The 5th generation Honda Civic (1991-1995) was a compact car produced by Honda. It marked a significant departure from its predecessors in terms of design and technology.
Design and Features:
- Exterior: The exterior was updated with a more angular, aerodynamic body style, featuring pop-up headlights, a sloping front hood, and a curved rear deck.
- Interior: Inside, the Civic received improvements to its comfort features. The dashboard underwent significant changes with the inclusion of more amenities such as air conditioning (AC), audio systems that included cassette players and eventually CD players in higher trims, power windows, mirrors, and central locking became standard or optional depending on the model.
Powertrain:
- Engines: It came equipped with several engine options across different models and years. The most common were a 1.5-liter inline-four cylinder (D15B3) producing around 80 horsepower in earlier models, which gradually increased to about 90-95 horsepower (D15Z1) later on. Other engines included the VTec 1.6-liter VTEC engine for sportier variants like the Si and Type R models.
Safety Features:
- Front Airbags: This generation of Civic was one of the first to offer front airbags, an innovative safety feature at that time.
Mechanical Details:
- Transmission: The transmissions were a 5-speed manual and an optional automatic for some trims. The VTec models typically featured a 6-speed transmission but not universally across all variants.
Model Variants:
- Si Models: Notable for their sporty features, the Si model came with a variety of engine options depending on the region and year, including the famous VTec equipped versions.
Impact:
The 5th generation Honda Civic is notable for being one of the first compact cars to fully adopt front-wheel drive technology as standard. Its design influenced the automotive industry in terms of aerodynamics, leading to a new wave of angularly styled sedans and hatches. It also marked an important period for Honda's focus on performance variants like the Si and Type R models, further cementing its reputation among car enthusiasts.
Discontinuation:
In 1995, the 5th generation Civic was replaced by the next generation model in many markets.
