| # 7: HONDA CIVIC |
| The best seller... Female buyers: 57.7% |
The most popular new car in Canada is the Honda Civic. Total sales of the Civic hatchback, coupe and sedan models have surpassed 55,000 units sold in one year, beating out the Chevrolet Cavalier as the most popular car (buyers of both sexes combined).
The success of the Civic can be explained in many ways. First of all, there's its practical side. Secondly, among small cars, the Civic has carved out a very enviable reputation as being extremely reliable. When it comes to safety, the Honda Civic and the Toyota Corolla (49,8% female buyers) are considered the best of the small cars according to collision tests carried out by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHC).
Another factor that explains the success of the Civic is the quality of its road handling. In fact, I place it at the head of the line among small cars for its overall performance and driving satisfaction. The Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) has awarded the Civic SiR the title of "Best Sports Coupe " (tied with the Focus ZX3).
Two reproaches to make: the engine is not very powerful in low gear and must be revving high to obtain good output. Also, its price: the Civic (especially the sedan model) stands out as being one of the most expensive cars in its category.