2006 Honda Civic Reviews

The seventh gen Honda Civic was more staid than sporty compared to its forebears, but remained a popular small car, with front-wheel drive and five seats. A sound choice if you buy one in top shape.

Honda has long had a reputation for building high quality prestige cars that are packed with technology. The front-wheel drive Civic is one of its most popular; it’s been a mainstay of the company’s range since it was introduced here in 1973, and the eighth generation model introduced in 2006 continued that

Ewan Kennedy reviews the Honda Civic sedan and hatch between 2003 and 2015 as a used buy.

Honda’s four-door excels at the duller virtues of safety and reliability. The dash is another matter. New There are few more respected badges in the car business than the Honda Civic. It’s been with us since the 1970s and its loyal band of followers wouldn’t drive anything else. Honda built its reputation on

That the Civic Honda launched in 2006 was the eighth generation of the popular nameplate says much about the small car.

Honda Civic began as a small car but increased in size over the years to become a small-medium by the period we are considering here.Because of the expansion in body size Honda also imports a smaller model, the Honda Jazz. Those who loved the smaller Civics of old may care to check out the Jazz. The Honda Civic has long had a reputation for build quality and reliability and this has lifted it a notch or two in the image stakes in Australia.Civic is a Japanese design in sedan format, with a fair bit of European input in the hatchback. The latter is built in England, the sedans in Japan or Thailand, the Civic petrol-electric hybrids are all made in Japan.Build quality doesn’t appear to be dependent on the country the Civic is manufactured in because the Japanese head office keeps a tight rein on the output of the factories. Interior room in the Honda Civic is good without being outstanding. There is space for four adults but in reality the rear seat is probably best left to children.Boot space is fine. Sedans are longer than hatches and most of this extra body size is put into a larger luggage area. There is some loss of boot space in the hybrid due to the installation of a large battery, but it’s better than many hybrids in this area.The Honda Civic is easy to drive and park thanks to light controls and good feel for the driver. These cars are popular with suburban users, but can be used on the open road, although bumpy secondary roads in the bush can cause a rough ride at times in older Civics as they have relatively short-travel in their suspension. Later models, from 2006, are better than the older ones.On smooth and moderate roads the Civic offers the sort of relaxed noise and vibration levels that are generally only found in cars from the next size class upwards. Engine sizes in the standard Civics are 1.6 litres and 1.7 litres in the older models; rising to 1.8 and even 2.0 litres in the current versions, introduced in 2012. The 2.0-litre engines are fitted to the sportier Civics and give plenty of performance.The semi-race Civic VTi-R, sold from 1996 until 1999, is very quick and is a delightful hot four. However, its engine only has a capacity of 1.6 litres and you have to work vigorously at the gearbox to keep it high in the rev range. If you’re not a keen driver you may find it frustrating and should perhaps avoid it. But if you do love pushing a car hard all the time then a VTi-R should definitely be on your short list.Five-speed manual gearboxes are standard in most models. Four-speed automatic transmissions are offered in all except the sporting Civic VTi-R. A five-speed auto is used in the eighth-generation Civics, launched at the start of 2006.The Civic Hybrid was introduced to Australia in early 2004 and is less extreme than previous Honda hybrids. As a result it’s more favourably priced. It has significantly lower pollutants from the exhaust as it runs a small 1.3-litre petrol engine, as well as an electric motor.The automatic fitted to the Civic Hybrid is a continuously variable transmission (CVT). Repairs and servicing can be relatively expensive. Spare parts also used to fall into that category, but Honda has worked hard with its parts network in recent years and things have improved considerably on the later Civics.Civic is reasonably simple mechanically so a good amateur mechanics can do a fair bit of the work themselves. Having a workshop manual at hand makes a lot of sense. Don’t attempt to carry out repairs to safety related items unless you have top class experience.Insurance costs are generally reasonable, with few companies making any real differentiation for the sportier versions of the Civic. Which is a surprise for such a little hotshot, it probably hasn’t sold in sufficient numbers to have come up on the radar of the insurance guys, let's hope it stays that way.Bodywork should be undamaged and free from rust. A Civic that has been poorly repaired after a smash may turn rusty later. Make sure the engine starts promptly and responds quickly and positively to the throttle. If possible arrange to start it when it’s cold after an overnight stop. Any engine that hesitates when revved suddenly should be treated with suspicion.A worn engine will smoke from the exhaust when it is driven hard after a period of idling. A conventional automatic transmission should be crisp in its changes and not hold onto any gear for too long. A continuously variable automatic transmission feels different in its operation so have an expert drive it if you are not confident it’s working correctly.The clutch pedal should be smooth in its operation. All manual gear changes should be light, positive and quiet. Problems will show up first on fast down changes, usually when going from third to second. Make sure the brakes pull the car up without any pulling to one side and that no one wheel locks while the others are still rolling freely.Look for Civics with a full service history as many belong to people who are very fussy about their cars.

