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1996
Honda del Sol

Starts at:
$15,080
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New 1996 Honda del Sol
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Available trims

See the differences side-by-side to compare trims.
  • 2dr Cpe S Manual
    Starts at
    $15,080
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 2dr Cpe S Auto
    Starts at
    $16,080
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 2dr Cpe Si Manual
    Starts at
    $17,300
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 2dr Cpe Si Auto
    Starts at
    $18,100
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 2dr Cpe VTEC Manual
    Starts at
    $19,600
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs

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Expert 1996 Honda del Sol review

our expert's take
Our expert's take
By
Full article
our expert's take

Two-seater roadsters are rushing back into focus, with German top dogs BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche and Audi introducing the latest variations of an old theme.

Of course, it was Mazda that set everyone back on their heels a decade ago with the mighty Miata. Others tried to emulate Mazda’s success in reinventing the affordable sports car.

One that met the challenge was Honda’s unique little Del Sol, another version of the basic Civic, Honda’s economical mainstay.

The Del Sol was always a good concept, a workable compromise between a convertible, a sporty two-seater and an economy coupe.

Originally, there was a certain level of disappointment in the Del Sol, compared with the bad-boy Civic CRX it replaced. The new two-seater was rapped for being too kind and gentle, too stubby and cute, a cartoon Ferrari, non-threatening to a fault.

Yet for the young who yearned for open-air transportation with the least cost and hassle, the Del Sol fits the bill nicely.

It was nice to get reacquainted with the little critter, especially one equipped with the trick VTEC engine. This high-revving, 160-horsepower mill, along with a well-controlled suspension and performance tires, bestows upon the Del Sol an aggressive streak that belies its mild appearance.

The VTEC is the top model, above the SI with its 127-horse engine and the base Del Sol S, with a 106-horsepower engine.

At $20,000, the Del Sol’s price tag is not insignificant, but for the high fun-factor level, it must be some kind of bargain.

A strong engine that makes all the right noises, quick steering, tight cornering, open-air aplomb; these were the perfect ingredients for an afternoon tryout along the tightly twisting curves of the Apache Trail east of Mesa to Tortilla Flat.

The flexible VTEC engine, pulling freely up to a race-bred 8,000 rpm, made the trip easy. Most of the time, the shifter was just left in third gear, with plenty of range in vehicle speed dialed in by the engine’s wide power band.

The VTEC engine uses a variable valve-timing-and-lift setup, which gives it the free-spinning power at the upper revs while keeping acceptable torque and driveability at slower speeds. As the engine speed builds, you can feel it switch over at about 5,000 rpm, the engine suddenly feeling stronger, its exhaust note more urgent.

Remarkably, this engine has the highest horsepower-per-liter rating of any naturally aspirated engine, meaning one that’s not turbocharged or supercharged, in any passenger car.

The engine is very smooth, but it can get noisy.

Road noise in the Del Sol also can be excessive, particularly on the concrete surface of a freeway. The chunky tread on the high-performance tires doesn’t help.

Shifting is smooth and direct. However, the gearing is rather short, probably to accommodate the engine’s powerful upper-rev characteristics.

The Del Sol’s best feature remains the simple system for turning a coupe into a converti ble. Flip two latches on either side of the cockpit, lift off the targa top (the kind of roof that lifts off between the windshield and a fixed roll-bar structure), stow it in the trunk-mounted rack and, best of all, roll down the electric back window.

The only problem with Honda’s system is the weight and awkward size of the removeable top. A rather small woman enlisted to demonstrate was unable to heft it into place. Oh, well.

The interior, though roomy, was compromised by weird design problems, such as skimpy, ineffective sun visors; ugly switches along the top of the dash; marginally comfortable seats and the world’s worst cup holders.

On the plus side, quality and materials of the interior seem top-notch, and some features, such as the two locking stowage areas behind the seats, were well-appreciated.

Overall, the Del Sol VTEC raises the appeal of this chubby cruiser considerably, with the enhanced engine power and handling improvements making this cha racter fee l more like a sports car than a beach toy.

