2006 Honda Civic LX Coupe Test Drive

Since its introduction over two decades ago, the Honda Civic has been consistently rated in the 10 Best by the North American automotive press. It’s been the best selling automobile in Canada for as long as anyone can remember. Compact and Euro-stylish on the outside, the new 2-door Coupe best suits a driver and one passenger. All the latest toys (MP3, XM radio, Navi, etc) are available. Our choice is the LX with 5-spd manual, air, power locks & windows. MSRP: $16,510; Warranty: 3/36,000.

First glance: Handsome and smaller than it looks

To my eye, the newly designed Civic is gorgeous. There isn't a line anywhere on the car I don’t like. It’s sleeker, curvier and much more stylish than the previous model. I tested the LX, which sits between the DX and EX and includes essential extras like A/C and power locks/windows. The LX is the model I'd pick, although the top line EX with 350W sound system, XM radio and GPS navigation would be an option for those folks who simply gotta be surrounded by the latest toys. Though it's too bad a split-fold rear seat is only available in the EX.

Bucking the current trend towards gun-slit side and rear windows, the Civic’s huge glass area offers superb visibility for both driver and passengers. The thick, steeply sloping windshield posts look big enough to block visibility, but in practice they don’t. The windshield is immense.

While it looks a lot bigger than it is, the new Civic is actually only 56.5 inches tall, 60 inches wide and 177 inches long -- noticeably smaller, in other words, than several other popular automobiles we've come to think of as “small” cars. But compared with some of the behemoths we have come to think of as family transportation these days, just about anything reasonable-sized looks small.

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In the Driver's Seat: Too much good stuff to mention

The engineers at Honda have outdone themselves this year. There are so many great new ergonomic advances in the new Civic that I hardly know where to start (or, more importantly, where to stop). You don’t really need any of the available electronic toys; there's enough fun to be had in the driving experience. Your fun with the Civic begins with turning the key and continues until you turn off the engine.

The new gauge treatment is visually stunning and actually works better than a conventional panel chock full of dials. An almond-shaped digital display screen with blue background set just below the base of the windshield shows not only current speed but also important information like fuel level and engine temperature. It’s simply brilliant! I I can’t understand why some journalists badmouth it.

Jim Kenzie, dean of the Canadian auto journalists, maintains an automobile should have as many doors as it has seats. The Coupe violates that principle, which kinda bothers me because while I generally agree with Jim, I really like the styling of the Coupe. But neither Jim nor I represent the target buyer for the Coupe. We're just too old.

On the Road: At the top of its class

The Civic, which has been completely redesigned for 2006, is powered by a spanking new 1.8L aluminum alloy 16 valve, transverse mounted, SOHC inline-4 with Honda’s advanced i-VTEC technology and drive-by-wire throttle system. This little jewel produces 140hp and 128 lb-ft of torque.

Equipped with the new 5-speed auto, it gets 30mpg city, 40mpg highway by EPA estimates. With the ultra-smooth shifting 5-speed manual in the car I drove, mpg figures are 30/38.

However, a car like the Civic is not about neck-snapping acceleration or top speed. It’s more to do with convenience, functionality, predictability and… fun. The Civic is at or very near the top of the economy car class in all four - especially fun. It’s not only very peppy but extremely frugal with gas. Which, to me anyway, compounds the fun.

The most significant thing about any Honda is its predictability. If you keep the fluid levels up, it’ll start in any weather and go under any conditions. Well, almost. Then, after a lot of years and miles, when you decide you want to change your old Honda for a newer one, you’ll be astonished at what people are prepared to pay you for it. Depreciation is best in class.

Journey's End: All this, plus economy you can use

Real life mileage numbers rarely come within hailing distance of EPA estimates. Honda Civics, on the other hand, typically produce figures that actually exceed EPA estimates. Last summer in a carefully controlled mileage contest in the Ottawa area of central Canada involving a number of 2005’s most fuel efficient compacts and sub-compacts, the 2005 Civic was the runaway winner. In fact, the Civic’s combined city/highway figures were on the order of 20% greater than the official EPA estimates predicted. The ’06 Civic promises to be even more fuel-efficient.

Incidentally, fuel economy purists may be tempted to opt for the Honda Hybrid regardless of the type of driving they do. Don’t do it if your driving is limited to thrice-weekly runs to the local beer store. You won’t benefit from the Hybrid's fuel savings because Honda’s hybrid technology is set up to work best in freeway-type driving. Besides, the Hybrid’s not available in the stylish Coupe variation.

The 2006 Civic was the winner of both the 2006 Motor Trend Car of the Year award and the Association of Automobile Journalists of Canada “2006 Car of the Year” award. If you asked me, it deserves both. For once, the hype is true: The 2006 Honda Civic LX coupe is a fantastic car.