USED CARS - Coupes

Best coupe overall: Honda Civic

The Honda Civic (*est. $14,360 to $21,940) walks away as the winner in 2006, receiving favorable reviews from pretty much everyone. In fact, the Civic (in its various incarnations) took five top-honors in a relatively competitive market. The Civic, which was redesigned for 2006, is available as a coupe, sedan or hybrid (which is covered in our report on hybrid cars). According to Edmunds.com, "Refined and environmentally friendly, the Civic has always been an easy car to like, but this year there's a little more excitement than usual." The Civic coupe is loved everywhere, although many of the reviewers do suggest opting for the slightly pricier Civic Si (*est. $19,990 to $21,940) for the best driving experience possible. The Civic Si coupe has a 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder 6-speed manual transmission, along with a sport suspension package that includes 17-inch wheels.

One of many titles claimed by the Honda Civic this year was Car of the Year from Motor Trend. Editors are quick to praise the changes to the Civic: "Honda deserves a standing ovation for not playing it safe again," writes Angus MacKenzie, editor-in-chief of Motor Trend. He goes on to say that the “engineering passion that Honda Motor Company was founded on radiates from these new Civics." The Motor Trend award extended to all variants of the Civic, including the coupe. Many of the reviews for the Honda Civic coupe express a similar sentiment. For example, Christian Wardlaw of Autobytel has this to say: "Radically cab-forward in terms of design, the 2006 Honda Civic Coupe possesses a strong European flavor, a spirited driving character, and an upscale ambience that belies its fully-loaded price of around $20,000."

The Honda Civic coupe, in theory, can fit up to five people. In order for this to work, the rear passengers must either be children or be very small in stature. The Civic coupe is two inches shorter than the sedan version of the Civic, but it is larger than the 2005 Civic coupe. There are four trim levels. The base level is the Civic DX coupe, and the EX is the highest trim option for the regular coupe. The base-model Civic coupes have the same 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine and vary mainly in terms of comfort and amenities. The Civic Coupe Si is a specialized, sportier Civic coupe.

According to the EPA, all of the Honda Civics on the market have above-average fuel economy, and due to the smaller, lighter size of the coupe compared to the sedan, the Civic coupes should be slightly better on gas. The lowest fuel efficiency is for the 197-hp Civic Si, which should get around 23 mpg/city and 32 mpg/hwy. The smaller 140-hp engine on the standard Civic coupes will bump the numbers up to 30 mpg/city and 40 mpg/hwy. (The Civic hybrid is rated at 49 mpg/city and 51 mpg/hwy.)

Best sports coupes: Two from BMW

While the 2006 Honda Civic coupe has made a big splash, there's also no doubt that it's an economy car, lacking the performance edge, finer interior and upscale touches in more expensive coupes. Sport coupes take the basic two-door coupe formula and add more aggressive or elegant styling, higher-performance options and/or luxury interior touches.

Reviews say an ideal mixture of performance and refinement give the BMW 3-Series (*est. $30,900 to $38,500) an edge among sportier sedans and coupes. Motor Week calls the BMW 3-series "the last word," while Automobile Magazine says that "BMW has produced a car that is the gold standard for its class, something that all other automakers feel they have to measure up to." A number of reviews ranked the BMW 3-series the best car of the year including Car and Driver, Forbes, AutoWeek, Automobile Magazine, MotorWeek and Money Magazine.

There are two coupes in the BMW 3-series, the 325Ci and it's more powerful sibling the 330Ci. Both BMW coupes seat five, although according to reviews the rear interior space is average. You can fit your friends, but don't expect them to be comfortable for long. The BMW 325Ci comes equipped with a 184-hp, 2.5-liter I-6, while the BMW 330Ci comes with a 225-hp, 3.0-liter I-6 and the option of a 235-hp, 3.0-liter I-6. In terms of safety features, the 3-series does fairly well with ABS, front side-airbags, front and rear head-curtain airbags and stability control that also helps the brakes work as effectively as possible. In terms of mileage, the EPA estimates for the 325Ci are 20 mpg/city and 29 mpg/hwy. The 330Ci estimates are 20 mpg/city and 30 mpg/hwy.

