Before the Honda Civic revolutionized the global automotive landscape, Japan was in the midst of shaping its automotive future through the People’s Car Program*1. As Honda’s development team eagerly awaited the program’s final specifications, word arrived that passenger space would be capped at a mere 5 square meters. This crucial detail solidified the team’s belief that their emerging “utilitarian and minimalistic” concept for a new car was perfectly aligned with the national direction. It was upon this blueprint, born from both governmental guidance and Honda’s innovative spirit, that the very first Honda Civic began to take shape.
Alt text: Original design blueprint of the first generation Honda Civic, showcasing its compact dimensions and early concept.
A significant factor influencing the compact dimensions of the first-ever Honda Civic was Honda’s established sales network. At the time, Honda’s dealerships were primarily small motorcycle shops. For these existing dealerships to effectively handle and showcase a car, maintaining a smaller vehicle footprint was essential. Limiting the interior passenger space to under 5 square meters became a practical necessity, dictated by the physical constraints of the dealership infrastructure. This unique situation directly shaped the initial design parameters of the Civic.
The initial specifications outlined a vehicle 1,450 mm in overall width and between 3,300 to 3,400 mm in length. These dimensions were directly derived from the government’s prescribed conditions. However, as development progressed, the width was reconsidered and ultimately increased to 1,505 mm. This adjustment was deemed necessary to comfortably accommodate a front-wheel-drive (FF) configuration, featuring a transversely mounted 1,200-cc engine. This increase in width, however, presented a new challenge. To adhere to the 5 square meter occupancy space limit, the development team was compelled to shorten the overall length by at least 100 mm. Balancing interior comfort within this reduced footprint became a central and demanding task.
While the project team harbored aspirations for a sleek and stylish silhouette, the evolving dimensions of the first-ever Honda Civic led to a different aesthetic direction. With each design iteration, the car became wider and shorter. This iterative process gradually sculpted the vehicle into a somewhat stout, trapezoidal form, notably lacking a traditional trunk.
Iwakura, a key figure in the Civic’s development, explained, “The Civic’s form was, in a way, modeled after the contours of the Honda Life.” He further elaborated on the design evolution: “The original layouts featured smoother rear lines and a distinct trunk section. However, as the car progressively shortened, we ultimately decided to eliminate the trunk space altogether. This decision was crucial to prevent the overall shape from becoming visually ambiguous and to maintain a cohesive design.”
Alt text: Side view illustration of the first generation Honda Civic, emphasizing its distinctive trapezoidal hatchback shape and compact wheelbase.
This bold move – eliminating the trunk – was instrumental in defining the unique styling of the first-generation Honda Civic. It resulted in a distinctive “three-door hatchback design featuring a trapezoidal profile.” While this style was gaining traction in markets like the U.S. and Europe, it was still relatively uncommon in Japan at the time. The first-ever Honda Civic was breaking new ground in its domestic market with this body style.
Iwakura passionately emphasized to his team that the Civic’s unique styling was not a compromise, but rather “part of its character” and a core element of the car’s intrinsic value. The team’s objective was to create a car that was compact yet instilled “pride of ownership.” The trapezoidal hatchback profile perfectly embodied this vision, offering a blend of practicality and distinctive style in the first ever Honda Civic.
Drawing inspiration from Honda’s motorcycle heritage, Iwakura shared an insightful analogy: “Consider the Honda Monkey motorcycle. A rider on a Monkey can feel a sense of pride even when riding alongside a large 750-cc motorcycle. This is because the Monkey possesses a unique character.” He challenged his team to imbue the Civic with a similar kind of character, something beyond mere functionality. “We spent countless hours contemplating how to inject that unique character into our car. We envisioned marketing slogans like ‘simple yet charming.’ However, I was searching for adjectives beyond ‘charming’ that could perfectly complement the word ‘yet’ in our Civic’s slogan,” Iwakura recalled, highlighting the deep thought process behind even the marketing and branding of the first ever Honda Civic.
Alt text: A vintage Honda Monkey motorcycle parked beside a first generation Honda Civic, illustrating the design philosophy of compact and characterful vehicles.
As development progressed, the various technological innovations and design elements that formed the Civic’s foundation began to coalesce into a unified form. Traditionally, at this crucial juncture, Honda would conduct an S·E·D (Sales, Engineering, Development) joint evaluation meeting. The outcomes of these meetings often led to design or specification revisions. However, for the Civic, a slightly different, more empowering approach was adopted. Instead of subjecting the project to extensive further deliberation through numerous meetings, the project team was granted considerable autonomy. Mr. Suzuki, a leader within Honda, played a key role in fostering this environment of trust and empowerment.
“Let’s proceed in the direction you believe is correct,” Suzuki encouraged the team. “We will disregard any background noise or dissenting opinions until we have a tangible, completed car.”
This pivotal decision ensured that the Civic remained under the direct stewardship of Honda’s dedicated development engineers throughout the crucial prototyping phase. During this period of focused development, the team diligently pursued the “absolute value” they had meticulously defined for the first-ever Honda Civic. While the engineering and design achievements were undeniably commendable, the team remained acutely aware that the ultimate measure of success would be determined by the car’s reception in the marketplace. This customer-centric perspective was a constant guiding principle throughout the entire development journey of the first generation Honda Civic.
