More than two decades ago, Honda introduced the Civic. It was a small, anonymous, unassuming car, competing in a market saturated by mammoth sedans sporting ornate chrome, garish styling treatments, and acres of sheetmetal. The producers of these defunct dinosaurs didn't bat an eye at Honda's fuel sipping entry, despite the fuel crisis of 1973. Big mistake.

Since then, Americans have seen four generations of the Civic come and go, each much improved over the previous model, and each becoming immensely popular with consumers. 1996 brought us a new generation; certainly improved by not so much so that we'd consider it revolutionary. The 1997 Civic isn't much smaller than an Accord. Available in hatchback, sedan and coupe body styles, Honda has heeded customers who claimed the 1992-1995 Civic was too sporty looking. A grille was tacked on up front, sheetmetal contours provide a squarish profile, and larger rear taillamps give the Civic a more conservative look. Sedans, coupes and hatchbacks have been given more individualistic styling themes, with the hatchback retaining honors as most odd among the trio.

Dual airbags are part of the package, with antilock brakes standard on EX sedans, and coupe models equipped with an automatic transmission. HX coupes carry through with a continuously-variable transmission, making it the most exciting Civic offered.

The Civic has few shortcomings, aside from its anonymous personality. Hondas tend to be on the expensive end of the scale when new, but over time, they are a far better value than most of their contemporaries. The Civic is no exception to the rule. It is a car for people who don't enjoy repair garage waiting rooms. It is a car that holds its resale value better than most of the cars it competes with. It is a car that easily endears itself to its owner.

We think the Civic is a solid buy. For those who like a bit of spice in their commute, try the EX version of the coupe. Want a fuel miser? The HX coupe is your car. Strict budgets demand a look at the CX, while sedans are aimed more at the creature comfort side of the scale. Style-conscious buyers will go for the svelte coupe, or the suave EX sedan. Whatever your needs, Honda offers a Civic that will meet them.

1997 Highlights

Honda deletes the Civic EX Coupe five-speed with ABS model. DX models receive new wheel covers, all 1997 Honda Civic trims get 14-inch wheels, and the LX Sedan gets air conditioning.

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the 1997 Honda Civic.

Overall Consumer Rating

4.7143 reviews

Write a review See all 143 reviews

5(70%)

4(26%)

3(3%)

2(1%)

1(0%)

Most helpful consumer reviews

Great commuter car

theron,04/09/2010

Besides looking like grandma's car, this is one dependable vehicle. No major problems in 13 years - new brakes, rotors, tires, 3 new mufflers, and 1 new tailpipe. My friends beg me to sell it to them for commuting. Avg 27 mpg. No sports car but re-li-a-ble. I've had 2 Chrysler vans since 03 for my wife and am about to find a 3rd. Switching to a Honda van due to the reliability of

Best car I've ever owned, period.

NWTransplant,05/30/2004

I've had mine since 3,300 miles and couldn't be happier. No reliability issues whatsoever. Built like a fine Swiss watch. Follow the maintenance schedule according to the owner's manual (as I do) and the car reward you with amazingly trouble-free motoring. If deprived of my Civic, I would immediately seek another one just like it with no hesitation. It's like a

Still the best...

EX-G,01/08/2009

I purchased this car in 2001 @56K. I did 200K since then, had an accident and the car still runs with no problem. My next car will be a Honda Civic as it packs quality and reliability in one package. Go Civic!

dissapointed

jg,03/28/2009

After having this car I can not understand how everyone seems to love it. I bought the car with 46,000 miles on it and now have 93,000. The AC blower motor went out, I've replaced the radiator because it was leaking, it has an oil leak, I have had to replace the muffler, then I had a problem where my break lights wouldn't turn off causing the battery to die constantly. The AC is broken

Write a review

See all 143 reviews

Write a consumer review of your vehicle for a chance to WIN $100!

Write a review

See Official Rules for eligibility and other requirements.

Write a review

Features & Specs

MPG

28 city / 35 hwy

Seats 0

5-speed manual

Gas

106 hp @ 6200 rpm

MPG

28 city / 35 hwy

Seats 0

5-speed manual

Gas

106 hp @ 6200 rpm

MPG

26 city / 33 hwy

Seats 0

5-speed manual

Gas

127 hp @ 6600 rpm

See all Used 1997 Honda Civic features & specs

Safety

NHTSA Overall Rating

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
OverallNot Rated
Driver4 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Side Crash Rating
OverallNot Rated
Side Barrier Rating
OverallNot Rated
Driver3 / 5
Passenger3 / 5
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front SeatNot Rated
Back SeatNot Rated
Rollover
RolloverNot Rated
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of RolloverNot Rated

IIHS Rating

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.

