Honda Civic Estate 1998-
  • Economy

    Value

    4 out of 5 4.0

    A bargain if you buy it used, but not so great if you owned it from new like me.

    Costs

    3 out of 5 3.0

    Honda servicing and parts can be expensive.

  • On the road

    Driving

    3 out of 5 3.0

    Steering is heavy, I find the less sporty hatch easier to drive around town. Excellent grip on the road.

    Performance

    4 out of 5 4.0

    Low gearing and great engine makes this a cracker in a straight line.

  • Living with it

    Reliability

    4 out of 5 4.0

    Excellent provided you stick to Honda's servicing schedule.

    Image

    4 out of 5 4.0

    A bit of a wolf in sheep's clothing.

    Comfort

    2 out of 5 2.0

    Fitting sound insulation kit to the engine bay helps reduces engine noise around town, but the car is still noisy at speed from both engine and road on motorway. Could do with a 6th gear. The ride is poor.

  • Security and Service

    Security

    4 out of 5 4.0

    Immobiliser fitted as standard.

    Service

    5 out of 5 5.0

    Courteous but expensive.

  • Problems and Ownership

    Problems

    Engine

    Other

    Rear silencer at 3.5yrs old. Intermittent fault with immobiliser at 2yrs old, cured by disconnecting and reconnecting the unit - problem has not returned.

    Ownership

    Did you buy the car new?

    New

    Would you buy the same model again?

    No

    Did you buy from the same manufacturer again?

    Yes