In a 1998 Civic, the engine options varied by trim and market. The core 1.6-liter inline-4 family from Honda’s D-series powered most models, with base DX/LX trims using a non-VTEC version (D16Y7), EX trims using a VTEC version (D16Y8), and a high‑performance Si variant using a 1.6-liter DOHC VTEC (B16A2) delivering significantly more horsepower.
Engine options for the US market in 1998
These are the typical engine choices you would find in the United States for the 1998 Civic, depending on trim level.
- DX/LX: 1.6-liter inline-4, D16Y7, SOHC, non-VTEC — approximately 105–115 horsepower and about 100–106 lb-ft of torque.
- EX: 1.6-liter inline-4, D16Y8, SOHC, VTEC — approximately 127 horsepower and around 105–110 lb-ft of torque.
- Si: 1.6-liter inline-4, B16A2, DOHC, VTEC — approximately 160–170 horsepower, with higher-rev tuning characteristic of the era.
Note: Power figures can vary by market and emission specification. Automatic and manual transmission options can also affect output slightly.
Si engine details
The US-market Civic Si for this generation used Honda’s B16A2 1.6-liter DOHC VTEC engine, delivering substantially more performance than the base engines and typically paired with a close-ratio 5-speed manual transmission in most configurations.
In some markets, the Si label referred to different variants or late-model revisions; however, the B-series-based 1.6L VTEC engine was the standout performance option for the late‑90s Civic Si in North America.
Summary
For a 1998 Honda Civic, the engine lineup centered on a 1.6-liter family of four-cylinders with varying tech levels. The base DX/LX used a non‑VTEC D16Y7, the EX offered a VTEC D16Y8, and the high-performance Si used the DOHC VTEC B16A2. Exact engine codes and horsepower depended on trim and market, but the 1.6-liter lineage remained the constant core of the 1998 Civic lineup.