2006 Honda Civic Si

After naming the all-new Civic our 2006 Car of the Year, we quickly filled Honda's mailbox with an invitation to join our long-term fleet-MT's protocol for "of the Year" recipients. Rather than request a bread-and-butter coupe or sedan or the fuel-friendly gas/electric hybrid, we opted for the Ritalin-deprived Si, the one Civic that could best spruce up our stable. We are enthusiasts, after all.

The Fiji Blue Pearl Si arrived with 360 miles on the odometer, and within two months of service, it's already accrued close to 4100 miles at our hands. A tally of the gas card reveals the Si's fuel economy-just over 24 mpg-is about what we expected, considering the powertrain (a 2.0-liter, 197-horse inline-four-cylinder with six-speed manual) is rated 23/32 city/highway. We expect the fuel economy to creep upward as the engine breaks in and as we subject the Si to more highway-intensive road trips. Stay tuned for updates.

Speaking of road trips, our Si is well suited for the task. Equipped with such standard features as sports seats, a tilt/telescoping leather-wrapped steering wheel with cruise control/audio/nav controls, a power moonroof, and than request a bread-and-butter coupe or sedan or the fuel-friendly gas/electric hybrid, we opted for the Ritalin-deprived Si, the one civic that could best spruce up our stable. We are enthusiasts, after all. A 350-watt audio system with a subwoofer, XM Satellite Radio, and an auxiliary jack for an iPod, our $22,790 Si entertains as well as it coddles. Moreover, the optional navigation system, with its touch screen and legible interface, has proved a welcome and worthy copilot.