2008 Honda Civic Review, Video & Pictures
The Honda Civic has been in production in the USA since 1972 and it is one of the longest available brands from a Japanese manufacturer in North America. For the 2008 year, the Civic has quite a lot of new features to offer. Some new additions to this well renowned Honda make include a brand new Mugen Si trim, enhanced exterior design, improved mechanics and for the first time on a Civic model, an available leather interior option.
There are five models available for the 2008 Honda Civic and they include the Civic sedan and coupe, the Si sedan and coupe, and the all-new Civic Hybrid sedan. California and New York customers are lucky to have the natural gas powered Civic GX available to them. All of new five-passenger sedan models include a convenient two-tier instrument panel and a tilt/telescoping steering wheel. The Si and EX models include a satellite-linked navigation system with voice recognition to flawlessly guide you to your destinations. With XM Satellite Radio, hefty trunk space, multiple power features and more, it’s clear that the Civic makes a significant leap for the 2008 year.
The engine upgrade is something to marvel at as well. The base models use the new 1.8-liter i-VTEC four-cylinder engine, providing 140 hp and 128 pounds-feet of torque. If you opt for the new luxury Si model, that engine will bump up to 2.0-liters, 197 hp and 139 pounds-feet of torque. These engines provide an exceptional fuel economy, with up to 40 mpg highway, and qualify as an Ultra-Low-Emission Vehicle in all 50 states. The new Civic also has a 5-speed automatic or manual transmission with overdrive available.
Safety is another aspect Honda put a great deal of focus on in the 2008 year. Not only are side-impact and side curtain airbags standard in each model, but antilock breaks with electronic brake-force distribution and active head restraints are all standard as well. The Advanced Compatibility Engineering body structure, present on all of the 2008 Honda Civic models, increases the vehicle’s ability to handle collisions with other vehicles. If that wasn’t enough, the Civic also offers 3-point seat belts in every seat including front and back passengers.
The Honda Civic definitely promises to be nothing short of spectacular for the 2008 year.
The voice recognition system is almost useless, I have had three people (one a speach therapist) try the commands even with the car stopped and air off. Many commands are not recognized and many others resulted in problematic incorrect responses. Yes, we made sure the correct screen was displayed before speaking a command. I will go back to the dealer for trouble-shooting, but I am not hopeful. The navigation system is great, but because it is complicated, the lack of voice command makes it a safety hazard to operate while driving. Car is great also (Civic Hybrid). MPG better than advertised, but the voice system is likely to be an embarassment for Honda .