Secret small family cars of 2006 - Honda Civic

On sale: Early 2006
Price: From £12,685

Honda had a tough job on its hands when designing the new Civic. The Japanese firm was desperate to attract younger buyers, but at the same time, it couldn't afford to alienate the older buyers with whom the Civic has proved so popular.

The new Civic here is what the designers have come up with to achieve a very tricky brief. Triangular features give the car a sharp, sleek, even futuristic look that will really set it apart from its current rivals when it arrives next month.

The styling is just as sharp inside, with a number of digital and analogue displays, driver-orientated controls and high-quality materials.

The new Civic is smaller than the car it replaces, which doesn't happen often. This doesn't come at the expense of interior space, however, because the cabin is easily spacious enough for six-foot passengers in the rear seats. Luggage space has also been increased by 10% over the old car, giving 415 litres.

Clever seat-folding arrangements have been lifted from the Jazz supermini, too, for even more flexibility. Releasing a single catch allows the rear seats to be folded flat without the need to remove the head restraints, while taller items can be carried in the rear footwells thanks to seat bases that flip up against the backrests.

Initially, the Civic will be available in five-door format only, with a choice of three engines. These will include the 83bhp 1.4-litre petrol engine from the Jazz and the fantastic 2.2-litre diesel unit from the Accord. The biggest seller, though, is expected to be the 1.8-litre petrol, which Honda claims combines the performance of a 2.0-litre (0-62mph in 8.6sec) with the economy of a 1.5-litre (44.1mpg). Impressive stuff, if the figures are accurate.

Honda is looking to push the Civic more upmarket, so standard equipment will be fairly generous. With prices starting at well over £12,000, however, it needs to be.


For more details on the What Car? 100 Secret Cars of 2006 and Beyond, see the latest issue of What Car? magazine, on sale now.