Overview & Reviews

In typical Honda fashion, the Civic receives a number of minor changes this year in order to keep it fresh. For the coupe and sedan, there's new exterior styling, including restyling for the front and rear bumpers, hood, headlights and grille. Inside, the audio speakers have been upgraded, extra sound deadening material has been added and floor mats are now standard in the LX and EX. The LX trim has slightly bigger wheels this year (15 inches) and standard keyless entry. A new value package contains air conditioning, a CD player and a new center console. For the Si hatchback, there are new headlight and taillight designs, larger 16-inch wheels and flashier interior trim. Like the regular sedan, the Civic Hybrid has updated styling, standard floor mats and improved speakers. It also has a new interior console with an armrest, adjustable rear headrests and a manual driver-seat height adjuster. Finally, all 2004 Honda Civic sedans and coupes have a new seatbelt reminder system.

• Fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly engines, roomy interior, reputation for durability and quality, impressive crash test scores.

• Top-of-the-line models are pricey, antilock brakes not available on DX or LX.

User Reviews:

Showing 1 through 10 of 563.00

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  Cant feel the hype - 2004 Honda Civic
  By lfas - September 7 - 6:19 am

  I owned this car in 4-door LX 4 speed auto guise for neigh on four years, and other than the fact that this little car handled like crazy and could take an off ramp at 60 mph with ease, thats where my admiration ends. Post ownership, and for the life of me I cannot grasp the Honda hype that led me to plunk down my cash on this vehicle. I just plainly dont know what sparks such admiration for Honda Civcs. The car was vastly underpowered for daily commuter driving around the Chicagoland area. I am fond of saying that Civics cant manage to get out of their own way. Was it the auto trans that muted power? The car had an all around anemic, fragile feel to me.

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  Armrest console - 2004 Honda Civic
  By bobi - March 22 - 3:36 pm

  The armrest hinge got stuck in the upright position and would not go down. The service dept at Honda found this normal. The part alone (the would cost $162, to say nothing of the labor ($100 plus). I think the armrest should last the life of the car. It was not abused in any way, it just died an untimely death. Everything plastic on the interior of this car has been feeble and junky.The interior lock for the trunk faces upward and is constantly full of sand. It has been replaced twice.The plastic covers for the seat back locks fell off long ago.The paint on the bumpers is all damaged and freckled. Perhaps this is a way for Honda to recoup the admittedly very low initial sales price.

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  I hate this car - 2004 Honda Civic
  By disappointed - December 8 - 7:05 am

  I am extremely disappointed in this car. We had our last Honda (1989 Prelude) for 15 years and it was nearly bulletproof. I had to replace the head gasket after 3 years on this Civic (at about 65,000 miles) and have the head machined – very expensive repair. I’ve spent more money fixing this car since I bought it than I have on an 11- year old Chrysler product with over 215,000 miles on it. The car lacks the power to get out of its own way. I dont know if I just happened to get a lemon - or if there is a problem with this year model, but its not an "automatic" choice for me to go buy another Honda.

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  Fix the problems with the engine light - 2004 Honda Civic
  By kat - October 12 - 12:30 am

  Since the car reached about 80,000 miles the service engine light comes on at least once a month... It has had a new computer chip, catalytic converter, and transmission clutch box. Now they tell me it needs another catalytic converter $1100. The mechanic told me that Honda has not been able to find a fix for this issue but now it is no longer in warranty. I have had all recommended maintenance which costs between $200-400 each time. I would think that the car would not be falling apart. I have a friend who had to replace the transmission just after 100000.

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  Good Daily Driver - 2004 Honda Civic
  By hansel313 - October 1 - 3:25 am

  I have owned this car for a little over 2 years now. I bought it for getting to work and college, as well as cheap insurance. The Civic is pretty slow, and I usually have to rev into 4-5k RPM to make it to freeway speeds by the time I need to merge. Freeway passing is slow, unless you downshift to 4th. Gas mileage is good, but not the greatest, but one of the better ones at the price. I havent had any major mechanical issues, just a broken power door lock actuator which was fixed under the extended warranty. Maintenance is a breeze. Interior breaks and scratches easily. Good view out the rear. It gets you from A to B, which is its intended purpose.

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  Civic Coupe Review - 2004 Honda Civic
  By DJ - June 7 - 7:43 pm

  Im fairly happy with the car. However, the power to gas milage ratio is disappointing... Avg. 25 mpg at freeway speeds with A/C on (rated at 38 mpg).

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  Still going!!! - 2004 Honda Civic
  By Zoom Zoom - March 20 - 5:13 pm

  I bought the car new, it had 24 miles on it. Now it has 75,000 miles. I have made changes to the car. All with the intent for better gas mileage. Stock I was getting 33 mpg on the interstate at 75 mph. After dual exhaust, K&N air intake, summer tires, and its not manual (automatic trans.) I now get 51 mpg on the interstate at 75-79 mph. Seriously basically stock 1.7L with an automatic stock trans. and 89 octane pump gas, I get 50 mpg. The city drive takes a toll on the gas mileage, due to the trans., I still get anywhere from 38 to 43mpg in the city. It is definitely not a racer, but it is what I paid for. I would like to have a little more power, but saving the gas money is great.

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  mpg problem - 2004 Honda Civic
  By arnle - August 10 - 2:00 am

  car has 5500 miles and is yielding 17 mpg. rating is 30-38.dealer cant find reason.situation is dragging.

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  Expecting a little more from Honda! - 2004 Honda Civic
  By Mike - January 28 - 6:51 pm

  This was my 1st Honda. Gas mileage is great. It was the reason I bought it. Dealership not very inspiring. Had 2 electronic issues. Gas gauge faulty. When that was fixed I found out thru a safety inspection the rear lights didnt work. My mech traced the problem to behind the dash. At 1st Honda confirmed that fact but then said it was at the transmission. Wrote owner of dealership to complain but was told he would stand behind his staff. $700 later it was fixed. What was I thinking. The consumer is right?? My mechanic traced the problem and stated that the cell on the transmission was ok. Problem was behind the dash. Who did the work behind the dash? Im getting the Mazda3 next week!

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  Most uncomfortable to drive ever - 2004 Honda Civic
  By hidiho - December 28 - 10:00 am

  The car looks and drives well enough, but I never imagined the super-low seats would give me as much uncomfort as they have. Im 54" kicking myself for not thinking to get the EX model that has the dial on the side to raise the seat. Its like sitting in the bottom of a boat-- wouldnt be so bad if the steering wheel could come down farther. Ive owned it for a month and Im trading it in rather than have the seat raised. Im generally unsatisfied with the ergonomics of the whole drivers console area.. seems like it would be fine for a tall person, but just awkward for the shorter folks.