1996 Honda Del Dol

Vehicle type: Two-passenger, two-door targa-top convertible, front-wheel drive Base price: $19,600. Price as tested: $20,832. Engine: 1.6-liter inline 4, 160 horsepower at 7,600 rpm, 111 pound-feet of torque at 7,000 rpm. Transmission: Five-speed stick shift. Curb weight: 2,522 pounds. Length: 157.7 inches. Wheelbase: 93.3 inches. Safety features: Dual air bags, anti-lock brakes. EPA fuel economy: 26 mpg city, 30 mpg highway.

1996 Honda del Sol review: Our expert's take
By

Two-seater roadsters are rushing back into focus, with German top dogs BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche and Audi introducing the latest variations of an old theme.

Of course, it was Mazda that set everyone back on their heels a decade ago with the mighty Miata. Others tried to emulate Mazda’s success in reinventing the affordable sports car.

One that met the challenge was Honda’s unique little Del Sol, another version of the basic Civic, Honda’s economical mainstay.

The Del Sol was always a good concept, a workable compromise between a convertible, a sporty two-seater and an economy coupe.

Originally, there was a certain level of disappointment in the Del Sol, compared with the bad-boy Civic CRX it replaced. The new two-seater was rapped for being too kind and gentle, too stubby and cute, a cartoon Ferrari, non-threatening to a fault.

Yet for the young who yearned for open-air transportation with the least cost and hassle, the Del Sol fits the bill nicely.

It was nice to get reacquainted with the little critter, especially one equipped with the trick VTEC engine. This high-revving, 160-horsepower mill, along with a well-controlled suspension and performance tires, bestows upon the Del Sol an aggressive streak that belies its mild appearance.

The VTEC is the top model, above the SI with its 127-horse engine and the base Del Sol S, with a 106-horsepower engine.

At $20,000, the Del Sol’s price tag is not insignificant, but for the high fun-factor level, it must be some kind of bargain.

A strong engine that makes all the right noises, quick steering, tight cornering, open-air aplomb; these were the perfect ingredients for an afternoon tryout along the tightly twisting curves of the Apache Trail east of Mesa to Tortilla Flat.

The flexible VTEC engine, pulling freely up to a race-bred 8,000 rpm, made the trip easy. Most of the time, the shifter was just left in third gear, with plenty of range in vehicle speed dialed in by the engine’s wide power band.

The VTEC engine uses a variable valve-timing-and-lift setup, which gives it the free-spinning power at the upper revs while keeping acceptable torque and driveability at slower speeds. As the engine speed builds, you can feel it switch over at about 5,000 rpm, the engine suddenly feeling stronger, its exhaust note more urgent.

Remarkably, this engine has the highest horsepower-per-liter rating of any naturally aspirated engine, meaning one that’s not turbocharged or supercharged, in any passenger car.

The engine is very smooth, but it can get noisy.

Road noise in the Del Sol also can be excessive, particularly on the concrete surface of a freeway. The chunky tread on the high-performance tires doesn’t help.

Shifting is smooth and direct. However, the gearing is rather short, probably to accommodate the engine’s powerful upper-rev characteristics.

The Del Sol’s best feature remains the simple system for turning a coupe into a converti ble. Flip two latches on either side of the cockpit, lift off the targa top (the kind of roof that lifts off between the windshield and a fixed roll-bar structure), stow it in the trunk-mounted rack and, best of all, roll down the electric back window.

The only problem with Honda’s system is the weight and awkward size of the removeable top. A rather small woman enlisted to demonstrate was unable to heft it into place. Oh, well.

The interior, though roomy, was compromised by weird design problems, such as skimpy, ineffective sun visors; ugly switches along the top of the dash; marginally comfortable seats and the world’s worst cup holders.

On the plus side, quality and materials of the interior seem top-notch, and some features, such as the two locking stowage areas behind the seats, were well-appreciated.

Overall, the Del Sol VTEC raises the appeal of this chubby cruiser considerably, with the enhanced engine power and handling improvements making this cha racter fee l more like a sports car than a beach toy.

