2006 Honda Civic coupe rear

The Civic enters its eighth generation with something it never had before: livable power in the base models. 1.8 liters and 140 horsepower should go a long way in keeping commuters satisfied, as should the new 5-speed automatic transmission. The new digital instruments may not be to everyone's liking, but standard side and curtain air bags and antilock brakes should, and the Civic just became the second compact car (after the Mazda 3) to offer an optional navigation system. The hatchback body has finally bitten the dust. On the eco front, the hybrid returns with more power (110 horses), slightly better mileage, and less of a price premium than last year, and on the performance front, the Civic Si has returned – in coupe form, of course – with the same 197-horsepower 2.0-liter VTEC engine that energizes the Acura RSX Type S. The double-wishbone front suspension from 1992-2000 has not returned, but otherwise, Civic fans have much to celebrate.