It might look radical, but the 2006 Honda Civic Sedan’s interior layout is extremely functional. Note the small front quarter windows, just like those in the Toyota Prius, or a number of minivans both past and present.

The 2006 Honda Civic Sedan’s gauges are split between a digital display located at the base of the windshield and a traditional cluster viewed through the steering wheel. In the digital display, which acts much like a heads-up system, vehicle speed, remaining fuel, and engine temperature are shown. In the lower binnacle there’s a huge tachometer flanked by dormant warning lights. An average fuel economy display would be nice to have, especially with the price of gas reaching three bucks a gallon in some parts of the country, but that feature is only offered on the Civic Hybrid.

Not shown in this photo is the optional navigation system with voice control, which works easily enough but groups the stereo and navigation functions together. Plus, the buttons are small and sun glare has a detrimental effect on legibility. We prefer the standard knobs and buttons for the stereo, seen here, which work as simply as those for the heating and air conditioning.

Materials are tasteful and upscale for a small car, with plush fabric upholstery, a soft mesh headliner, and quality parts and panels with a refined look and feel. Leather is not offered on the 2006 Honda Civic Sedan, unlike some competitors such as the Chevrolet Cobalt, Ford Focus, and Mazda 3.