2003 Honda Civic Consumer Reviews

2003 Honda Civic

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2003 Honda Civic

Kelley Blue Book Retail $5,425  

Average Rating

4.4 out of 5
Review This Car
Comfort:4.0 out of 5
Performance:3.9 out of 5
Exterior Styling:4.5 out of 5
Interior Design:4.4 out of 5
Value for the Money:4.5 out of 5
Reliability:4.8 out of 5

9 out of 10 people would recommended this car to a friend

Consumer Reviews

Page 1 of 1

Honda Civic Hybrid

by Civic Hybrid
from Akron, Ohio | November 26, 2012

Rating from

(5)
Comfort: 5 out of 5
Performance: 3 out of 5
Exterior Styling: 5 out of 5
Interior Design: 5 out of 5
Value for the Money: 5 out of 5
Reliability: 5 out of 5

"This car is great! The best part is the fuel economy. It handles very well on the road. I would highly recommend this car."

I would recommend this car to a friend: Yes

This vehicle was purchased: Used

Primary use for this car: Work


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1 out of 1 found this review helpful

Good, But Get a Later Model

by Hybrid Fan
from Texas | September 2, 2012

Rating from

(4)
Comfort: 4 out of 5
Performance: 4 out of 5
Exterior Styling: 4 out of 5
Interior Design: 5 out of 5
Value for the Money: 4 out of 5
Reliability: 5 out of 5

"2003 was the 1st year for the Civic Hybrid. It gets great MPG and has all the amenities. Handles great. There is a shudder in the transmission as it takes off from a stop that would probably make most people have the clutch replaced, or the transmission overhauled or replaced. It has never gotten worse in thousands of miles of use, so I have just lived with it. I'd recommend a 2004, or later model, as Honda seems to have gotten better at building CVT's for it's Civic Hybrids."

I would recommend this car to a friend: Yes

This vehicle was purchased: Used

Primary use for this car: Transporting family


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1 out of 1 found this review helpful

Comment

by Bobs
from | January 3, 2012

Rating from

(3)
Comfort: 3 out of 5
Performance: 3 out of 5
Exterior Styling: 3 out of 5
Interior Design: 3 out of 5
Value for the Money: 3 out of 5
Reliability: 4 out of 5

"An earlier comment from someone in Utah claiming his 03 Hybrd gets him only 35 mpg having to travle up & down so many long hills. I'm in the same type of area (prob even more hills) and what goes up must come down - and down means charge. He must have some savagely long hills on which to drain the battery. Either his battery is faulty or he should get the additional cells. They only cost a few hundred dollars so why not?"

I would recommend this car to a friend: Yes

Primary use for this car: N/A


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1 out of 2 found this review helpful

Good car

by RN that drives a lot
from Burns, OR | December 1, 2011

Rating from

(5)
Comfort: 5 out of 5
Performance: 4 out of 5
Exterior Styling: 5 out of 5
Interior Design: 5 out of 5
Value for the Money: 5 out of 5
Reliability: 4 out of 5

"I have been pleased and proud to drive this car UNTIL I took it to a new LITHIA HONDA DEALER. Then the mileage dropped from 44 -45 miles per gallon to 26 -39 miles per gallon. You do have to be careful which Honda dealer you use."

I would recommend this car to a friend: Yes

This vehicle was purchased: Used

Primary use for this car: Commuting


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1 out of 2 found this review helpful

waste of my money

by Economics Professor
from Alpine, UT | September 2, 2009

Rating from

(3)
Comfort: 4 out of 5
Performance: 2 out of 5
Handling: 2 out of 5
Exterior Styling: 3 out of 5
Interior Design: 3 out of 5
Features: 3 out of 5
Value for the Money: 3 out of 5
Reliability: 5 out of 5

"people who claim they get 55 mpg must not live in the mtns...on hills the battery drains and your left with the wimpy 1.3 liter engine. I live in Utah and I average about 38 mpg in my 03 hybrid; which is about the same as my brother in law who owns an 01 civic ex! Besides the mileage problem and the fact that I'm totally upside down in it, I guess you could say it's been a fairly good car. After 130,000 miles I haven't had to do anything but maintenance. Bottom line, I would never buy another civic hybrid again. For the money, I could get a civic ex or even an SI with more horsepower and about the same fuel consumption. My neighbor has a jetta tdi, now there's a winner; he climbs the mountain every day on his commute and still gets 45 mpg!"

I would recommend this car to a friend: No

This vehicle was purchased: Used

Primary use for this car: Commuting


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6 out of 9 found this review helpful

Great Car 55 mpg easy

by ch103
from Philadelphia, PA | April 7, 2009

Rating from

(5)
Comfort: 4 out of 5
Performance: 5 out of 5
Handling: 5 out of 5
Exterior Styling: 5 out of 5
Interior Design: 5 out of 5
Features: 5 out of 5
Value for the Money: 5 out of 5
Reliability: 5 out of 5

"For anyone wishing to purchase a hybrid car but does not wish to pay for a brand new hybrid, there is no better option than the 2003 Honda Civic Hybrid. I have owned mine since Jan-07. The car gets its best gas mileage in May-Sep, getting 55 mpg easy. Between Oct-Apr it is between 45-50. I have gotten 644 miles on one tank before, no lies. Nothing is more important than how you drive, rabbit vs turtle, and the difference is amazing. The 2003 - 2005 were the 1st generation of Civic Hybrids and have the now "old school" Civic body styles still noticeable in their design. If you are looking for something fast that gets up and goes, this is not the car for you. If you want a car that only gets fuel twice a month, then this is the car for you."

