SA 4.0 · Text © Wikipedia contributors; revision 1375299270 · retrieved 2026-10-01
• Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2002_Honda_Civic_VTEC_SE_Sport_1.6_(front).jpgCC BY-SA 4.0 · Photo: Vauxford · retrieved 2026-10-01
• Manufacturer website (link only) — https://web.archive.org/web/20050823113827mp_/http://www.honda.co.uk/cars/newcars/modelHome.jsp?yearId=&modelId=10413&bodyId=&bodyDescription=&engineId=&badgeId=&transmissionId=&colourId=&colourAllocationId=&wheelPartNo=Link only; no content copied · retrieved 2026-10-01
• Car Model Index — https://models.autoculturesociety.com/Compiled record. Sources that do not permit reuse are not copied; this index is credited instead.

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