by Dan Lyons
Reviewed for Times Union’s Autos Weekly

Automotive Geezers such as I can remember the early Seventies; a time when hair was big , and cars were small. The cars were small because gas prices were big, which made the hair look even bigger, because it was now standing on end. Anyway, the reason why the gas prices got big was the Arab Oil Embargo. Gas was not only suddenly pricey, it was also in short supply. For a while there, you could only get gas on odd or even days, depending on the number on your license plate. The reason the cars were small was because nobody could afford to feed the land yachts, muscle cars and other gas guzzlers that populated our roadways. When gas prices spiked and supply tanked, demand for more fuel efficient vehicles shot up. Caught flatfooted by this, American automakers had to quickly figure out how to produce lots of economy cars. The interval between demand and supply was big enough to fit a small car in. Actually, lots of small cars rolled in. Volkswagen’s Beetle – then an aging design – saw booming sales. More significantly, this was when the Japanese manufacturers first made serious inroads here in the states. Hondas and Toyotas were suddenly the toast of the town. They were small, they were good on gas, they were reliable. So, they stuck their shoe in the door here, and never left.

Fast forward about thirty years and things are have changed, but some not so much. Gas supply hasn’t been a problem, but with prices reaching PTP levels (‘Pay Through the Proboscis’), people are once again parking bigger vehicles, and shopping for smaller (or at least more efficient) ones. One thing that hasn’t changed is that Honda is still a major player in the economy car segment. One thing that has changed is the number of model choices. The 2006 Civic - the eighth generation Civic – is available in two door coupe or four door sedan, in DX, LX, or EX trim levels. In addition, a stingy Hybrid powered sedan and a sporty Si coupe are offered as well. Prices range from $14,910 to $23,900. Though the Coupes have cooler looks, Sedans make more sense for most buyers, and the four doors outsell the two doors by a margin of about two to one. For our test drive we therefore grabbed a people’s choice Sedan, in top level, EX trim. The EX with Navigation system has a starting sticker price of $21,110.

The ’06 Civic is a fresh design. The cars abandon the former, three box styling for a teardrop shape. The rounded front end rolls up to a steeply raked windshield. That in turn gives way to a curving, coupe-like roofline. The roof drops onto a squared off rear end, slightly taller than the front. It’s a pleasantly progressive look.

Compared to the last generation models, the new Civic sedan is 1.3” longer, 1.4” wider. Its wheelbase is 3.2” longer, the track is 1.1” wider in front, 2.1” in back, and the cars on average weigh about 5% more than they used to (hey, don’t we all?). Pulling the wheels closer to the corners and further from the center pushes a little more hip room into the cabin, though you lose a bit of rear leg room. And speaking of hip, the interior is, from a looks standpoint. Slide inside and you immediately take in a new view. Fit and finish are first class. Seats are wide and comfortable, and the steering wheel tilts and telescopes for a custom fit. Instruments have a layered look; two tiers of gauges, stacked in front of the driver. The traditional, ‘tween the steering wheel spot is reserved for an analog tachometer. Raise your sites slightly and you get to the second level grouping, holding a digital speedometer, flanked by fuel and temperature readouts. Honda researchers looked at what people look at, dash-wise, and organized the display accordingly. Basically, what the driver needs is speed. Knowing how fast you’re going is key, as is getting that input without pulling your eyes far from the road. The dash design is intuitive and it works. Honda’s satellite-linked navigation system is offered on EX, Hybrid and Si models. Pick one, pay the man and you get a 6” screen, voice recognition, lots of features, with lots of buttons smaller than you’d like them to be. Honda paid particular attention to sound systems in Civic. Options vary by model, but include up to 350 watts and seven speakers. Auxiliary input jacks are standard issue on LX, EX and Si Coupes; Ex and Hybrid Sedans, allowing you to plug your MP3 player though the system. XM Satellite radio is available on EX, Hybrid and Si models.

The Civic’s engine is all new this year. The 1.8 litre inline four makes 140 hp, and 128 lb. ft. of torque. That’s up over last year and really, right where it needs to be for overall drivability. The slightly extended wheelbase coupled with a recalibrated suspension gives the Sedan a fine ride and flat, predictable handling. Gas mileage, long a calling card of Civics, is impressive. A five speed automatic model like my tester weighs in with an EPA estimated 30 mpg’s city/40 highway. With gas prices pushing past $2.50/gallon here in the Capital District, thirty-something mpg’s sounds pretty good.

While Civics have come a looong way since the early Seventies, the market they find themselves in is strangely the same. Pricey gas has many perturbed drivers parking their big vehicles and searching for something more fuel friendly. The new Civic fills the bill, and it’s a fine compact. However, Civic shoppers should keep in mind that the high end of the lineup overlaps with the low end of the midsize Accord lineup. Families that are willing to trade a little gas mileage and a few less bells and whistles may find the Accord a better fit.

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