2006 Honda Civic Si Front

This generation of Civic enters its eighth generation with something it never had before: real 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 interior is a bit funky, and the digital speedometer may not be to everyone's liking, but standard side and curtain air bags and antilock brakes will, and Honda's ends the Mazda 3's exclusivity in offering a navigation system in the compact car segment. The hatchback body has finally bitten the dust. On the eco front, the hybrid returns with more power (110 horses) 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.