If the previous generation Civic seemed a little cheap and cheerful the eighth generation model reignited the Civic brand. It really needed a boost given that it was then facing off against some classy European models from Ford and Holden and a number of price-driven small cars from Japan.MODEL WATCHHonda's Civic has been a mainstay of the brand since the 1970s, but most models have tended to be conservative. The eighth generation stepped away from the past with an adventurous shape and a futuristic cabin that set it apart.Only available as a four-door sedan, there was no hatch available, the Civic came in three models, plus a hybrid. For the moment we'll leave the hybrid for another day, as it really is a subject all on its own.Under the shapely new skin lay the choice of two four-cylinder petrol engines; one a 1.8-litre that put out 103kW at 6300rpm and 174Nm at 4200rpm that was fitted to the VTi and VTi-L, the other was a 2.0-litre that boasted 114kW at 6200rpm and 199Nm at 4200rpm. Both had more than enough power for the job, and they were also quite frugal.Buyers could choose between a five-speed manual gearbox and a five-speed auto. Underneath was all independent suspension, which copped some criticism. The handling was fine and grip level good, but the ride was choppy and not as comfortable as it should have been.The VTi was quite well equipped with air, cruise, electric windows and mirrors standard, along with a full-sized spare. Further up the range the VTi-L had a six-stacker CD system with MP3, alloy wheels and auto air, while the Sport had a sunroof and leather trim.IN THE SHOPHondas are generally robust and reliable and the Civic is no different. It's well engineered and well built, which flows through to its use in the hands of owners. Few issues are reported to CarsGuide, and those that are tend to be of an individual nature and not widespread. Check for a verifiable service record, Hondas need regular and proper maintenance to live a long ad happy life.IN A CRASHAll models came standard with ABS brakes and electronic brakeforce distribution; electronic stability control only became available in 2008 when it was fitted to the Sport. The base VTi had dual front airbags, but the VTi-L also had side front airbags, and the range-topping Sport had all of that plus head airbags for the best crash protection. ANCAP rated the base model at four stars.AT THE PUMPHonda claimed the 1.8-litre would average 6.9L/100km, the 2.0-litre 8.4L/100km. The latter was confirmed when CarsGuide tested the 2.0-litre Civic Sport and it returned 8.2L/100km, quite impressive for a 2.0-litre engine.AT A GLANCEPrice new: $22,990 to $31,990Engines: 1.8-litre 4-cylinder petrol, 2.0-litre petrolPower/Torque: 103 kW/174 Nm (1.8); 114 kW/188 Nm (2.0)Transmission: 5-speed manual, 5-speed automatic; front-wheel driveEconomy: 6.2 L/100 km (1.8), 8.4 l/100 km (2.0)Body: 4-door sedan Variants: VTi, VTi-L, SportSafety: 4 star ANCAPVERDICTGood looking, nice driving small car that delivers on most fronts. 3.5 stars Pros Sleek looks, frugal engines, full-sized spare Cons No hatch, choppy ride, rear visibility Price; $10,800 plusRATING3.5 stars

Emerging as the pace-setter in the class, Civic VTi hits with a killer price of $20,990 which would make other players in the market wince. Why?Because the Civic is such a good performer.This is the eighth generation of a car that started out in 1972 so Honda has had plenty of time to get it right.This is the biggest Civic, pushing the boundaries to the next size up. It’s line ball whether Civic has more room inside than the larger Honda Accord Euro. It has a flat floor for added interior room and is wider than ever. The boot is large and the rear seat folds, opening an even larger load area. It has numerous storage options and clever, practical touches dotted about the cabin. Just because it’s the base model doesn’t mean the VTi is boned-out. It scores airconditioning, anti-lock brake system, dual airbags, a decent audio system, power windows and mirrors and remote central locking. The engine is a bottler, kicking out 103kW/174Nm while sipping an average of 7.0 litres/100km. The manual test car showed a clean pair of wheels to plenty of other cars. It has a distinct sporty flavour to its dynamics and engine performance. It looks good inside and out with a broad, squat stance and slightly angry looking face. Aerodynamics are clean with benefits to noise reduction and fuel economy. A treat to drive, the squared off wheel is great in your hands and the slick changing five-speed manual is like a rifle bolt in operation. Its clutch is light, the brakes are powerful and the electronic throttle is sensitive. It grips the road tenaciously thanks to double wishbone suspension and steers with precision. It takes five adults at a pinch and is comfortable and quiet to travel in. The dash is deep but looks OK particularly with the multiple meter console and large controls. Civic weighs 140kgs more than the previous model but the beef hasn’t dulled its performance or economy.

