HONDA'S sixth-generation EK Civic Coupe was merely an American-made two-door version of the more practical but conservatively styled front-wheel drive sedan. Dumpy styling and high prices (it was pitched as a lower-end Celica rival) kept buyers away. What they missed out on was excellent quality, an efficiently eager 93kW 1.6-litre single-cam VTEC engine, refined and comfortable cabin, big boot and Honda's usual high degree of reliability and durability. In the USA such attributes made the Civic Coupe the most purchased single model by parents for their college-going kids! By the way, its predecessor (not seen here) was a far sexier-looking car. From early 1999 until the big Civic five-door hatch arrived in late 2000 Honda split the Civic Coupe into two models - a more affordable 77kW GLi auto and a rapid 118kW VTi-R manual, powered by a twin-cam VTEC version of the 1.6-litre engine. But sales never really fired, so the model wasn't replaced here even though a 2000-2005 ES Civic Coupe was sold abroad.