I would recommend this car to a friend: Yes

This vehicle was purchased: Used

Primary use for this car: Commuting


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5 out of 6 found this review helpful

A great, economical, reliable car

by PhillyFan
from Narberth, PA | October 31, 2008

Rating from

(5)
Comfort: 4 out of 5
Performance: 5 out of 5
Handling: 5 out of 5
Exterior Styling: 5 out of 5
Interior Design: 5 out of 5
Features: 5 out of 5
Value for the Money: 5 out of 5
Reliability: 5 out of 5

"My Civic Hybrid 5-speed has gone 83,000 happy miles now, including long road trips and lots of city and suburban driving, in all conditions. With the 5-speed transmission it's fun to drive, and really quiet. To merge onto the highway, just leave it in 5th gear and put the gas pedal to the floor. The electric assist zips you into traffic quietly and efficiently. It's been incredibly reliable, with only one breakdown (the 12-volt battery failed last year). I've saved lots on needing less maintenance - still with the original brake pads and rotors (thanks to regenerative braking). The hybrid battery is still going strong, too. Average combined mileage: 45 MPG, City: 43, Highway:49. Very comfortable, except for 3 passengers in back. Trunk space is adequate for 4 people's luggage. The sound system is great, as is the climate control. The stock Bridgestone B381 tires lasted 70,000 miles, but performed poorly in rain and especially snow. I replaced them with Michelins. I expect this car to be part of my family for a long time."

I would recommend this car to a friend: Yes

This vehicle was purchased: New

Primary use for this car: Transporting family


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4 out of 5 found this review helpful

@60mph I get 63mpg on the highway!

by Sambo
from Rochester, NY | May 31, 2008

Rating from

(5)
Comfort: 4 out of 5
Performance: 5 out of 5
Handling: 5 out of 5
Exterior Styling: 5 out of 5
Interior Design: 4 out of 5
Features: 5 out of 5
Value for the Money: 5 out of 5
Reliability: 5 out of 5

"Quiet, uabtrusive, comfortable enough, and very very reliable the only regret I have was not buying the automatic trans which I understand get's better city milage (I get 33-35mpg in the city). Hummer's pass me on the highway, and then pass me again and again because they had to stop for gas and I didn't, plus the difference between 70 and 60mph for an 8 hour trip is only about an hour or so. It's about 10mpg in my Civic Hybrid."

I would recommend this car to a friend: Yes

This vehicle was purchased: New

Primary use for this car: N/A


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2 out of 3 found this review helpful

A hybrid for the rest of us

by Secret Environmentalist
from Atlanta, Georgia | January 9, 2007

Rating from

(4)
Comfort: 4 out of 5
Performance: 4 out of 5
Handling: 5 out of 5
Exterior Styling: 5 out of 5
Interior Design: 5 out of 5
Features: 5 out of 5
Value for the Money: 5 out of 5
Reliability: 5 out of 5

"The Honda Ciivic is a great car if you want to save on gas, but don't want to stand out from the crowd. It drives and handles just like a normal small car, but gets better than average gas mileage. Of course, the mileage you get will depend on how you drive. Jackrabbit starts and constant braking will give you worse mileage than smoother driving habits in any car. That said, by following the worst driving habits of those around me, my WORST mileage was 29 mpg. My BEST mileage was almost 50 mpg. I did a trip from Atlanta, Georgia to Savannah, Georgia on a half tank of gas. I could have turned around and driven back without filling up. In average city driving, I only visited the gas station every three weeks. Compare that to what you're driving now. The car handled like a dream. I could fit into parking spots I never considered before. Maneuverability was excellent. Reliability was excellent! As with any Honda, all I ever did was basic maintenance. The only downside was storage. The batteries took up quite a bit of the trunk space. It was enough for most trips - including the one to Savannah - but I eventually outgrew it. I highly recommend this vehicle!"

I would recommend this car to a friend: Yes

This vehicle was purchased: New

Primary use for this car: N/A


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4 out of 5 found this review helpful

Geek Mobile . . . We all should be so fortunate.

by G
from Boulder, CO | December 26, 2006

Rating from

(5)
Comfort: 3 out of 5
Performance: 4 out of 5
Handling: 5 out of 5
Exterior Styling: 5 out of 5
Interior Design: 4 out of 5
Features: 5 out of 5
Value for the Money: 5 out of 5
Reliability: 5 out of 5

"HCH is the best car I have ever owned (but then I've only owned a '64 Pontiac Grand Prix, '70 Dodge Charger, '78 Ford Fairmont, '84 Ford Tempo and a Red '88 Honda Accord DX hatch). Hybrid is a hoot. As long as the electronics hold-up this car will be a joy to drive. It handles most normal, and some extreme circumstances like a champ. It is a champ."

I would recommend this car to a friend: Yes

This vehicle was purchased: Used

Primary use for this car: N/A


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4 out of 5 found this review helpful

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