1986 Honda Civic

The Civic grew up in 1984, in terms of size as well as image. The larger new model looked very modern for its time, making Civic four-doors and wagons identical to the Accord in wheelbase. A new 1.5-litre 4-cylinder engine was offered alongside a 1.3-litre 4-cylinder unit on base models. Transmission choices included 4-speed and 5-speed manuals and a 3-speed automatic. The revamped suspension was a temporary step backwards for Honda, since it didn't have an independent rear setup, like in previous and later Civics. But this offered a space-efficient cabin design while retaining reasonable ride and handling characteristics. The lineup consisted of a hatchback, a sedan, a tall Shuttle wagon, and separately, a new CRX sports coupe. The base models were barren, but higher models had sport seats, reclining rear seats, a rear stabilizer bar and more. The Shuttle wagon was later available with all-wheel drive and a six-speed manual gearbox. Changes in 1986 included a 4-speed automatic. The... Read More