Handling is a high point in reviews, and the BMW coupes easily outclass the economy-minded Honda Civic coupe. While the 2006 BMW 3-series sedans and wagons were redesigned for 2006, the coupes remain based on a platform introduced in 1999.

Although it won't win any awards for being the prettiest coupe on the road, the BMW 650Ci (*est. $71,800 to $78,800) wins more than its share of accolades for the way that it does everything else related to driving. Handling, steering and power are just a few of the areas in which the 650Ci shines brightly. The 650Ci is related closely to the BMW 3-series. The 650Ci coupe is crafted to seat four people, but as with most coupes, this is more feasible in theory than in practice. The expensive BMW 650Ci coupe is sleek and features a large, tilting panorama glass roof. In addition, the car offers a standard navigation system, adaptive head lights, run-flat tires and park distance control. The engine is much more powerful compared to the 3-series coupes. The only available engine is a 360-hp, 4.8-liter V-8. Reviews say it’s simply one of the best engines available. In terms of mileage, the BMW 650Ci does fairly well, given the size of its engine. The EPA estimates that it should get about 17 mpg/city and 25 mpg/hwy.

The BMW 650Ci comes standard with ABS, plus traction control and something BMW calls "Active Roll Stabilization," which is supposed to counteract body lean while cornering. BMW's Dynamic Drive Control works to adjust shifting and suspension for a sportier drive-feel. Also standard is BMW's iDrive feature, which has received mixed reviews. iDrive is intended to decrease the number of buttons and knobs needed to engage the audio and navigation systems. It works like a joystick. Unfortunately, reviewers don't like the iDrive system very much, so it might be a try-before-you-buy feature.

Reviewers at Edmunds are impressed with the handling, interior and spaciousness of the vehicle, while Inside Line compliments the 6-Series' "depth of engineering." Comparing it to the 2007 Jaguar XK, Inside Line author Scott Oldham had this to say of the BMW 650Ci -- "that's how you win comparison tests as well as buyers: by being less expensive, better-equipped and more fun to drive. As much as we lust for the Jag's bod, the 2006 BMW 650i wins."

Sport coupes with muscle pedigree

Where the BMW 3-series coupes are about class and refinement, the Chevrolet Corvette and Ford Mustang coupes are more aggressively designed, invoking their respective roots in the world of sports cars and muscle machines.

While the Honda Civic and BMW 3-series are fairly tame with respect to power, the Chevrolet Corvette (*est. $43,690 to $64,890) is a performance monster, and it even betters the BMW 650Ci when it comes to power, with a 400-hp, 7.0-liter V-8 base engine. Reviews say the Corvette coupe looks aggressive and acts even more so. For those in the market for a sport coupe, there are not many in the same market as the Chevrolet Corvette.

The main draw of the Corvette is performance and power. In addition to the powerful standard engine, an upgraded 505-hp, 7.0-liter V-8 is also available. According to Chevrolet, the Corvette has a top speed of 186 MPH. Reviews indicate that this Corvette is more stylish than its predecessors. It also offers a comfortable interior as a selling point, where Corvettes of the past had to rely solely on their brute power. In terms of fuel efficiency, the Corvette travels approximately 18 mpg/city and 28 mpg/hwy with the base engine, and 16 mpg/city and 26 mpg/hwy with the upgraded engine.

AAA has chosen the Chevrolet Corvette as the "cool car" of 2006 and applauds the vehicle, saying "Acceleration in the base models is blindingly fast and is accompanied by a throbbing V-8 exhaust tone. It will be music to any driving enthusiast's ears." In addition, the Corvette is also praised by Edmunds, Money Magazine and Automobile Magazine, all of which appreciate the performance and sporty style of the vehicle.

Having been around the block in a variety of forms for nearly 40 years, the Ford Mustang (*est. $19,115 to $26,320) was redesigned in 2005 to pay homage to the Mustangs of yester-year. The move seems to have worked, as the once lagging Mustang is now a top contender in the coupe world, with its convertible counterpart doing equally well. The 2006 Ford Mustang receives three top marks in the reviews that we examined.

