🚗 Urban Legend: The Second-Generation Honda Civic

Original by Honda誌 – Japanese Car Enthusiast Digest
Published: 2025-03-26 07:36:16
Tagged under: #HondaCivic

The second-generation Honda Civic was first unveiled in June 1979. 🚗✨
This generation featured a sharper, more angular design and a larger overall body size compared to the first generation, bringing it closer in form to the Accord. 🧩

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This generation of the Civic underwent significant changes, especially in comfort and powertrain upgrades. It offered more advanced engines with improved performance. 🛠️ In terms of body styles, it came in five versions: 5-door and 3-door hatchbacks, 4-door sedan, and 5-door wagon. This was the first time a 4-door sedan was introduced, replacing the previous Fastback model.

A cutaway view of the second-generation 3-door Civic. 🧷

Trims included CE, GL-E, ES, EX, CX-S, and GF. Engine options ranged between 1300cc and 1500cc. Honda introduced a new 3-speed automatic transmission, replacing the previous 2-speed unit. 🕹️

The CX-S model stood out with black paint, red accents, and gold wheels. 🎨

The CX-S used a 3-door hatchback layout and featured sporty details like red-black seats and a 5-speed manual gearbox. 🏁

Early engines included the 1335cc EN-series with Cross Flow (no CVCC). Later updates brought in the 1335cc EJ (56hp) and 1488cc EM (68hp) engines, both CVCC-equipped.

In some countries, entry models used the 1170cc EB1 and EN3 engines, paired with 4-speed or 5-speed manuals, 2-speed (pre-1980), or 3-speed automatics (post-1981).

The 4-door hatchback remained a traditional Civic style.

In North America, two trims were offered: 1300 and 1500. The DX trim featured a 5-speed manual, cloth seats, carpeting, rear defogger, intermittent wipers, and a clock. 🕰️

The DX added a rear wiper and rear glass defroster. 🌧️

More trunk space came with the 4-door hatchback format. 📦

Facelifts in 1980 and 1982 brought larger plastic bumpers, a new grille, and rectangular headlights. 📸
Honda spun off the Quint and Ballade models during this time, with the former evolving into the beloved Integra.

The 4-door sedan made its debut this generation, replacing the Fastback. 🚘

Unlike the 4-door hatch, the sedan was a traditional 3-box format. 🧱

The interior featured beige tones to reflect a home-like aesthetic. 🏠

Sport versions continued with the 1979 Japan-exclusive Civic CX. It used a 1488cc EM engine with retuned suspension for better handling. 🛞

In 1980, the CX-S was introduced, adding a sunroof and unique exterior styling like gold side stripes and red trim on black paint. These were JDM-only models. 🎌

The 5-door wagon was called Country, featuring brown side stripes and extended bodywork for added trunk space. 🚙

Interior color choices included beige and red.

The export sporty model, Civic S, debuted in 1983 with two engine options. North America got a detuned EM engine; other markets received a 1355cc EN4 engine with dual trumpet-style intake design to boost mid-high RPM response. 🎺

The trumpet intake helped improve responsiveness at mid to high revs. 📈

That wraps up our look at the second-generation Honda Civic. 📚 Stay tuned for our next chapter on the third-generation Civic!