MOTOR TREND magazine today announced the selection of the Honda Civic as the 2006 MOTOR TREND Car of the Year.

After two full weeks of intense scrutiny, track testing, performance drives, and walk-around appraisals, MOTOR TREND editors found each of the 2006 Honda Civic models to be fun to drive and terrific value. With their bold, contemporary styling and innovative technology the new Civics are primed for success in one of the most competitive market segments in the country. For the past nine years the Honda Civic has been the best-selling retail compact car in the U.S., with Honda expecting sales for these new models to be even stronger.

This year, the editorial staff of MOTOR TREND conducted testing on 28 new models, searching for the automobile that best represents exceptional value, superiority in its class, and the most significant development on the new-car scene for 2006. This year's field, the largest to date, included a diverse offering from sports cars to minivans, and a price range from just over $14,000 to almost $75,000. Only truly new or substantially revised cars were considered with the condition that they be available for public sale by January 1, 2006.

The 2006 MOTOR TREND Car of the Year competition included the following models: Audi A3, BMW 3 Series, Buick Lucerne, Cadillac DTS, Chevrolet Cobalt, Chevrolet HHR, Chevrolet Impala, Dodge Charger, Ford Fusion, Honda Civic, Hyundai Accent, Hyundai Azera, Hyundai Sonata, Infiniti M35/M45, Kia Rio, Lexus GS, Lexus IS, Lincoln Zephyr, Mazda 5, Mazda MX-5, Mercedes-Benz CLS, Mercedes-Benz R-Class, Mercury Milan, Mitsubishi Eclipse GT, Pontiac Solstice, Toyota Avalon, Volkswagen Jetta, and Volkswagen Passat.

The MOTOR TREND Evaluation Process

Each year, the editorial staff of MOTOR TREND evaluates eligible vehicles based on three key categories: Significance, Superiority, and Value. Significance refers to impact on the market and looks for mastery and innovation in engineering, technology, design, safety and packaging. Superiority levels the playing field and looks for class-leading levels of performance, style and functionality within its specific competitive set--not among all new vehicles. Finally, the all-important Value question asks, "What does this vehicle deliver in relation to what the consumer has to pay to purchase and own it?"

In making the selection, vehicles are taken to task through thousands of miles of on-track and on-street driving, in a wide variety of weather and road conditions to evaluate many factors, including styling and design; fit, finish and materials; engineering and technology; interior; safety; performance; and value. Additional aspects evaluated included handling balance, response, predictability, and power delivery.