The 1997 Honda Civic, part of the sixth generation, offered two main engine options in the United States: a 1.6-liter inline-4 SOHC D-series engine for most trims and a 1.6-liter DOHC VTEC engine for the Civic Si.
US market engine options in 1997
Before listing the engines, this section clarifies the two primary powerplants available to American buyers in 1997.
- D16Y7 — 1.6-liter inline-4, SOHC, non-VTEC, used in the DX, LX, and EX trims.
- B16A2 — 1.6-liter inline-4, DOHC VTEC, used in the Civic Si trim (sport model).
Both engines were paired with Honda's available transmissions for that year, with the Si variant featuring the VTEC configuration that offered higher performance than the base non-VTEC engine.
Notes on other markets
Outside the United States, engine options varied by country and model year. Some markets offered additional D-series or even earlier-generation variants, and later years introduced more powerful VTEC variants in other trims. For precise specifications, refer to the local model sheet or VIN-specific documentation for the vehicle you’re researching.
Summary
In 1997, the Honda Civic US lineup ran on two main engines: the 1.6L SOHC D16Y7 for most trims and the 1.6L DOHC VTEC B16A2 for the Civic Si. Market-specific differences may apply elsewhere.