The practice was made even easier thanks to Honda’s luxury and performance division, Acura, which offered a series of high-performance engines that could easily be slotted into the Civic. Used Civics could be had for a steal and then easily modified, making them a favorite of gearheads worldwide. Combined with the Civic’s low starting price, that made it an intriguing prospect for tuners eager to pick up project cars on the cheap. The Civic’s popularity and ubiquity––Honda was moving over 250,000 units annually in the US alone by the early 1990s––meant that used Civics became very easy to find. The CR-X Si, released in 1985, would take this one step further, boasting a 135 hp engine that––while not monstrous by any means––went a long way in improving the Civic’s power-to-weight ratio. That all changed a decade later when Honda introduced the CR-X, a fastback version of the Civic that paved the way for performance-minded models to come. The nascent Civic earned high marks for its efficiency and low starting price but was an economy car through and through. The original Civic put fuel economy above all else, weighing 1,500 lbs and packing a mere 50 hp. When it first launched in 1973, few could have predicted that the Civic would eventually become one of the go-to cars for the tuner community. What makes the Honda Civic such an ideal tuner car, and how did it become one of the gearhead community’s favorite customization projects? We’ll dive into the Civic’s history to answer all that and more. But in the right hands, the Civic can easily be transformed into a thrilling ride that’s miles away from its economy car roots. The Civic is already an exceptionally customizable vehicle right out of the box, with a number of body styles and powerplants to choose from. However, many tuner cars are more instantly recognizable for the over-the-top paint jobs, wild rims, large spoilers, and other aesthetic modifications that help them stand out from the crowd. Popular modifications include tweaks to the engine and suspension. For those who might not be familiar with the lingo, a tuner refers to any vehicle that’s had parts modified or replaced to improve overall performance. While it’s easy to focus on the Civic’s legacy for value, the vehicle has a secret double life as one of the industry’s favorite tuner cars. The latest model made Car and Driver’s 10Best list, was named Motor Trend’s #1 Compact Sedan, and won Kelley Blue Book’s Compact Car Best Buy Award. With decades of dominance in its highly competitive segment, the car has earned its fair share of accolades, and the 2023 Honda Civic is no exception. Boasting impressive fuel efficiency and a low starting price, the Civic has earned its reputation as a dependable compact packed with value. There’s no denying that the Honda Civic is one of the most reliable, budget-friendly vehicles on the road today.
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