Honda understood that the young generation wants something different from a sporty car: it had to be reliable, agile, and cheap to run.
On top of that, a two-door version was highly recommended.

The 1996 Honda Civic Coupe was all of the above and even more. Due to its lightweight bodywork and its design, it was appealing to everybody. Since it was built on the same platform as the Civic Sedan and the Civic hatchback, the car’s price was low, so it was affordable.

From the outside, the low profile of the hood and low greenhouse were in the same spirit as the rest of Honda’s range. It featured new headlights than its predecessor, which fixed one of the main problems with the vehicle. The short grille between the headlights and the bigger air-intake on the lower bumper area made the car looks even more streamlined. From its sides, the ascending line enhanced the dynamic character.

Inside, it was the same straightforward Honda style, with a low-mounted dashboard and a simple, easy to read, four-dials dashboard. The Civic coupe had a low driving position that helped the driver become part of the car and feel every bump and every move with loads of feedback. In the back, there was room for two children.

Under the hood, the Civic coupe was offered with different engine choices depending on the market, ranged from 105 hp to 160 hp mated to a 5-speed manual. A CVT was offered as an option for selected versions.