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Used 1998 Honda Civic Hatchback Consumer Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
21 reviews

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4.63 out of 5 stars

Built to last

frank0001, 09/03/2012
1998 Honda Civic DX 2dr Hatchback
9 of 10 people found this review helpful

Bought car in 4/2001 at Honda dealer w 100k warrantee for $13k. Had 36000 miles on odometer. 11 years and 190k miles later, still runs great: 30mpg, doesn't burn oil, fun to drive, no rust on body. Usual maintenance: 2 timing belts with water pump, new exhaust and muffler. Only glitch-needed new catalytic converter, 02 sensors, and new distributer in 2011. Bought cat and sensors online at Majestic Honda and saved $$$$. Just change oil often and this car will run forever.

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4.13 out of 5 stars

Ten years and still good

steevo, 08/05/2008
1998 Honda Civic CX 2dr Hatchback
3 of 3 people found this review helpful

I bought this car new in 1998 and am surprised at how well it has stood up. Things I've replaced are the timing beltx2, starter, front brake pads (rear drums are original!), water pump, muffler and fluids. Stuff I would expect to replace on a ten year old car. It is just a reliable car that is a bit underpowered but is easy on fuel. I prefer the styling of the hatch and wish the newest hatch would come to north America. The hatch fits a 36" CRT TV.

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4.25 out of 5 stars

Still Running Great

justmartha, 06/06/2009
1998 Honda Civic DX 2dr Hatchback
2 of 2 people found this review helpful

This was my 2nd Civic hatchback and I'm sorry they quit making them. I put 165,000 miles on the 1990 one before I sold it. The '98 car had a few design issues that made me love it a little less than the older one but has been more reliable and still gets >40 mpg on a road trip at speeds of 65-70 mph. My biggest complaints have been road noise and a little less cargo space, plus lack of an interior hatch release convenient for the driver. The biggest plus? Great gas mileage and total reliability!

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3.38 out of 5 stars

Disappointment!

Dan, 06/28/2009
1998 Honda Civic DX 2dr Hatchback
1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Bought my automatic 98 civic hatchback in '99 because they had great reviews in terms of reliability. It was fun to drive and got great mileage. Looked good and was small and nimble. I did not wash often enough, but body held up well. I drove about 13000 miles/yr. Lousy stereo. My AC compressor and transmission both died when it was 5 yrs old. The interior felt cheap, rattled, and wore out quickly. Tail lights leaked water and got inside the spare tire area. My manifold cracked after 6 years and had to be replaced. Driver side manual window crank broke after 6 years. Engine lacked power, uphills it dogged.

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3.75 out of 5 stars

Exhaust Manifold Problems

BigBri, 04/23/2002
1998 Honda Civic CX 2dr Hatchback
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

'96 and '97 Civics had an issue with their exhaust manifolds cracking. The EPA forced Honda to extend their warranty. I had the exact same problem with my '98 Civic, but Honda did not assume any liability. I was unimpressed by their corporate customer service. The car is great, but that exhaust manifold was a pain!

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5 out of 5 stars

Awesome Car

NPW, 02/04/2010
1998 Honda Civic CX 2dr Hatchback
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Had no major issues. Had to replace the AC compressor at about 130K. It was a great drive. This was my first new car. I used it till someone else decided that they needed it more than I did and stole it!

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4.38 out of 5 stars

I love my car

noelle, 06/26/2002
1998 Honda Civic CX 2dr Hatchback
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

I got my first car a honda civic cx in 1998, and i love it.. no hastle no problems, my service advisor is great, all the maintenance is done at ball honda, and for a small car, its decent. my next car will be honda again...

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5 out of 5 stars

Greatest Car To Buy

jdm-man, 07/21/2003
1998 Honda Civic CX 2dr Hatchback
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

What an excellent car. 40mpg, plenty of room, performs excellently, no power accesories, very stylish, and most importantly extremely modifiable.

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5 out of 5 stars

Civic Hatch Challenge

Tou Chang, 12/12/2003
1998 Honda Civic CX 2dr Hatchback
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

I've had this car for two months and it's really fun to drive. I wish it had power steering though. The D16Y7 engine isn't all that strong but could use some VTEC. I also wished it had an RPM gauge. I love the exterior design with it's aggressive look. Most of all there are many aftermarket parts to tune-up this little civic to make it one of the best cars to have out there.

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4.75 out of 5 stars

My 1998 Honda totaled.

David J. Measer, 10/10/2005
1998 Honda Civic CX 2dr Hatchback
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

In Sept. 2005 a van ran a red light into the passenger door of my Honda. I had 44000 miles on it and consistently got between 30 and 34 miles per gallon. I'm in the process of trying to find a replacement

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4.25 out of 5 stars

Love it!

Susan, 07/03/2006
1998 Honda Civic CX 2dr Hatchback
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

I love this car so much that I've kept it for 8 years! I'll probably have to get a new car soon, because of space issues in the back seat (it's too difficult for elderly parents to get into the back seat!)