Side Impact Test
Not Tested
Roof Strength Test
Not Tested
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Not Tested
IIHS Small Overlap Front Test
Not Tested
Moderate Overlap Front Test
Acceptable

More about the 1997 Honda Civic

Used 1997 Honda Civic Overview

The Used 1997 Honda Civic is offered in the following submodels: Civic Sedan, Civic Coupe, Civic Hatchback. Available styles include CX 2dr Hatchback, DX 2dr Hatchback, HX 2dr Coupe, DX 4dr Sedan, DX 2dr Coupe, EX 2dr Coupe, LX 4dr Sedan, and EX 4dr Sedan.

What's a good price on a Used 1997 Honda Civic?

Price comparisons for Used 1997 Honda Civic trim styles:

The Used 1997 Honda Civic DX is priced between $2,500 and$2,500 with odometer readings between 117900 and117900 miles.
The Used 1997 Honda Civic EX is priced between $1,200 and$1,200 with odometer readings between 211000 and211000 miles.
The Used 1997 Honda Civic LX is priced between $3,991 and$3,991 with odometer readings between 150967 and150967 miles.

Shop with Edmunds for perks and special offers on used cars, trucks, and SUVs near Ashburn, VA. Doing so could save you hundreds or thousands of dollars. Edmunds also provides consumer-driven dealership sales and service reviews to help you make informed decisions about what cars to buy and where to buy them.

Which used 1997 Honda Civics are available in my area?

Shop Edmunds' car, SUV, and truck listings of over 6 million vehicles to find a cheap new, used, or certified pre-owned (CPO) 1997 Honda Civic for sale near. There are currently 3 used and CPO 1997 Civics listed for sale in your area, with list prices as low as $1,200 and mileage as low as 117900 miles. Simply research the type of car you're interested in and then select a used car from our massive database to find cheap prew-owned vehicles for sale near you. Once you have identified a used vehicle you're interested in, check the Carfax and Autocheck vehicle history reports, read dealer reviews, and find out what other owners paid for the Used 1997 Honda Civic.

Can't find a used 1997 Honda Civics you want in your area? Consider a broader search.

Find a used Honda Civic for sale - 7 great deals out of 16 listings starting at $23,857.

Find a used Honda for sale - 3 great deals out of 18 listings starting at $16,522.

Find a used certified pre-owned Honda Civic for sale - 1 great deals out of 15 listings starting at $25,161.

Find a used certified pre-owned Honda for sale - 8 great deals out of 14 listings starting at $24,593.

Compare prices on the Used Honda Civic for sale in Ashburn, VA to other major cities

City
Great Deals
Cars for Sale
Starting Price

Los Angeles, CA
Great Deals30
Cars for Sale2507
Starting Price$10,500
Houston, TX
Great Deals69
Cars for Sale7008
Starting Price$10,312
Philadelphia, PA
Great Deals20
Cars for Sale691
Starting Price$17,675
Austin, TX
Great Deals34
Cars for Sale7040
Starting Price$18,094
Fort Worth, TX
Great Deals30
Cars for Sale4614
Starting Price$15,630
Memphis, TN
Great Deals87
Cars for Sale7039
Starting Price$18,812
Baltimore, MD
Great Deals21
Cars for Sale7438
Starting Price$11,910
Washington, DC
Great Deals94
Cars for Sale7650
Starting Price$16,851
Portland, OR
Great Deals25
Cars for Sale4016
Starting Price$12,906
Tucson, AZ
Great Deals91
Cars for Sale5358
Starting Price$12,568
Omaha, NE
Great Deals96
Cars for Sale5380
Starting Price$7,688
Virginia Beach, VA
Great Deals38
Cars for Sale7451
Starting Price$18,268
Oakland, CA
Great Deals30
Cars for Sale7564
Starting Price$17,806
Tulsa, OK
Great Deals84
Cars for Sale6489
Starting Price$9,044
Colorado Springs, CO
Great Deals37
Cars for Sale4970
Starting Price$17,763
Honolulu, HI
Great Deals86
Cars for Sale4195
Starting Price$8,454

Should I lease or buy a 1997 Honda Civic?

Is it better to lease or buy a car? Ask most people and they'll probably tell you that car buying is the way to go. And from a financial perspective, it's true, provided you're willing to make higher monthly payments, pay off the loan in full and keep the car for a few years. Leasing, on the other hand, can be a less expensive option on a month-to-month basis. It's also good if you're someone who likes to drive a new car every three years or so.

Used 1997 Honda Civic

New

Used