Honda · 1983–1987

Honda Civic

The third-generation Honda Civic is an automobile which was produced by Honda from 1983 until 1987. It was introduced in September 1983 for the 1984 model year. The Civic's wheelbase was increased by 2–5 inches (5.1–12.7 cm) to 93.7 inches (238 cm) for the hatchback or 96.5 inches (245 cm) for the sedan. A three-door hatchback/kammback, four-door sedan (also known as the Honda Ballade), the five-door "Shuttle" station wagon, and sporting CR-X coupé shared common underpinnings. This included MacPherson strut suspension with torsion bars in the front and a rear beam with coil springs. However, the body panels were largely different between models. The Civic-based Honda Quint five-door hatchback also underwent a model change, and became the Honda Quint Integra, available as both a three- and five-door fastback. The Quint Integra (soon just "Integra") was sold at the Japanese Honda Verno dealership along with the CR-X. The Civic in Japan was now exclusive to Honda Primo, along with Honda's kei cars as well as superminis like the Honda City. At its introduction in 1983, it won the Car of the Year Japan Award.

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Predecessor: Honda Civic (second generation) · Successor: Honda Civic (fourth generation)

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Specifications

name

Honda Civic, Third generation

Manufacturer

Honda

Production

September 1983 – September 1987

Model years

1984–1987

Assembly

Suzuka, Japan, North Jakarta, Indonesia (PT. Prospect Motor), Johor Bahru, Malaysia (OASB), Nelson, New Zealand (Honda NZ), East London, South Africa (Mercedes-Benz South Africa), Hsinchu, Taiwan, ROC, Bangkok, Thailand (BGAC)

Designer

Yoshio Ui, Tsuyoshi Nishimura, Osamu Akimoto (1981)

Class

Subcompact car

Body style

3-door hatchback/kammback (AG-AH/AT), 3-door coupé (AE-AF; CRX), 4-door sedan (AJ-AK/AU), 5-door station wagon (AJ-AK/AR; Shuttle)

Layout

Front-engine, front-wheel-drive / four-wheel-drive

Related

Rover 200, Honda CR-X, Honda Ballade, Honda Quint, Honda/Acura Integra

Engine

1187 cc ZA1/2 I4, 1342 cc EV/EV1 I4, 1488 cc EW1/2 I4, 1488 cc EW3/4 I4, 1488 cc EW5 I4, 1590 cc ZC I4

Transmission

4/5-speed manual, 5+1 speed manual 4WD, 3-speed Hondamatic semi-automatic, 4-speed Hondamatic semi-automatic

Wheelbase

93.7 in (hatchback), 96.5 in (sedan)

Length

150 in (hatchback), 164 in (sedan)

Width

64 in

Height

53 in (hatchback), 55 in (sedan)

Predecessor

Honda Civic (second generation), Honda L700 (for Shuttle)

Successor

Honda Civic (fourth generation)

Specification summary from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Measured facts from Wikidata (CC0). 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/Q844767CC0 1.0 · retrieved 2026-10-01
• Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_Civic_(third_generation)CC BY-SA 4.0 · Text © Wikipedia contributors; revision 1362788374 · retrieved 2026-10-01
• Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1987_Honda_Civic_(AH)_GL_hatchback_(2010-10-02).jpgPublic domain · Photo: OSX · 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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