Manual Transmision

First Drive 2006 Honda Civic Coupe

Honda offers three different versions of the 2006 Civic Coupe, each equipped with the same 1.8-liter, four-cylinder engine teamed with either a manual or an automatic transmission. The base model is called DX, the popular mid-grade version is the LX, and the most upscale Civic is named EX.

The 2006 Honda Civic Coupe is a 2-door, 5-passenger family coupe, available in 8 trims, ranging from the DX 5-Spd MT to the EX 5-Spd AT w/ Navigation System.

Standard equipment on the DX includes seat-mounted side-impact airbags, front and rear side-curtain airbags, and antilock brakes. A tilt and telescopic steering column, power windows, a driver’s seat height adjuster, and a rear window defroster with a timer are also a part of the entry-level price. The 2006 Honda Civic DX Coupe rides on 15-inch steel wheels with wheelcovers, has a small lip spoiler on the decklid, and features black door handles and black manually adjustable side mirrors. The rear seat folds down to expand cargo capacity, but is not split.



From the front, little distinguishes the coupe from the much more sporting 2006 sedan. Its racy headlight slits meld nicely into the horizontal grille opening, with its now trademark wing-shaped insert and stylized Honda "H" dead center. Its not as radical a step forward as the Si Concept, which debuted earlier this year as a teaser to Civic coupe fans, and has since been softened into the new 2006 Civic Si - more on this one in a future road and track test. Ironically, Honda has chosen to the grille insert on its Si chrome, instead of black or body colour, the latter of which is the norm for sport models. I like the chrome better, and bet that owners will quickly swap out the base coupe insert for the upgraded one, as well as adding the Sis stylish rear deck lid spoiler. But such are the ways of Civic coupe owners. It just might be the most customized vehicle on the road, with oversized wheels, rigid suspension kits, aluminum whale tails, carbon fiber interior trim, aluminum switchgear, A-pillar gauge clusters, personalized upholstery, short-throw gearshift levers, engine upgrades galore, and lest I forget, aftermarket audio/video/nav systems that often cost much more than the entire purchase price of the car.

If you want a stereo, air conditioning, power door locks with remote keyless entry, power mirrors, cruise control, and other niceties, we’d suggest giving the 2006 Honda Civic LX a look. It also comes with floor mats, 16-inch wheels wearing wider and lower profile tires, body-colored exterior trim, and a huge center console storage bin with a sliding armrest. The Civic LX also gets upgraded interior décor; map lights; a power driver’s window with one-touch up and down functions; and a 160-watt audio system with CD player, speed-sensitive volume control, tweeters, and an auxiliary input jack for your iPod.

Every 2006 Honda Civic Coupe gets the same engine, a 1.8-liter, inline four-cylinder equipped with i-VTEC variable valve timing. With 140 horsepower available at 6,300 rpm and 128 lb.-ft. of torque peaking at 4,300 rpm, the 2006 Civic Coupe’s engine is more powerful than both motors offered in 2005 and runs on regular unleaded fuel. A five-speed manual transmission sends the power to the front wheels, and is estimated to provide 30 mpg in the city and 39 mpg on the highway. The optional five-speed automatic is expected to do even better when it comes to fuel efficiency, matching the manual’s city rating but getting 40 mpg on the highway.

Suspended by MacPherson struts in front and double wishbones in back, the 2006 Honda Civic Coupe gets tighter spring and shock tuning than the Civic Sedan for a sporty ride. The Civic DX wears P195/65 all-season tires, while the Civic LX and EX get P205/55R16 treads. All three models have a conventional hydraulically-assisted rack-and-pinion steering system, unlike the drive-by-wire electric units in the Civic Hybrid and Civic Si sports coupe. Ventilated front disc brakes are standard, but DX and LX make do with rear drum brakes while the EX trades up for solid discs for better, more balanced braking performance.

This means the new cars acceleration is much quicker at takeoff, as well as much more enthusiastic when passing long highway trucks out on the highway. That zippier performance doesnt negatively effect fuel consumption, however, with the new four-cylinder managing a respectable 30 mpg in the city and 41 mpg on the highway when equipped with the manual transmission. If an automatic is more to your liking, the Civic coupes extremely efficient five-speed unit, which by the way is the first of its kind in the compact class, doesnt negatively effect highway mileage numbers at all, but around town it goes through slightly more fuel at 29 mpg.

This said, Id put money on the auto being more economical in real-world driving situations. Why? Its comparatively sedate nature would probably cause drivers to relax and enjoy the scenery more often, not beckoning on the weak minded (myself included) like the sporty five-speed unit does. Less enthusiasm behind the wheel benefits the environment too, with the new coupe given a ULEV-2 rating compared to last years respectable ULEV-1 standard.

Importantly, the 2006 Honda Civic Coupe shares no exterior sheetmetal with the Civic Sedan, though the cars look similar from the windshield pillars forward. Up front, the sedan’s chrome grille spear is replaced by a dark metallic-finish garnish, and the headlights on the coupe are different. Also note that the Civic Sedan’s front quarter windows and folding side mirrors are replaced on the Civic Coupe with a single pane of glass and fixed mirrors. And the rear of the coupe is entirely different from the sedan.

While we’re having trouble warming up to the 2006 Honda Civic Sedan’s rear end, we think the Civic Coupe is extremely attractive. It resembles the sleek Honda Accord Coupe, but with that bigger car’s fleshy hips liposuctioned to proper proportions. From the side, our favorite bits are the rakish roofline, the wedge profile, the hefty door handles, and the neatly integrated moldings in the lower character line.

The 2006 Honda Civic Coupe’s trunk holds 11.5 cubic feet of cargo, and while that doesn’t sound large, the cargo area is usefully shaped with a low liftover height, a large opening, and a nice lining. Plus, with a folding rear seat, the Civic will hold longer items when necessary. Gooseneck hinges mean fragile packages need to be stowed toward the middle, and we didn’t see a handle on the inside of the lid to assist with closing, but otherwise the Civic should prove capable when it comes to carting stuff.

I GIVE CIVIC 3 OUT OF 5 STARS, GOOD IN MY BOOK

Pros: Appearance, Fuel Economy

Cons: dashboard lights not bright, placement of gadgets could be better placed. PRICE!!

The 2006 Civic is an alright ride, but I would rather choose a Corolla with its better gas mileage. The engines in these things for the past 10 years seems to be in line starting from 1996-2000 with is 1.6 liter, 2001-2005 with the 1.7 liter and now 2006 has a 1.8 liter.

Gee, I wonder whats next, a 1.9 liter? It seems these cars get bigger and bigger every generation model. Soon there will be no subcompact or compact car in the future, the Civic will be a mid-size model. I like the fact that the Civic has more room, its just back then they use to be nice pocket rockets that weighed nothing. The new one weight 145 more pounds, its heavier then the Corolla. Well I think this car is a good one and the new I wanna be Acura look is definitely working for it. The price is just too HIGH for a compact vehicle.