Consumer Guide® Automotive places each vehicle into one of 17 classes based on size, price, and market position. Compact Cars comprise the smallest passengers cars. These vehicles range from tiny economy models to slightly larger popularly priced sedans, hatchbacks, and wagons.

Our Best Buys include the Chrysler PT Cruiser, Honda Civic, Mazda 3, and Pontiac Vibe/Toyota Matrix twins. Our Recommended picks include the Ford Focus, Hyundai Elantra, Kia Spectra, and Toyota Corolla.

Civic is redesigned for 2006 with swoopier styling, two new engines, and additional standard safety features. The last include curtain side airbags and antilock brakes, plus front-occupant position sensors for the dashboard airbags and stronger, more crash-resistant structures. The slow-selling Si hatchback is replaced by a similarly sporty coupe model. Spy photos reveal that Civic coupes will look rather like Honda's larger 2-dr Accords. Sedans are a bit more conservative, but arguably better eye-candy than before.

Most mainstream models use a new 1.8-liter 4-cyl engine with less weight fewer parts, and 6-percent better claimed fuel economy than the outgoing 1.7. Honda also confirms a new Civic Hybrid sedan powertrain that allows driving on electricity, the gas engine or both as conditions warrant, thus mimicking Toyota's rival Prius. Employing a new 1.34-liter 4-cyl engine, the '06 system is claimed to equal the regular 1.8 engine in total power, yet is also said to be smaller, lighter, and 30-percent cheaper than today's Civic Hybrid powertrain. We'll have more details very soon, so keep checking back with us.

Sources still expect the new-design Civic to spawn a compact minivan or sport wagon for 2007 or '08. The name should be Latitude in either case. Look for a base 2.4-liter 4-cyl engine and maybe a 3.0 V6 option.

Meantime, Honda says its U.S. dealers will start selling the Fit mincar in spring 2006, likely as an early-'07 entry. The move had been rumored for some time. Taller than Civic, but shorter and slimmer, the 4-dr hatchback Fit will likely come here with a 1.3-liter 4-cyl engine and starting prices of around $12,000. Fit has long been a Honda mainstay in Japan and many overseas markets, where it's sometimes sold as the Jazz. We think that name could well be used here, especially as Honda hopes to woo young first-time buyers away from Toyota's Scion and other budget-priced small cars.