There are a number of different trim options for the Ford Mustang, and two engines: A 210-hp, 4.0-liter V-6 or a 300-hp, 4.6-liter V-8. The engine choice will have a subtle effect on gas mileage. The V-6 Mustang averages 19 mpg/city and 25 mpg/hwy, according to the EPA, while opting for the V-8 engine alters the mileage to 17 mpg/city and 23 mpg/hwy. ABS with traction control is optional on the V-6 Mustang and standard on the GT. Front side-impact airbags are optional on all models.

Chosen as the best coupe under $25,000 by Edmunds.com, reviewers praise the way the Mustang’s "vintage dash design, steering wheel and instrumentation set an old-school mood, while simple controls and supportive seats put you in the proper position to drive." The only flaws of the Mustang, according to reviews, are the fact that the V-6 model simply doesn't deliver an experience worthy of the Mustang title and that there are some lesser-quality materials in the interior design. But given the low base price for a truly style-conscious car, some can forgive those issues.

Other coupes worth consideration

The 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt (*est. $12,400 to $19,900) is one of the least expensive coupes on the market today. The Cobalt is available with one of three engines: A 145-hp I-4, a 171-hp I-4 or a 205-hp supercharged I-4 engine. Depending on the engine chosen, the Cobalt gets 23 to 25 mpg/city and 29 to 34 mpg/hwy according to the EPA. Reviewers are impressed with the drive quality of the Cobalt coupe, yet note that the interior reflects its low price tag and that rear-seat comfort leaves much to be desired.

The Ford Focus (*est. $13,450 to $17,495) also comes as a two-door coupe with a lower sticker price. Like the Chevrolet Cobalt, the Focus has three available engines: A 130-hp model, a 136-hp engine and a 151-hp option at the upper end. Depending on engine choice, the Ford Focus gets between 22 and 26/mpg city and 31 and 34 mpg/hwy. The nice aspect of the Focus is that reviews say it is easy to maneuver. Reviews also say it is cramped, with little storage space.

Gaining a number of favorable reviews is the Scion tC (*est. $16,300 to $17,100) , which has gone largely unchanged for the 2006 model year. There is only one engine available for the Scion tC, a 160-hp, 2.4-liter I-4. According to EPA estimates, the tC gets approximately 23 mpg/city and 30 mpg/hwy. Reviewers note that this youth-oriented vehicle has a number of standard safety features, as well as an engine that offers excellent pick-up for its class and a nice ride quality. Reviews generally agree that the Scion has a fun youth appeal, but that it's not a contender for best coupe overall.

The Mini Cooper (*est. $17,450 to $21,950) has a huge fan club, but in spite of its popularity, it doesn't win any "best of" awards. At Money magazine, however, the Cooper is given an "honorable mention" for coupes under $25,000, with the reviewer calling it "one of the most entertaining vehicles on Earth." The Mini Cooper is equipped with a 115-hp, 1.6-liter I-4 engine, and it gets EPA estimates or 27 mpg/city and 35 mpg/hwy. Due to its size, the car handles well in busy areas, but as you might expect, rear-seat comfort is lacking.

According to reviews, an excellent choice for a mid-priced coupe would be the Mazda RX-8 (*est. $26,435 to $27,550) , which was chosen as the "Best Sports Coupe" by Car and Driver Magazine. The RX-8 has two available 1.3-liter rotary engines: A 212-hp model and a more powerful 232-hp engine. According to EPA estimates, the Mazda RX-8 gets around 18 mpg/city and 25 mpg/hwy. Car and Driver sums up the RX-8 very well: "The bottom line: sports-car fun with an element of practicality you just might be able to sell to a significant other."

Another mid-level option is the Infiniti G35 (*est. $33,200 to $33,800) , which is an excellent coupe option for the conservative driver. A 280-hp and a 295-hp engine are available for the G35. Reviews of the Infiniti are fairly understated. The vehicle performs well, and it is a good value, but it doesn't excel in any one aspect. As with most coupes, some reviewers are quick to point out a lack of room in the rear of the vehicle. This is a nice, mild-mannered coupe, say reviews, but it’s not a great choice if you are looking for a performance-oriented vehicle.

