There is something special about Honda engines. Turning the key and hearing the internal workings conveys a level of trust to me that I have not been able to feel about any other brand of car aside from Toyota. Indeed, our test Civic ran wonderfully for the entire week and 275-mile test drive. It never once misbehaved in any way. The engine runs reasonably smoothly and fairly quietly.
Power comes on steady at all speeds.
I wouldn't call the Civic fast, but it can be reasonably quick when you need a burst of power. The five-speed gearbox is excellent. The shifter and clutch require light effort to use, so the car is not tiresome to drive in heavy traffic. The four-wheel independent double wishbone suspension system makes for a smooth and quiet ride. Rolling over a bumpy brick road, you can hear little more than the tires on the pavement.