Honda Civic (third generation)
Encyclopedia
For the third generation (introduced in September 1983 for model year 1984), the Civic's
wheelbase was increased by 2–5 inches (13 cm) to 93.7 inches (hatchback) or 96.5 inches (sedan). A 3-door hatchback
, 4-door sedan, 4-door "Shuttle" station wagon
(called the "Wagovan" in the United States, also available as a Van for commercial users in the Japanese domestic market), and CRX
coupe shared common underpinnings. This included independent front control arms with torsion bar springs and a semi-independent rear beam with coil springs. However, the body panels were largely different between models. The Honda Quint
5-door hatchback received substantial engine upgrades, and became the Honda Integra
as both a 3- and 5-door hatchback, sold at Japanese dealership Honda Verno along with the CR-X. The Civic in Japan was now exclusive to Honda Primo, along with Honda's kei car
s, and supermini
s like the Honda City
.
The sedan and hatchback shared the same dashboard, but the CRX and wagons both had their own unique dash (CRX having a covered cubby in the middle of the dash, the wagon having a pop up set of vents which could be used or retracted into the dash). The hatchback adopted a flatter roof over the rear seats, drawing influences from a bodystyle known in Europe as a shooting-brake
, that seemed to blur the definition between traditionally defined hatchbacks and the shooting-brake. This appearance was also used on the Honda Accord Aerodeck, which does fulfill the visual definitions of a shooting-brake.
A new 12-valve (three valves per cylinder) 76 hp, 1,500 cc I4
engine was introduced. The base hatchback and CRX 1.3 used the 1,300 cc 8-valve engine giving 60 hp (45 kW). The DX and 1500S model hatchbacks shared the new 1,500 cc engine with the sedan, wagon, and CRX 1.5. The 1500S model achieved over 50 miles per US gallon highway.
The CRX was a Civic with a slightly different body; it was strictly a 2-seater in the US with a lockable storage compartment, while it was offered to the rest of the world with a rear seat. The CRX lineup added the Si model in 1985 which used Honda's PGM-FI fuel injection on the 1488cc 4 cylinder; in the United States
this generated 91 hp. The Si model added an intricately designed rear wiper, rear spoiler, power sunroof and 4 spoke alloy wheels.
The wagon was available in front-wheel drive
; and in 1985 and later a part-time any-speed four-wheel drive
, operated by a push button on the dash, became available. The four-wheel drive transmission also introduced a low-speed granny gear which could only be engaged in four-wheel drive.
The CRX HF joined the model lineup and used a CVCC head equipped EW series 1.5 liter engine, replacing the original CRX 1.3.
In 1986, the Civic got flush-mounted headlights. The CRX Si was visually altered by body colored bumpers, new alloy wheels and a body colored rubber spoiler-now mounted on the back of the hatch as opposed to the top portion of the hatch. Also in 1986 an Si version of the Civic hatchback was introduced, featuring a pop-up glass sunroof, body colored bumpers, and sedan-style disk wheel covers. This model came with the 1.5 L 12 valve fuel-injected engine from the CRX Si, generating 91 hp, and a manual
five-speed gearbox.
In 1987, the four-wheel drive system on the wagon was changed; a new Real-Time four-wheel drive system featured an automatic
viscous coupling that shifted power to the rear wheels automatically when needed. Real Time 4WD models are recognizable by the charcoal grey center covers, covering the lug nuts which were exposed on FWD models. In Europe
the Sedan model was marketed as the Rover 213/216
and the Honda Ballade
.
Most 1984–1987 Honda Civic parts are interchangeable across model years, including engines, transmissions, interior seats, dash components, brakes, etc.
Honda Civic
The Honda Civic is a line of subcompact and subsequently compact cars made and manufactured by Honda. The Civic, along with the Accord and Prelude, comprised Honda's vehicles sold in North America until the 1990s, when the model lineup was expanded...
wheelbase was increased by 2–5 inches (13 cm) to 93.7 inches (hatchback) or 96.5 inches (sedan). A 3-door hatchback
Hatchback
A Hatchback is a car body style incorporating a shared passenger and cargo volume, with rearmost accessibility via a rear third or fifth door, typically a top-hinged liftgate—and features such as fold-down rear seats to enable flexibility within the shared passenger/cargo volume. As a two-box...
, 4-door sedan, 4-door "Shuttle" station wagon
Station wagon
A station wagon is a body style variant of a sedan/saloon with its roof extended rearward over a shared passenger/cargo volume with access at the back via a third or fifth door , instead of a trunk lid...
(called the "Wagovan" in the United States, also available as a Van for commercial users in the Japanese domestic market), and CRX
Honda CR-X
This article is about the first and second generations of the CR-X. For the third generation, see Honda CR-X del Sol.The Honda CR-X, originally launched as the Honda Ballade Sports CR-X in Japan, was a front-wheel-drive sports compact car manufactured by Honda. The first generation CR-X was sold in...
coupe shared common underpinnings. This included independent front control arms with torsion bar springs and a semi-independent rear beam with coil springs. However, the body panels were largely different between models. The Honda Quint
Honda Quint
The Honda Quint is a subcompact car manufactured by Honda Motor Co. Ltd. of Japan. It was introduced in 1980 in Japan as an upscale Honda Civic 4-door hatchback, and joined the Honda Prelude, Honda Ballade, and Honda Vigor at the then newly established Japanese dealership sales channel called Honda...
