It wasn't a surprise when the 2006 Honda Civic won the coveted Canadian Car of the Year award.
The eighth-generation Civic had already won a slew of awards including Best New Economy Car for 2006 from the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada, Motor Trend magazine's 2006 Car of the Year title and the 2006 North American Car of the Year award.
And the Civic has been Canada's top-selling compact car since 1998 even though sales in the past few years have slipped slightly as more competitors entered the market.
The compact-car segment is crowded with entries like the Mazda3, Toyota Corolla, Chevrolet Cobalt, Ford Focus and Mitsubishi Lancer, just to name a few.
That's why Honda designers went back to the drawing board and revamped the Civic to stay ahead of the pack. Younger buyers will love the new version. And the design isn't too radical or over-the-top to alienate older buyers, either.
Clearly, the coupe and high-performance Si coupe are lookers. But even the sedan is attractive and very practical. The sedan comes in a DX, DX-G, LX, EX, and Hybrid version, ranging in price from $16,800 for the base model to $25,800 for the hybrid.
My tester, a DX-G sedan, sells for $18,300. And it's value packed with an impressive list of features such as air conditioning, keyless entry, and power windows, mirrors and door locks.
All Civic sedans, except for the hybrid, are built in Alliston, Ont., (the Hybrid comes from Suzuka, Japan).
From the exterior, the sedan is edgier and funkier than its predecessor. On the road, it's distinctive and eye-catching — you can easily tell the difference between an old Civic and a new one. A steeply raked windshield, flowing lines, and a low, wide stance give the new sedan a sleek, contemporary appearance.
The 15-inch steel wheels with wheel covers add a sporty look. But Honda needs to create more vibrant and head-turning colours to match the new-and-improved design. Personally, I'm tired of seeing so many silver Civics on the road like the plain ol' alabaster silver metallic covering my tester.
The Civic's interior has drastically changed, too. Once you enter the cabin, you'll either love it or hate it. A two-tier instrument panel faces the driver. It's futuristic and funky; some passengers detested the bold layout, but I adored it. It's cool, unique and attractive.
Plus, the digital speedometer on the upper level and the tachometer on the lower level are easy on the eyes and in the driver's line of sight. I expect other manufacturers will follow Honda's cue with this design element.
The layout is attractive; everything is exactly where you expect to find it. The buttons for the radio and climate control are large and nicely positioned within arm's reach. A two-spoke steering wheel is small, but sporty and feels solid in your hands. Visibility in all directions is also excellent.
The Civic sedan has increased in length and width compared with the 2005 model. And that means more room for passengers.
The cloth front seats could be better padded. On long drives, you crave the extra support, especially in the lumbar area. On my tester, the seat adjustments are manual, not power-operated. But it's easy to adjust to find a comfortable position.
The rear seats are a bit stiff, too, but they offer plenty of leg- and headroom for tall passengers.
An abundance of storage space fills the cabin. A deep centre console with armrest, door pockets, and several cubbies hide coins and other items nicely. Convenient touches like a coat hanger, passenger vanity mirror and a tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel are nice.
The new Civic sedan also has more power under the hood. The engine has increased from 1.7 to 1.8 litres. Horsepower has jumped from 115 to 140; torque from 110 to 128, making it more in line with the competition.