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4.5 out of 5 stars

My Cute Honda Civic Hatchback

Arline Wulfekotter, 04/02/2005
1998 Honda Civic CX 2dr Hatchback
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

I always loved the look of the Honda Civic Hatchback and had to buy one. Never any problems with it and always dependable. Only problem was that this style did not come with a sunroof so I had one installed which gives it even a sportier feel. Comfortable to drive and great on gas. Seven years old and still looking great. Hope to pass it on to my daughter soon who also loves to drive it. Only problem I have now is the speedometer quit working. Need to get it repaired soon.

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4.75 out of 5 stars

Becca's Civic

Rebecca , 07/30/2005
1998 Honda Civic CX 2dr Hatchback
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

I have had many cars including an Accord. This is the best car by far than any other.

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4.38 out of 5 stars

A Little "Timex" on Wheels!

Jennifer, 03/08/2007
1998 Honda Civic CX 2dr Hatchback
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

That's right! I call it my little "Timex" because it takes a lickin' and keeps on tickin'! I bought this car in March 1998 with 15 miles on it, and had factory AC installed--but aside from that the car was stripped down and completely utilitarian in nature. Love this car because it is a study in simplicity! In the 9 years I have owned this car, NOTHING has ever gone wrong with it and it has never left me stranded. Aside from oil changes, the occasional purchase of new tires, and a new battery, everything else has been regularly scheduled tune-ups, maintenance, or replacement of things such as a new timing belt and a manifold. Great car! Very pleased with the reliability and affordability!

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4.5 out of 5 stars

DX Hatchback

keotypes, 04/16/2003
1998 Honda Civic DX 2dr Hatchback
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

I purchase this car as a daily driver. It drives great and for such a small car, the ride is pretty good. I like to drive pretty hard and so far the car has taken everything I've thrown at it with aplomb. It also gets great gas mileage, though at the expense of some performance. Acceleration is only average (especially on hills) and I find myself having to hold onto a gear during acceleration because the gears are so widely spaced, when I shift the rpms drop way out of the powerband. Overall the car drives great, and if Honda's reputation serves me right, it should for quite some time.

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4.5 out of 5 stars

Hatchbacks Rule

MushroomHunter, 05/20/2003
1998 Honda Civic CX 2dr Hatchback
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

My Civic provides basic transportation with style. I love the styling both inside and out. The automatic transmission is very smooth in its shifting. The engine provides plenty of power even when the air conditioning is running. There have been a couple minor problems though. There is a rattle when the car is idling because the bolts that hold the heat shield on part of the exhausts system have rusted badly, but this could be easily remedied. Also, the hatchback does not stay up on its own because the pistons have worn out. Overall, I would recommend a Honda Civic hatchback to anyone in the market for a small fuel-efficient car.

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4.88 out of 5 stars

GREAT CAR, FUN TO DRIVE!

joelsbarbier, 06/20/2003
1998 Honda Civic CX 2dr Hatchback
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

This is the best deal we have ever had for a car! It has maintained its value very well, and been completely reliable. And it's a lot of fun to drive!

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4.63 out of 5 stars

Fun, Reliable, and Efficient

David, 04/22/2008
1998 Honda Civic CX 2dr Hatchback
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Wonderful car! I got my civic as a hand-me-down. It was my first car and will be my only car for some time. Fuel economy is superb for such a sporty compact. The hatchback is a great model due to its transportation qualities. The D17Y engine isn't exactly the best in it's class, but Honda did put enough work into making it rev extremely high. Put your foot to the floor on a long stretch of road and the automatic transmission down shifts and launches you forward. The air conditioning isn't the best, however, if it is left on long enough at high power it WILL cool the entire car down. My only complaint is that if you drive the car at the top end, fuel economy suffers quite a bit.

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5 out of 5 stars

still magic

gg&merlin, 11/30/2022
1998 Honda Civic CX 2dr Hatchback
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

In '98 I bought my 5 speed, honda hatch with 4km. Today it's got 195,000km and is still a gas sipping beauty. Love driving a stick shift.

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4 out of 5 stars

1998 Honda 2 Dr civic hatchback is getting rare.

Terry , 08/22/2023
1998 Honda Civic DX 2dr Hatchback
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

The ratings and values were fair. It’s hard to find a good to excellent civic with low mileage. They’re very useful vehicles and get great mileage and can haul a lot of baggage. The major drawback is that they are easy to steal and should have a secondary security system to prevent the vehicle from being started and stolen.Excellent for use as a economical commuter vehicle with multiple other uses.

Safety
4 out of 5 stars
Technology
4 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Interior
4 out of 5 stars
Comfort
4 out of 5 stars
Reliability
5 out of 5 stars
Value
5 out of 5 stars
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4.13 out of 5 stars

Honda Civic CX

JBC, 07/02/2002
1998 Honda Civic CX 2dr Hatchback
0 of 1 people found this review helpful

This is a very good little car, but it is not the best value in the Honda line. The CX model does not have power steering and is difficult to park.

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