5-door hatchback received substantial engine upgrades, and became the Honda Integra
Honda Integra
The Honda Integra is a compact luxury performance coupe made by Honda during the years 1985 to 2006. The sporty front wheel drive car is able to house five passengers with a two door hatch or four door sedan available.The Integra was on Car and Driver magazine's annual Ten Best list six times, in...
as both a 3- and 5-door hatchback, sold at Japanese dealership Honda Verno along with the CR-X. The Civic in Japan was now exclusive to Honda Primo, along with Honda's kei car
Kei car
Kei cars, K-cars, or , are a Japanese category of small vehicles, including passenger cars, vans, and pickup trucks. They are designed to comply with Japanese government tax and insurance regulations, and in most rural areas are exempted from the requirement to certify that adequate parking is...
s, and supermini
Supermini
A superminicomputer, or supermini, is “a minicomputer with high performance compared to ordinary minicomputers.” The term was an invention used from the mid-1970s mainly to distinguish the emerging 32-bit minis from the classical 16-bit minicomputers...
s like the Honda City
Honda City
The Honda City is a subcompact car manufactured by the Japanese manufacturer Honda since 1981. Originally made for the Japanese, European and Australasian markets, the City was retired without replacement in 1994...
.
The sedan and hatchback shared the same dashboard, but the CRX and wagons both had their own unique dash (CRX having a covered cubby in the middle of the dash, the wagon having a pop up set of vents which could be used or retracted into the dash). The hatchback adopted a flatter roof over the rear seats, drawing influences from a bodystyle known in Europe as a shooting-brake
Shooting-brake
Shooting-brake, shooting brake or shooting break is a term for a car body style that has evolved through several distinct meanings over its history....
, that seemed to blur the definition between traditionally defined hatchbacks and the shooting-brake. This appearance was also used on the Honda Accord Aerodeck, which does fulfill the visual definitions of a shooting-brake.
A new 12-valve (three valves per cylinder) 76 hp, 1,500 cc I4
Straight-4
The inline-four engine or straight-four engine is an internal combustion engine with all four cylinders mounted in a straight line, or plane along the crankcase. The single bank of cylinders may be oriented in either a vertical or an inclined plane with all the pistons driving a common crankshaft....
engine was introduced. The base hatchback and CRX 1.3 used the 1,300 cc 8-valve engine giving 60 hp (45 kW). The DX and 1500S model hatchbacks shared the new 1,500 cc engine with the sedan, wagon, and CRX 1.5. The 1500S model achieved over 50 miles per US gallon highway.
The CRX was a Civic with a slightly different body; it was strictly a 2-seater in the US with a lockable storage compartment, while it was offered to the rest of the world with a rear seat. The CRX lineup added the Si model in 1985 which used Honda's PGM-FI fuel injection on the 1488cc 4 cylinder; in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
this generated 91 hp. The Si model added an intricately designed rear wiper, rear spoiler, power sunroof and 4 spoke alloy wheels.
The wagon was available in front-wheel drive
Front-wheel drive
Front-wheel drive is a form of engine/transmission layout used in motor vehicles, where the engine drives the front wheels only. Most modern front-wheel drive vehicles feature a transverse engine, rather than the conventional longitudinal engine arrangement generally found in rear-wheel drive and...
; and in 1985 and later a part-time any-speed four-wheel drive
Four-wheel drive
Four-wheel drive, 4WD, or 4×4 is a four-wheeled vehicle with a drivetrain that allows all four wheels to receive torque from the engine simultaneously...
, operated by a push button on the dash, became available. The four-wheel drive transmission also introduced a low-speed granny gear which could only be engaged in four-wheel drive.
The CRX HF joined the model lineup and used a CVCC head equipped EW series 1.5 liter engine, replacing the original CRX 1.3.
In 1986, the Civic got flush-mounted headlights. The CRX Si was visually altered by body colored bumpers, new alloy wheels and a body colored rubber spoiler-now mounted on the back of the hatch as opposed to the top portion of the hatch. Also in 1986 an Si version of the Civic hatchback was introduced, featuring a pop-up glass sunroof, body colored bumpers, and sedan-style disk wheel covers. This model came with the 1.5 L 12 valve fuel-injected engine from the CRX Si, generating 91 hp, and a manual
Manual transmission
A manual transmission, also known as a manual gearbox or standard transmission is a type of transmission used in motor vehicle applications...
five-speed gearbox.
In 1987, the four-wheel drive system on the wagon was changed; a new Real-Time four-wheel drive system featured an automatic
Automatic transmission
An automatic transmission is one type of motor vehicle transmission that can automatically change gear ratios as the vehicle moves, freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually...
viscous coupling that shifted power to the rear wheels automatically when needed. Real Time 4WD models are recognizable by the charcoal grey center covers, covering the lug nuts which were exposed on FWD models. In Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
the Sedan model was marketed as the Rover 213/216
Rover 200 Series
The Rover 200 Series, and the later Rover 25, were a series of small car models produced by the Austin Rover Group, and latterly the Rover Group and MG Rover....
and the Honda Ballade
Honda Ballade
The Honda Ballade was a subcompact automobile built by Honda of Japan. It began as a four-door version of the Civic in 1980. The Ballade was developed at the same time the Honda Vigor appeared, which was a higher content Honda Accord...
.
Most 1984–1987 Honda Civic parts are interchangeable across model years, including engines, transmissions, interior seats, dash components, brakes, etc.