The Honda Civic used to be small, lightweight, practical, and fun. At least it's still the latter two.
Civics from the 1990s and early 2000s, however, were thrifty but wonderful machines from a Honda golden age.
This example has low mileage and is in great condition.

The Honda Civics of the late 1980s and 1990s were cars that were everywhere until they weren't. It seemed like you could always pick up a used Civic for peanuts, enjoy the combination of a well-sorted suspension paired with a zippy but thrifty engine, and then sell the car for basically what you paid for it.

Sadly, those days are over, as most Hondas of the era simply got used right up. Every so often though, a gem from the past pops up.

Here's one now as our pick of the day at Bring a Trailer (which, like Car and Driver, is part of Hearst Autos). It's a 1990 Honda Civic Si three-door hatchback: maximum practical flexibility in the minimum footprint. It's got some nice options, both factory and aftermarket, including air conditioning, a CD stereo, and an upgraded exhaust. Really, though, the appeal here is that this little hatch is a blast of 1990s nostalgia, a fuel-sipping lightweight that loves to rev.

1990 honda civic si

The fourth-generation Civic arrived in 1987 as a finished-off version of the previous-gen, more evolution than revolution. With double-wishbone suspension up front and a fully independent rear, this car was surprisingly fleet of foot, especially in the Si trim. Japanese models got a little more complex and powerful engine, but the Si's 1.6-liter four-cylinder loved to spin up, and though it had only a single overhead cam, it boasted four valves per cylinder and a redline of 6500 rpm.

The D16A6, as it was known among Honda fans, made 108 horsepower when new, pitted against less than 2300 pounds of curb weight. Torquey it was not, but spin that tachometer up and the Civic Si put the fun in functional transportation. This example shows 103K miles on the odometer, though there's a slight discrepancy around the 90,000-mile mark. It's in good condition, not entirely perfect, but it shows well. Tidy it up the few loose ends while you drive it, and it could be an ideal practical classic.

1990 honda civic si

Compared to the complexity of today's people haulers, this pint-sized hatch is a breath of fresh air, and also deeply reminiscent of anyone who grew up carrying around a binder full of CDs in the glovebox. This car may not be equipped with Honda's VTEC, but thanks to the Kenwood stereo, you can at least install some *NSYNC and wave bye-bye-bye when the road gets curvy.

1990 honda civic si

The modern Civic is still a decent pick, practical and fun even if you go for the hybrid version instead of the Si. But it's the size of what the Accord used to be. The days of the ubiquitous small Civic are gone—but that doesn't mean you can't relive them.