Fast and Furious Honda Civic

What Honda Civic Was in the Fast and the Furious? (It’s not just one!)

There’s no doubt that the humble Honda Civic got a bit of a PR boost after appearing in the iconic Fast and Furious franchise. But did you know that more than one Fast and Furious Honda Civic exists and has featured? 

In this guide I will explain to you what Honda Civics were used in the Fast and the Furious films, and who was driving them too! 

What is the Fast and Furious Honda Civic?

The Fast and the Furious film franchise features several different Honda Civics, but I believe the most notable has to be the 1993 black Honda Civic EJ1. This car was driven by Brian O’Connor, played by the late Paul Walker, in the first film of the series. 

Walker’s 1993 Honda Civic EJ1 was heavily modified for the film and featured a 1.8 VTEC engine, green neon underglow lights, Vader-Style body kits, and a ViS Racing Bomber GT body kit. These modifications have become iconic and have been replicated by fans of the series around the world. After all, who wouldn’t want to drive a black Fast and Furious Honda Civic… or at least, close to.

The use of Honda Civics in the Fast and the Furious first movie

The Honda Civics in Fast and the Furious were modified to give them a more aggressive appearance, and of course, improved performance metrics. This included custom body kits, spoilers, and rims. They were also fitted with nitrous oxide systems for that extra boost of speed. It wouldn’t be the Fast and Furious otherwise!

Three Honda Civic EJ1s were used in the first movie, being driven by Dominic Toretto, his wife Letty Ortiz, and Leon, a member of his crew. Each Fast and Furious Honda Civic was give a different color paintjob (see the table below).

ModelHonda Civic EJ1
ColorsBlack, pink, and green.
ModificationsCustom body kits, spoilers, rims, nitrous oxide system.
PerformanceSpeeds up to 140 mph, impressive drifts

The Honda Civics used in the movie were not just for show, albeit they do a good job of that! They were also used in several high-speed chase scenes, which let them demonstrate their impressive performance capabilities. It said that the cars hit speeds of up to 140 miles per hour and did the usual impressive drifts around corners.

It’s fair to say that by appearing in the movie, it helped to increase the Civic’s popularity among car enthusiasts.

Let’s look in more detail at the Honda Civic used in the Fast and the Furious.

Honda Civic models used in the Fast and the Furious

The Fast and the Furious franchise is known for its impressive collection of fast cars, and the Honda Civic has to be one of the most iconic models featured in the films. It does for me anyway, which should come as no surprise to you, given I own one myself. 

Honda Civic used in Fast and the Furious

Here’s what Honda Civics are in the Fast and the Furious movies:

  • 1995 Honda Civic EG Hatchback: This Civic was driven by Jesse, played by Chad Lindberg, in the first movie. It came equipped with a turbocharged 1.6-liter B16A engine, custom body kit, and a stunning bright green paint job.
  • 1993 Honda Civic EG Hatchback: This features in the famous race scene between Paul Walker’s character, Brian O’Conner, and Vin Diesel’s character, Dominic Toretto. The Civic came with a 1.8-liter VTEC engine, green neon underglow lights, Vader-Style body kits, and a ViS Racing Bomber GT body kit.
  • 1995 Honda Civic EJ1 Coupe: Letty, played by Michelle Rodriguez, drove this one in the first movie. It was modified to include a custom body kit, blue paint job, and a turbocharged 1.6-liter B16A engine.
  • 2001 Honda Civic EM1 Coupe: This Civic was driven by Suki, played by Devon Aoki, in 2 Fast 2 Furious. The car was equipped with a custom pink paint job, a huge spoiler, and a turbocharged 1.6-liter B16A engine.
  • 2003 Honda Civic EM2 Coupe: This Civic was driven by Edwin, played by Ja Rule, in the first movie. The car was equipped with a custom body kit, gold paint job, and a turbocharged 1.6-liter B16A engine.
  • 2006 Honda Civic Si Coupe: This Civic was driven by Neela, played by Nathalie Kelley, in The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift. The car was equipped with a custom body kit, blue paint job, and a turbocharged 2.0-liter K20Z3 engine.
  • 2001 Honda Civic Coupe: This Civic was driven by Hector, played by Noel Gugliemi, in the first movie. The car was equipped with a custom body kit, green paint job, and a turbocharged 1.6-liter B16A engine.

What many people don’t realize is that most of the Civics used in the movies were not all fully functional and original cars. Some were full cosmetic replicas that lacked many functional features, and others were used just for the stunt scenes. 

The Honda Civic EG and EK in the Fast and the Furious

The first movie featured a 1993 Honda Civic EJ1 driven by Hector, while the second movie included a 2001 Honda Civic ES that belonged to Suki. However, it was the third movie, Tokyo Drift, that really put the Honda Civic on the map as it included a 2006 Honda Civic SiR driven by the main character, Sean Boswell – and is a car that so many viewers and fans of the franchise recall with fondness. 

In the fourth movie, Fast and Furious, you can see a 1995 Honda Civic EG driven by Letty Ortiz. This car was heavily modified as they all are, to include a Veilside body kit, a custom paint job, and a turbocharged engine. In movie number five, Fast Five, you can see a 1995 Honda Civic EG driven by Tej Parker. This car was also heavily modified with a custom paint job, a carbon fiber hood, and a turbocharged engine.

I think the reason Honda Civic EG and EK models are used in the movie is down to their lightweight design and easy customization, which makes them very popular with for tuners and street racers. It’s possible to buy a wide range of aftermarket parts, including body kits, exhaust systems, and suspension upgrades. 

The Honda Civic Si in the Fast and the Furious

The Honda Civic Si model was released in the United States in 1986 and has since become a staple in the tuner car community. It’s the 1995 model that was driven by Jesse in the first movie. His ride was modified to have a 1.6-liter VTEC engine with 160 horsepower. It also featured a custom body kit, a spoiler, and green neon underglow lights. The car was also lowered and had a custom exhaust system that gave it that distinct sound so synomous with the movie.

In the movie, the Honda Civic Si was featured in several scenes, including the infamous race between Jesse and Johnny Tran. In this race scene you can see how fast the Civic is plus its handling capabilities as it weaved through traffic. The Honda Civic Si was also used in the final heist scene where it was driven by the character of Leon.

The legacy of Honda Civics in Fast and Furious

I believe the Honda Civic has become an iconic symbol of the tuner car scene, and the Fast and the Furious franchise has played a huge role in this. The films have inspired countless people to modify their Civics and other cars, and they have helped to create a culture around the cars.

The Civics used in the film franchise were mostly the 1993 and 1995 models, with a few minor differences between each model. They were modified by well-known tuning companies such as Veilside, Bomex, and APR Performance to give them their unique look and performance.

While the Civics used in the film may not be the most realistic or practical cars, they certainly helped popularize the tuner car scene and inspired a new generation of car enthusiasts. The attention to detail and accuracy in the modifications made to the cars is a testament to the dedication of the filmmakers and the technical team.

Overall, the Honda Civics used in “The Fast and the Furious” franchise are a testament to the enduring popularity of the tuner car scene and the impact that movies can have on car culture.