Car Review: New Honda Civic still a strong contender

The new, ninth-generation Honda Civic sedan isn't the sexiest small car.

But it's surprisingly roomy for a compact, has a quieter interior and a more compliant ride than its predecessors and delivers good fuel economy.

Better yet, Consumer Reports predicts reliability of the newly introduced 2012 Civic will be "much better than average."

Just don't expect friends to notice, from the outside, that the 2012 Civic four-door is different from the 2011 version.

Though revised inside and out, the newest Civic hews closely to the aerodynamic design of the previous model, with exterior styling adjusted a bit here and there for a cleaner appearance.

But perhaps most noteworthy, pricing for the various models of 2012 Civic sedan is either the same or lower than the previous generation.

Text: Ann M Job, Associated Press

Images Courtesy: Honda