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No car has received a more favorable reception from the press and public alike than the 2006 Honda Civic. Indeed the Civic is our Drivers' Choice Best Small Car and Best Of The Year winner. A big reason for the accolades is that the latest Civic lineup is so comprehensive. From commuter sedan, to performance coupe, to hybrid four-door, there is a Civic for every desire. Plus, it has more style, inside and out, than any Civic before it.
So far our Civic is treating us very well. We've racked up over 2,200 mixed miles in about 6 weeks, and enjoyed fuel economy of 34.6 miles per gallon while doing it. And our Civic LX is an automatic! And it still moves smartly with its 140 horsepower 1.8-liter 4.
The interior is spacious and trendy, with its most prominent feature, the high set digital speedometer, the only aspect that gets mixed reviews.
So who says you need a tiny car or even a hybrid for impressive economy and style? The Honda Civic manages both with ease.
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Timing of the all-new 2006 Honda Civic compact was just about perfect. The 8th generation Civic arrived last fall, just as gas prices went through the roof. It was an instant hit. Indeed the Civic is our Drivers' Choice Best Small Car, and Best Of The Year winner.
Or should we say winners! From commuter sedan, to performance coupe, to hybrid four-door, there is Civic for everyone. And everyone will be pleased with our Civic's fuel economy. At the 3 month mark we've driven over 5,200 miles, and enjoyed fuel economy of 32.5 miles per gallon while doing it. Yet it still moves smartly with a 140 horsepower 1.8-liter 4 and smooth shifting 5-speed automatic.
We find the interior trendy, fairly quiet, and surprisingly comfortable for long trips. But staffers complain about the lack of an auxiliary stereo input for their iPods. And the rear view mirror shakes too much on ordinary roads.
So far that's the only nit picks about our Honda Civic, an impressive effort that arrived none too soon.
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The Honda Civic is one of the best-selling small cars in America. In fact, the all-new 2006 Civic is on course for a new calendar year sales record. While such honors are nothing new to Civic, the introduction of the 8th generation Civic compact just as gas prices ballooned was the luckiest of timing. And, from commuter sedan to performance coupe to hybrid four-door, there is a Civic for everyone.
But you don't need to go hybrid for great Civic fuel economy. After 6 months and 12,000 very mixed miles, fuel use stands at 32.7 miles-per-gallon of regular grade for our LX.
Our staff praises the interior room which rivals many mid-size cars. Plus, one of our beefs, no auxiliary input for iPods and alike, has been cured in the LX for '07.
The standard 140-horsepower, 1.8-liter four moves us smartly and the 5-speed automatic shifts smoothly. It has also been completely trouble free. The 2006 Honda Civic is a smart small-car choice. And, picking the 2006 Honda Civic as MotorWeek's "Best of the Year" makes us look smarter every day.
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With so many choices in compact cars, what is it that makes the Honda Civic such a standout?
Maybe it's the low, sporty styling that appeals to the speed freak in us. Or the roomy, almost show-car like interior with its controversial split-level, analog-digital gauge cluster.
We know it's the competent driving experience that this 2006 Civic LX delivers. Nothing spectacular but never disappointing. The standard 140 horsepower 1.8-liter 4 moves us confidently while the 5-speed automatic shifts smoothly. And then there is the great fuel economy. After 16,000 miles it's a rock steady 32.6 miles-per-gallon on regular fuel.
Problems have been limited to annoyances like a vibrating rear view mirror, and we would like a trunk release button on the remote key fob. We really don't have a lot of suggestions on how to improve the Honda Civic. It's pretty terrific just as it is.
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With the 2006 Honda Civic, the most award-winning small car of our time, you have to admit its low, lean sporty styling really makes it a standout, along with the fact that the interior is still a marvel in room and packaging, even if its two-level digital gauge cluster is not everyone's ideal.
And, let's not forget the Civic is oh-so-easy on gas. Our test LX sedan is returning a stellar 33.1 miles-per-gallon after 11 months and 17,000 mostly commuter-car miles. The standard 140 horsepower 1.8-liter 4 is smooth and reasonably quiet, while the 5-speed automatic shifts with confidence.
While nothing has broken, annoyances include a vibrating rear view mirror, and we miss a trunk release button on the remote key fob. Regardless, this eighth generation Honda Civic deserves to be the best selling small car in the land.
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