Mk6 Civic

Honda finally allowed the Civic to mature with its demographic with the larger, roomier, more refined, better equipped (a driver’s airbag was now standard) but dowdier Mk6 version.

Most models – base CXi 3-door hatch and volume selling GLi hatch and four-door sedan – were powered by an 88kW 1.6L four-cylinder engine, while the luxury 88kW VTi sedan and 118kW twin-cam VTi-R three-door hatchback used VTEC versions of the same 1.6L unit.

And while a four-speed auto was optional to the standard five-speed manual gearbox, the VTi sedan offered a CVT – a revolutionary automatic gearbox that has an infinite number of gear ratios.

In May ’96 Honda imported the 93kW 1.6L single-cam VTEC Civic VTi Coupe from America.

However its high price and dull styling kept buyers away.