That is a vexed question and the answer in cold hard economic terms is no. It would take decades to recoup the price differential especially given the fuel efficiency of new sub- 1.8-litre engines.But there is another attraction with hybrid cars and that is their green credentials. If everyone drove one, there'd be no greenhouse crisis, cities wouldn't be cloaked in a grey/ brown patina, oil reserves would last years longer and human health would be better.So, looked at in that light, hybrid cars are worth the money.Honda is one of only three manufacturers with a hybrid petrol/electric car available in Australia. The new Civic Hybrid sedan hit the market this week selling for $31,990.It looks just like the other Civic sedans except for special alloy wheels and is made in Japan, not Thailand.This is the second Hybrid Civic from Honda and is a step up technologically though the mechanical essentials are similar to the previous model.Motive power comes from a 1.3-litre petrol four cylinder with variable valve timing hooked up to an electric motor driving the front wheels through a CVT auto transmission.A battery pack captures and stores electricity from the engine under deceleration and when braking.The car is capable of running purely on electricity at less than 40km/h.Power output is a healthy 85kW with 170Nm of torque - up substantially on the previous model. Average fuel consumption despite more power and weight is better at around 5.2L/100km.On the road, the hybrid is an interesting drive partly because of the one-gear CVT that allows the engine to rev freely and also because everything shuts down when the car comes to standstill.It fires up as soon as the brakes are let off and the throttle is pressed.Performance is pretty good, rating about the same as a 1.5-litre car overall. It's a bit hesitant off idle but accelerates well once underway.Handling and ride characteristics are the same as on the VTi Civic - competent and slightly sporty.The car is well equipped, has six airbags and a comprehensive array of features.But would I buy one?No.I would buy the Civic VTi auto at around $23,000 and put nine grand in my pocket. I'd still have a clear conscience about the environment because the VTi is already an ultra low emission vehicle.It has the edge in performance, the five- speed auto is more user friendly and there would be minimal penalty at the bowser. 

The delayed start for the petrol/electric Civic in Australia is a result of Honda facing a global production shortage.The new car costs $31,990, $2000 more than the first generation Civic hybrid.This car comes with plenty of goods and chattels and has improvements and refinements in regenerative braking energy while the electric Integrated Motor Assist is up on the original Civic by 46 per cent while torque has taken a 14 per cent hike.It develops 85kW of power, giving it a 29kW advantage over the Toyota Prius equivalent and creates 170Nm of torque.There are claimed fuel consumption figures of 4.6 litres/100km (.6 litre better than previous model) but in early real world tests there are indications it is more likely to be up around 6 litres/100km.To justify buying a hybrid over a standard Civic you would need to own the hybrid for more than 16 years, twice the eight-year battery warranty, at current petrol prices, to see any benefit.And according to RACQ research it is understood a replacement battery today would cost close to $2000 or about 70 per cent less than the Prius.The Civic hybrid comes with a compact CVT variable transmission with a wider gear band.There is a space saver spare but there is room for a full size in the boot well, steering wheel-mounted audio controls and a choice of four colours exclusive to the hybrid.The IMA powertrain varies on how it functions depending on road conditions.Both the petrol engine and electric motor work under acceleration and either/or works while cruising, depending on road conditions.Under deceleration the cylinders shutdown and fuel stops flowing, while the electric motor goes into regenerative braking mode, effectively becoming a generator and recovering energy to feed the rechargeable battery.There is a nine per cent wider range in gear ratios for this CVT which helps save fuel.Honda says it will sell 100 a month, optimistically thinking it will pace the Prius.ON THE ROADThe Civic is comfortable and ostensibly does not feel a whole lot different to a conventional petrol model.That is until you spend a few kilometres in one driving around congested Sydney roads.On a 70km loop course from the Rocks, across the northern beaches to Narrabean and back through North Sydney, the hybrid showed a few of its tricks.For starters the brakes at first have a wooden feel to them and there appears to be an ABS (anti-lock brakes) pedal kickback.You can hear the electrics buzz into action when you ride the brakes, sensors sending a signal to the computer so braking power is distributed between hydraulic brakes and the electric generator which maximises regeneration.This is slightly different to the previous model which had a pre-set regeneration and was not designed for variable proportioning of its braking power. So there is better logic under the new hybrid's skin and it is a sweet ride.Our fuel figure rested at 7.8litres/100km after 70km and others on the same drive finished at 5.9litres/100km.The hybrid started to struggle on a couple of climbs, the CVT clearly staying in a higher gear for optimum fuel efficiency.It is doubtful whether the $10,000-plus premium over a standard Civic is worth the hassle.Financially, the hybrid is not a viable option at current petrol prices. Only committed greenies may see a benefit in the environment over dollars equation.