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Introduction
Honda Civic -- 2006 Review: The eldest members of Generation Y, today’s “it” demographic, were born in the early 1970s – about the same time that the Honda Civic first arrived in the U.S. As they have grown, the Civic has grown. As they have matured, the Civic has matured. And now that they are becoming one of the dominant forces in our nation’s economy – with deep-rooted preferences for distinctive, high-tech, sophisticated goods – one of the most revolutionary redesigns of the iconic small car they grew up with is occurring for 2006, taking the Civic upscale with more advanced technology than ever and a futuristic European look.
Note that we called it a small car, and not an economy car. New from the rubber to the roof, the 2006 Honda Civic adds a premium appearance, equipment, and amenities – if not price. And unlike Civic revisions for 1996 and 2001, the 2006 model looks far into the future, making available to its technologically-astute target buyers the kinds of features they want in a daily driver.
Fun-to-drive, fuel efficient, comfortable for four full-sized adults, engineered for occupant safety, and incredibly refined, the 2006 Honda Civic should prove a segment leader – if not a segment buster. It still faces stiff competition from the exceptional Mazda3, and it doesn’t make a stability control system or leather upholstery available to consumers who don’t mind paying more than $20,000 for an entry-level set of wheels, but otherwise it’s hard to fault this terrific new Civic.
Model Mix
Honda offers three different versions of the 2006 Civic Sedan, each equipped with the same 1.8-liter, four-cylinder engine teamed with either a manual or an automatic transmission. The base model is called DX, the popular mid-grade version is the LX, and the most upscale Civic is named EX.
Standard equipment on the DX includes seat-mounted side-impact airbags, front and rear side-curtain airbags, and antilock brakes. A tilt and telescopic steering column, power windows, a driver’s seat-height adjuster, and a rear window defroster with a timer are also a part of the entry-level price. The 2006 Honda Civic DX Sedan rides on 15-inch steel wheels with wheelcovers, and features black door handles and black manually adjustable side mirrors. The rear seat folds down to expand cargo capacity, but is not split.
If you want a stereo, air conditioning, power door locks with remote keyless entry, power mirrors, cruise control, and other niceties, we'd suggest giving the 2006 Honda Civic LX a look. It also comes with floor mats, 16-inch wheels wearing wider and lower profile tires, body-colored exterior trim, and a huge center console storage bin with a sliding armrest. The Civic LX also gets upgraded interior décor, map lights, a power driver’s window with one-touch up and down functions, and a 160-watt audio system with CD player and speed-sensitive volume control.
Pop for the 2006 Honda Civic EX and you’ll bask in the sunshine thanks to a standard power moonroof with one-touch open and close. The premium for the Civic EX also includes spiffy five-spoke alloy wheels and rear disc brakes. EX trim is also your ticket to a remote power trunk release, variable wipers, a rear seat center armrest, a 12-volt power outlet in the center console, a split-folding rear seatback, an auxiliary input jack for an iPod or other device, and an outside temperature display. A navigation system is optional on the Civic EX, and it includes a digital audio card reader. The Civic EX is also wired for XM satellite radio.
Despite an on-sale date of September 15, 2005, Honda hadn’t set final prices for the redesigned 2006 Honda Civic Sedan when we published this story. Estimates ranged from about $14,500 for the Civic DX to $18,500 for the Civic EX. Honda plans to sell about 160,000 Civic Sedans a year, roughly half of all planned Civic sales.
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