1996 Honda Del Dol

Vehicle type: Two-passenger, two-door targa-top convertible, front-wheel drive Base price: $19,600. Price as tested: $20,832. Engine: 1.6-liter inline 4, 160 horsepower at 7,600 rpm, 111 pound-feet of torque at 7,000 rpm. Transmission: Five-speed stick shift. Curb weight: 2,522 pounds. Length: 157.7 inches. Wheelbase: 93.3 inches. Safety features: Dual air bags, anti-lock brakes. EPA fuel economy: 26 mpg city, 30 mpg highway.

Certified Pre-Owned program benefits

Age / mileage
10 years old or newer from their original in-service date at the time of sale.
Basic
100 days / 5,000 miles
Dealer certification
112 point inspection

Consumer reviews

4.3 / 5
Based on 7 reviews
Write a review
Comfort 3.7
Interior 3.9
Performance 4.3
Value 4.2
Exterior 4.0
Reliability 4.4

Most recent

  • Find one

    So much fun vtec is so cool love to shift gears feels like your in a high end sports car everyone follows me asking to buy it lol, nope never....
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Having fun
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    0 people out of 0 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • Sporty, fast and open air fun!

    I have owned 2 Honda Del Sols, a 95 SI and a 96 DOHC VTEC, They are affordable, fun to drive and economical. The DOHC VTEC is noticeably faster (160HP vs 120HP for the SI) and has better overall performance with larger disc brake rotors all around. The Del Sol has a removable targa top which stores in the trunk when driving and a power rear window. As with all Hondas, every control is in the right place, seats are comfortable and road feel great. If you are in the market for a sporty 2 seater with open air driving, take a look at a Del Sol.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Having fun
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    0 people out of 0 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • The Honda Miata

    I need something to cover my Miata needs when my miata has electrical problems bcuz I put a viper alarm from best buy, they say they have nothing to do with it. Never would I consider this brand but it solves the lacking which the delsol fulfills even with dreaded doors the seller did not mention about Agile handling Hardtop is a plus and looks good hidden in the trunk Scarcity of parts at junk yard but owners are willing to sell their parts to you if reasonable
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 2.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 4.0
    Value 3.0
    Exterior 4.0
    Reliability 5.0
    0 people out of 0 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • fun happy fast fun car

    Great gas mileage great pickup great value low price needs a new paint job can pass almost any car when the light turns green pure fun
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Having fun
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 4.0
    Interior 3.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 3.0
    Reliability 5.0
    1 person out of 1 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • favorite car

    Car is fast and fun and dependable. Needs a new paint job. well maintained engine brakes clutch are great summer car with moon roof solid
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 4.0
    Interior 3.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 3.0
    Reliability 4.0
    0 people out of 0 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • a great car

    I had a 94 del sol S and then a 96 like this one; both great cars. the vtec definitely has more power than the S. Never regretted having a hard-top convertible OR a car with such great mileage. Not a family car, unfortunately, and not suitable for kids since there is no back seat. as for the negative review in this listing - they're wrong. but read all the rest for the other del sol reviews s to get a complete picture.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    0 people out of 0 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • Del Sol Overpriced.

    Over priced for the year and Mileage !!!! Over priced for the year and Mileage !!!! Over priced for the year and Mileage !!!! Over priced for the year and Mileage !!!! Over priced for the year and Mileage !!!!
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does not recommend this car
    Comfort 1.0
    Interior 1.0
    Performance 1.0
    Value 1.0
    Exterior 3.0
    Reliability 2.0
    0 people out of 2 found this review helpful. Did you?
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FAQ

What trim levels are available for the 1996 Honda del Sol?

The 1996 Honda del Sol is available in 3 trim levels:

  • (1 style)
  • S (2 styles)
  • Si (2 styles)

Is the 1996 Honda del Sol reliable?

The 1996 Honda del Sol has an average reliability rating of 4.4 out of 5 according to cars.com consumers. Find real-world reliability insights within consumer reviews from 1996 Honda del Sol owners.

Is the 1996 Honda del Sol a good Coupe?

Below are the cars.com consumers ratings for the 1996 Honda del Sol. 85.7% of drivers recommend this vehicle.

4.3 / 5
Based on 7 reviews
  • Comfort: 3.7
  • Interior: 3.9
  • Performance: 4.3
  • Value: 4.2
  • Exterior: 4.0
  • Reliability: 4.4
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