The sedan and coupe have a 102-cubic-inch, four-cylinder engine putting out 127 horsepower at 6,300 rpm with 114 pound-feet of torque at 4,800 rpm. They have a double overhead camshaft and employ Honda's variable valve, or VTECH, technology. A light flywheel helps the engine rev quickly, producing great acceleration. The cars are front-wheel drive and have a five-speed manual gearbox, but a four-speed automatic was an option. The sedan accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 8.5 seconds; the coupe is slightly faster at 8.4 seconds.
The front brakes are power-assisted, vented 10.3-inch discs and the rear brakes are power-assisted 7.8-inch drums. The front suspension has independent MacPherson struts and the rear suspension uses independent double wishbone, creating a comfortable ride. Rack-and-pinion steering is standard. Standard tires were Firestone FR690 P185/65 HR15. The wheelbase is 103.1 inches and the curb weight of the coupe is 2,555 lb. while the sedan is 2,601 lb. The fuel tank holds 13.2 gallons. Multi-point fuel injection is standard. The EX models get 32 mpg in city driving, 37 mpg on the highway and 34 mpg combined.
The Civic coupe body is sleeker, longer, lower and narrower than the sedan model. It has a semi-fastback appearance, but has the feel of a sports car. It includes an electric sunroof and alloy rims instead of plastic covers over steel rims as in the sedan model. The two-door is 174.7 inches long and is 55.1 inches high. The four-door sedan is 174.6 inches long and 56.7 inches high.
The 2003 models have improved seat fabric and comfortable and supportive front seats, rear adjustable headrests, power locks and windows and a new four-spoke steering wheel. Luggage capacity is 12.9 cubic feet and the rear seats fold down with a 60/40 split to enlarge it further. Ample rear passenger leg room if provided because of the compact rear suspension. The gauge cluster has been restyled, with the illumination of the gauges improved, and a new center console with an armrest is provided. The sedan model has 88 cubic feet of passenger volume, while the coupe has 83 cubic feet.
Anti-lock brakes and side airbags are standard on the Civic EX, which has a front and rear crumple zone and a uni-body frame. The National Highway Safety Traffic Administration gave the car a five-star rating for driver and passenger and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety scored the car as "good" on its crash test. A remote key-less entry system provides additional security.
