Ranking in Class: Ninth (Last)

System Score: 1.0

Components. When was the last time you saw a new car without a CD player or a cassette deck in it? Welcome to the 2000 Honda Civic LX.

The audio system consists of six-by-nine speakers on the rear deck and six-inch full range drivers in the front doors. There are no speakers in the rear doors, and there are no tweeters in the system. The radio is an AM/FM receiver with 12 FM/six AM presets. The faceplate has a fairly flat appearance, with small, rounded buttons and an LCD display. One nice touch: the radio is elevated in the dash, allowing for easy viewing and accessibility. Unfortunately, there's little to access, since this is a real "bare bones" audio system.

Performance. Honda is usually known for pretty decent stereos, and the Honda Civic is a good car. But with neither a CD player nor a cassette to recommend it, this system has little going for it. Highs are flat and indistinguishable, bass frequencies lack definition or even much in terms of dynamics. It is difficult to evaluate effectively without good source material. The speakers, while not exceptional, show some signs of life on certain tracks. The amplifier also is of sufficient quality to produce a good sound pressure level. The FM receiver pulls in most stations with little noise or flup-flup. My guess is that this system would sound pretty decent with a better source unit. As it stands, we must file it under not recommended.

Conclusion. Unless you're really strapped for cash, buy a Civic with at least a cassette player. You'll get a lot more enjoyment out of it. This system, as currently configured, doesn't have a lot going for it and finished last out of nine vehicles.