Honda Civic 2005 (Special Edition): The Weekly Driver Review

At last count, Honda offers nearly 40 varieties of the 2005 Honda Civic. It's a perennial best-buy, and with the Ford Focus and Toyota Corolla, the Civic is one of the most visible vehicles on the road today.

And there's little argument Civic's popularity isn't warranted. Honda has capitalized on the compact car's success by presenting three body styles and the notable options of a gas/electric hybrid and two-door hatchback. But does Honda really need another option in the Civic line?

Apparently it does, considering my test drive for the week, the Special Edition, 4-door, EX model. It's an effort in some ways to make the Civic something it's not