New Car Honours 2006

	The edgy styling won't suit everyone, but it means the five-door model certainly stands out.

Compact family cars are the bread and butter of the industry. Historically they've been capable, but unlikely to raise your heart rate. However, thanks to advances in packaging, ergonomics and design, the SEAT Leon, Citroen C4 and Honda Civic have put desirability back on the hatchback agenda. And it's the Japanese contender which has impressed us most in the last 12 months.

We knew Honda was capable of great things - consider the Jazz and Accord ą so it was no surprise that the arrival of the new Civic was dreaded by rivals. As it turned out they had reason to be fearful, because the new-generation model is a brilliant compact family offering.

The edgy styling won't suit everyone, but it means the five-door model certainly stands out. This unique bodywork is also at the root of the two biggest drawbacks to ownership - the small rear doors and limited visibility. But if you can live with these, you'll be getting a car that breathes new life into the sector.

As with the Jazz, the Civic features cinema-style seats, which can be flipped up or folded flat, resulting in the largest load bay in the class, while the aircraft-style driving environment means there's never a dull moment behind the wheel. An excellent engine range, including the awesome 2.2 i-CTDi, is matched by VW Golf-rivalling residuals, low running costs and impressive road manners. For all-round appeal, it simply can't be beaten.