Like the transmission in a Honda Odyssey we recently tested, the grade-logic automatic in our car hampered the fun factor with slow downshifts, and it also caused an unexpected lurch when coasting downhill under light braking. In the Honda tradition, interior controls are simple to find and operate. A lesser gripe but valid nonetheless can be made about the Civic's small radio-control buttons with tiny lettering. Japanese and Korean automakers would do well to look inside a Chevrolet, where stereos have large buttons with legible markings, and a tuning knob for ease of use. Interior storage is amazing for a small car, with multiple cubbies and bins as well as a huge glove box.
Seats are firm and supportive front and rear - great for short hauls.
The back seat split-folds for improved capacity, but the large trunk should satisfy most owners' needs. Four adults can ride comfortably in the Civic Sedan. Styling was updated for 1999, and the revised front and rear treatments lend a more upscale look to this compact. Also new this year are rotary climate controls stacked close to the driver. Fortunately, the resale value on these cars is ridiculously high due to strong demand for used models, so you can recoup a good percentage of that chunk of change.