We wanted to drive the 2006 Honda Civic EX Sedan with an automatic transmission, because that’s the powertrain combination most people will buy, but got assigned to an EX with a manual instead. Still, though our drive in this car was brief, it was telling.

Immediately, the 2006 Honda Civic Sedan’s added refinement is noticeable, both in terms of cabin comfort and engineering. Quiet and responsive, the silky powertrain provides good punch off the line, managed by a fluid gearbox and a light clutch. The steering is linear and quick, and the brake pedal feels great underfoot. The Civic Sedan is definitely your friend in the city, where the only thing to intrude upon your surroundings – aside from rude drivers quick to use the horn – is impact harshness from potholes. Most of the time, the ride is composed, but a bit soft.

Similar serenity is available on the highway, where at a cruising speed of 75 mph only a hint of tire roar makes it into the cabin. However, mid-range passing power is merely adequate, and the engine seems to make more noise than velocity under hard acceleration – but that’s been a common trait of Honda four-cylinder motors for a long time. Sweeping on- or off-ramps result in more body roll than we’d like, and the soft suspension tuning can produce more bob and weave than we prefer over uneven bridge joints and undulating pavement.

Though our drive in the 2006 Honda Civic EX Sedan was short, we did get an extended 90-minute stint behind the wheel of the functionally, but not mechanically, identical Civic Hybrid. In this car, I discovered that the parking brake handle, which is located on the left side of the gear selector right where my leg rested against the center console, dug uncomfortably into the bone just below my knee joint. That doesn’t bode well for extended travel, and I can only assume that with a similar amount of seat time I’d suffer the same discomfort in any 2006 Honda Civic. Making up for this to some degree are the Civic’s upper door panels, which are slightly padded and feature a perfectly located concavity disguised as a character line, creating an excellent place to rest your left elbow during extended trips.