2006 Honda Civic Sedan Road Test

Starting Out Certainly Doesn't have to Mean Roughing It

If there's a more important car being launched this fall for Canadians, I don't know what it is. After all, no car sells as well as Honda's venerable

No car sells as well as Honda's venerable Civic, a title it's held for eight consecutive years. (Photo: Honda)

Civic, a title it's held for eight consecutive years. But eight years seems like a drop in the bucket compared to the model's longevity in the Canadian market, stretching all the way back to 1972 a total of 1.2 million Civics have found their way into the hearts and homes of entry-level consumers across the nation.

Those diehard customers will find solace in the knowledge that Canada's best selling car is better in every way for 2006. It looks attractive in an almost futuristic way, combines satisfying performance no matter what trim level, features high levels of refinement inside and out, plus achieves superb fuel economy.

Once again a sedan and coupe model is available for 2006, the former featuring the option of a hybrid drivetrain and the latter able to be

The four-door is Honda's recipe for efficient people and cargo hauling functionality. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

optioned out in sporty Si trim. But rather than focus on any of these niche models, I thought it best to initially discuss the configuration sought after by the majority of Civic buyers - the four-door.

In a segment that has been trending towards the five-door, a marketing-savvy term for wagon, with models such as the Hyundai Elantra GT, Kia Spectra5, Mazda3 Sport, Subaru Impreza Wagon, Toyota Matrix, and Dodge even leaving the entire sedan configuration behind when its SX 2.0 (Neon) gets dropped for the upcoming Caliber, the Civic snubs such "fads" by producing no such variant. Rather, the four-door is Honda's recipe for efficient people and cargo hauling functionality, and after experiencing its space optimization first hand during a full model launch in Chicago last month, I don't think there will be too many complainers among Civic faithful.