Feel the same way in my 1992 Toyota Corolla. In part, that's one reason my husband and I bought the Ford Escape Hybrid (Front-Wheel drive) over a hybrid sedan. It's all perception, though. In the Ford Escape Hybrid, I now fully appreciate just HOW enormous many of the SUVs and trucks are on the roadways -- I felt like they dwarfed me in the Corolla, but at least I expected that. When an Excursion, Hummer or F250 pulls up alongside me and I'm in the Escape, I'm *still* dwarfed and realize, "Holy hybrid, Batman, those things are ridiculously huge vehicles!"
There will always be something bigger and more menacing than you on the roadways. I think the Civic rides a little higher than my Corolla does. About the only thing I ever encountered with less ground clearance than my Corolla are sports cars like the Camaro or Corvette (discounting all the exotic foreign sports cars, like the
Lotus Elise I see around occasionally...)
Postscript: Wow, I expected much lower mpg on that Lotus; guess it's due to being so small and probably much lighter than the average American sports car, eg. Mustang.