| provided by: |  |
Christopher Jackson | 9/6/2007 | Honda
People who watch the automotive seasons turn should know that, as it's been about four years since Honda updated the Civic, the popular subcompact is due for a redesign. You can almost set your watch by Honda's rigid product cycle.
Even though it's being introduced just as expected, as regular as clockwork, the all-new 2006 Civic has quite a few surprises in store. With a stunning new design, improved crash safety and unheard-of equipment for its segment, the latest Civic promises to maintain its technological leadership over the competition. Honda performance fans will also be pleased to hear of the return of the hot Civic Si sport coupe. The Civic has moved a bit upmarket as well, and the subcompact Fit will shortly enter the lineup a step below the Civic as Honda's new entry-level car. Think of it this way; the Civic is growing with its customers.
The new design is a serious head-turner. Thanks to the wedgiest front end since Toyota's wild Prius, it's unlikely that '06 Civic owners will lose their cars in the parking lot. That face tapers down to a bold Honda "H" badge flanked by narrow, angry-looking headlights. The body arches high and then dips sharply to a stubby tail, but the solidity of the design actually makes the Civic look larger than it is. The Civic is available in two-door coupe and four-door sedan formats; the Si has traditionally been a coupe-only bodystyle but Honda has hinted strongly that a four-door version will be offered for the first time in 2007.
Inside, a two-tiered dash greets the driver and looks like it was yanked out of a science fiction movie. Blue-lit digital gauges ride high; an analog tachometer is down low, and both are positioned such that the steering wheel can't block the gauges. The windshield is wide, and the stubby nose and long dash are much like a miniature minivan's. The seats have been improved, but the legs-out driving position that Civic buyers have gotten used to is still intact. The Civic is large enough to carry four passengers in relative comfort; don't think of this as a compact car any more. The base DX model is still a stripper, but on the rest of the line standard equipment is generous, to further remove the Civic from the realm of entry-level cars. Power windows, air conditioning and an MP3-capable sound system are all part of the package. XM satellite radio and a navigation system are available, too.
The Civic offers a choice of powerplants. The standard engine is a 140-horsepower 1.8 liter four-cylinder, a significant improvement over last year's 127 horses. It's good for 40 mpg on the freeway according to the EPA, which translates to a still-impressive 34 or so in the real world. Want even more efficiency? The Civic Hybrid returns with a 1.3-liter i-VTEC 4-cylinder engine. Paired with a 20 horsepower electric motor, the Civic Hybrid makes a total of 110 horsepower. The already-smooth Integrated Motor Assist system is improved for 2006 as well. At the other end of the performance spectrum, the Si gets a sportier 197-horse 2.0 liter four-cylinder that uses Honda's i-VTEC variable valve timing system for improved power at high engine speeds. A drive-by-wire electronic throttle is used on all '06 Civics, to improve fuel economy and smoothness. Transmission choices include a five-speed automatic and a five-speed manual. The Civic Hybrid has a standard continuously-variable automatic transmission that maximizes fuel efficiency, making 50-plus miles per gallon on the freeway a reality. The Si gets a six-speed manual that includes a racer-friendly limited-slip differential.
Underneath the skin, Honda has paid a great deal of attention to the Civic's crashworthiness, something it refers to as Advanced Compatibility Engineering. Side and side-curtain airbags are standard as well. Anti-lock brakes are standard as well. The rigid body should improve handling as well. The suspension is familiar, with MacPherson struts up front and an independent double-wishbone rear. The Civic is by no means sporty, but it's responsive enough for cutting through crowded suburban traffic and the ride is smooth rather than harsh. It's somewhat lacking in personality, but that's a perennial Honda shortcoming and the average driver isn't going to notice its absence anyway.
It's an impressive package, which is no less than the industry has come to expect from Honda. Pricing starts at $14,360. The high-efficiency hybrid is a bit more, at $21,850, and Civic Si pricing begins at $19,900.
Specifications:
All specs are for the 2006 Honda Civic EX sedan.
Length: 174.8 in.
Width: 68.9 in.
Height: 53.5 in.
Wheelbase:104.3 in.
Curb weight: 2740 lb.
Cargo space: 11.5 cu.ft.
Base price: $14,360
Price as tested: $18,260
Engine: 1.8 liter inline four cylinder
Drivetrain: five-speed manual transmission, front-wheel drive
Horsepower: 140 @ 6300
Torque: 128 @ 4300
Fuel capacity: 13.2 gal.
Est. mileage: 30/38
Continue to article on OnWheelsInc.com