Orlando Sentinel's view

Here’s one thing I’ve learned about automobiles over the years: When they are designed well, built right and priced sensibly, they sell themselves.

Potential buyers immediately feel comfortable the first time they sit behind the wheel of such a vehicle. They find there is nothing to dislike. Almost instinctively, they know this is the car for them.

That’s the feeling you get with the latest Civic, which for 1996 has been completely redesigned.

Thanks to a generous increase in interior room, the sixth-generation Civic moves up in class from subcompact to compact. As with previous generations of Civics, numerous models are available in several different body styles.

I tested the EX four-door, the

roomiest and best-equipped model of the Civic line.

PERFORMANCE

The Civic EX comes with a 1.6-liter, 127-horsepower, four-cylinder engine. Our test car sported a five-speed manual gearbox, but a new computer-controlled four-speed automatic transmission is optional. It features a computer program that helps it to make smoother shifts while the car is going up or down hills.

Honda engineers also refined the five-speed for easier shifts. As a result, I expended very little effort changing gears. The clutch pedal went down smoothly and easily, and the shifter had a tight, solid feel.

All-round performance is pleasing. The Civic is quick and agile, but itis not a ”pocket rocket.”

Honda’s 1.6-liter engine is smooth and amazingly quiet. It delivered sprightly acceleration from a stop. Once the Civic is in motion, acceleration is good – provided the car is in the proper gear. Fourth and fifth gears are strictly for cruising; if you need to quickly pass a vehicle at highway speed, you’ll have to shift into third.

The Civic EX proved to be easy on the wallet at the gas pump. Our test car delivered an average of 30 mpg in combined city/highway driving, even though I drove the car aggressively and used the air conditioner most of the time.

HANDLING

Virtually every part of the Civic’s underpinnings has been improved and modified. Because of this, the Civic EX sedan offers sporty handling and a quiet, almost luxury-car ride.

The chassis is stronger than that of last year’s models, which results in it flexing less over rough roads. The chassis strength also enabled Honda engineers to improve the car’s four-wheel independent suspension system.

In addition to installing better shocks and bushings, Honda engineers increased the width of the car and refined the Civic’s suspension parts – all of which help to smooth its ride and improve its steering and stopping ability, Honda claims.

On the road, the Civic provides a very smooth, sturdy and stable ride – even under duress. I pushed the test car into corners at high speeds and found that it remained easy to control.

The power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering system responds instantly, and it feels v ery tight; there is no free play.

Civic’s power-assisted brakes were downgraded this year to front disc/rear drum. Previous EX models had more efficient four-wheel disc brakes. Honda, which wanted to keep Civic prices about the same as last year, changed the brakes to save a few dollars.

No matter. Our test car had ample stopping power, except when the anti-lock system engaged. When the car was going about 40 mph, it took a long time for the brakes to bring the car to a stop. It was as if the ABS system was kicking in too soon; the car probably would stop in a shorter distance without it.

FIT AND FINISH

I can sum up the Civic’s appearance and interior in one word: classy.

From the stylish Acura-like grille (with chrome trim) to the large body-colored side mirrors, the Civic is a small car with a conservative, attractive appearance.

Because of its increased size, it also has more of a commanding presence than previous Civics. Although the 19 6 Civic sedan rides on the same 103.2-inch wheelbase as last year’s model, the body is about 2 inches longer and 3 inches taller.

Inside, the Civic has an airy, roomy feel – something that is usually hard to achieve in a compact. Indeed there is plenty of room for an average-size passenger in both the front and rear. Because of the increase in dimensions, Honda was able to install a larger windshield, larger windows and larger rear glass. As a result, the driver has a clear view over the hood and an unobstructed view when looking through the rearview mirror.

I did find several areas where Honda engineers could make improvements. For instance, none of the switches for the windows, door locks or sunroof is lighted, making them hard to find at night.

Because the buttons for the air conditioner and the radio – which are similar in size and shape – are placed close to each other on the dash, it is easy to change the direction of the air when you meant to change stations.

Our test Civic came with folding rear seats. The mechanism that unlatches them -a lock in the center of the rear parcel shelf – is not particularly easy to reach or use. You have to climb up on the back seat and reach up to insert the key in the lock.

In any case, the Civic has one of the nicest-looking sets of gauges I can recall seeing in a small car.

The front bucket seats are firm, supportive and quite comfortable. I logged more than 300 miles on the test car, and several trips kept me behind the wheel for two hours or more, but I never felt uncomfortable.

Our top-of-the-line Civic EX came with a long list of extras, including power windows and remote-control door locks.

The Civic’s air conditioner was very strong. It cooled the car quickly and didn’t take much power away from the engine.

When I finish with a test car, I always ask myself this question: Is this a car I would buy? The answer is yes.

Specifications:

1996 Honda Civic EX Overall length 175.1 Front compartment headroom 39.8 Front compartment legroom 42.7 Rear compartment headroom 37.6 Rear compartment legroom 34.1 Warranty: Three-year, 36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper; six-year, 100,000-mile rust protection. Drivetrain layout: Transverse-mounted front engine/transaxle, front-wheel drive. Brakes: Power-assisted front disc/rear drum with ABS. Engine: 1.6-liter, 127-horsepower, 16-valve inline four-cylinder. Transmission: Five-speed manual. Other models:
-Civic DX coupe$11,900
-Civic DX sedan$12,250
-Civic LX sedan $13,600
-Civic HX coupe $13,100
-Civic CX hatchback $9,980

Truett’s tip: The sixth-generation Honda Civic just may be the best small car on the market. It looks sharp, does everything well and offers good value.