Simplicity was the key, and Honda nailed it with one of the least expensive cars on the U.S. market. On top of that, the 3-door Civic offered more than most of its competitors.

Honda introduced the second generation of the Civic in 1979 and improved it in late 1980 and then, again, in 1982. Along with the second facelift, the Japanese carmaker introduced the wrap-around plastic bumpers, which were not that common for those times.

The 1982 facelift brought a pair of rectangular headlights, which replaced the older round ones. The small-sized hatchback didn’t win any beauty contest, and that was its main flaw. At that time, Honda’s designers didn’t seem to know what they were doing exactly.

Inside, Honda featured a remote adjustable passenger-side door mirror, which was huge for its car segment. Moreover, the carmaker installed standard carpets on the floor. In 1982, it was a big deal to not have exposed metal under the feet. The bucket seats offered good lateral support due to their bolsters. Its instrument cluster featured a tachometer fitted as standard, even for the versions equipped with an automatic transmission.

Under the hood, the Civic featured a 1.3-liter engine paired to a four-speed manual. Later on, the carmaker offered a version fitted with a 1.5-liter engine mated to a 5-speed manual. For selected markets, there was an S-version, which was available exclusively in black or red. Unlike most of the cars on the market, the 3-door Civic featured independent suspension in all corners.