For a mid-level coupe that offers more on the performance side of the coin, reviews say the Pontiac GTO (*est. $31,290 to $33,000) is worth a look. This is the last year for the GTO, which will be discontinued. The GTO moniker was brought back in 2004 after a multiple-decade hiatus, with Pontiac hoping to gain customers who longed for the muscle-car history of the GTO. Ultimately, the new GTO didn't meet sales expectations. The vehicle houses a 400-hp, 6.0-liter V-8 engine, offering power to spare for even the most sport-minded individuals. Reviews say that performance is good, but that the new GTO doesn’t really bear any resemblance to classic GTO models.

Finally, drawing the line between the mid-level and luxury coupe is the BMW M3 (*est. $48,900 to $51,000) , which adds a level of refinement to the BMW coupe lineup, sitting between the BMW 3-series and 6-series. There is only one engine option for the BMW M3 coupe, a 333-hp, 3.2-liter I-6. The BMW coupe gets pretty low mileage estimates of 16 mpg/city and 23 mpg/hwy. Reviews praise the M3's build quality, interior comfort and refinement. The M3 seats five and offers a small trunk space for golf clubs or similarly sized objects. The BMW is definitely a performance car. Critics at Forbes Autos say you can feel every pebble in the road due to the sport suspension. Fara Warner writes that the M3 "is a race car masquerading as a street car." The BMW M3 might not be the best commuter car, but according to Edmunds.com, "The 2006 BMW M3 is the sort of car that makes enthusiasts wish they were good enough drivers to push it to its limits."

Luxury coupes

Nearing the stratosphere price-wise is the 2006 Jaguar XK (*est. $69,830 to $74,830) , chosen as the "best coupe" and "car of the year" at the Auto Express New Car Honours. The car is gorgeous to look at, with sleek lines and a body that looks fast even while standing still. The standard engine is a 294-hp, 4.2-liter V-8. The estimated mileage is average at 17 mpg/city and 25 mpg/hwy, so the fuel costs will not be incredibly inflated compared to a less-expensive coupe. The main negative of the Jaguar XK, according to reviews, is interior comfort. Not only is the back-seat nearly non-existent, but the front seat feels cramped as well. The Jaguar XK offers a wonderful ride experience as long as the road is nicely paved, but the tight fit left many reviewers feeling a bit claustrophobic.

The Porsche 911 (*est. $100,000) might be THE classic coupe, and it's also covered in our report on sports cars (as are several other cars in this report). Reviews say that the 911 is roomy for front-seat passengers, with the usual tight back seat. Handling is tight and light, as compared to other coupes that have a heavier, bulkier speed. The 911 is clearly not meant to be a commuter car, as the super-tuned suspension means you'll feel every bump in the road.

The king of luxury coupes may be the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Series (*est. $450,000 to $465,650) . When a vehicle is this expensive, there is nothing much to complain about. Sure, 13 mpg/city and 17 mpg/hwy are low estimates, but that's probably not your highest priority if you want a car that costs over $400,000. The 617-hp, 5.4-liter V-8 engine goes from 0 to 60 in under 4 seconds, with a top speed of over 200 mph.

Important Features: Coupes

The following is what the experts say to consider when choosing a coupe:

• Coupes are not optimal family vehicles. While coupes may technically be able to seat four, they are not able to seat four comfortably for a long time in the same manner as a sedan.

• Safety is often secondary with coupes. Coupes are bought as fun vehicles more often than they are bought for safety. For this reason, it is a notable point that coupes, although receiving more safety equipment than ever before, are still not as well equipped for collision as a larger, more family-based vehicles. This, in addition to their small stature, makes them less than prime in terms of safety.

• Take insurance into consideration. Note that some coupes will cost more in insurance than other types of vehicles, as they are usually lumped together with performance cars. Basically, if the coupe you like looks like, or is a derivative of a sports car, you'll be paying sports car insurance. If it looks like, or is derivative of a sedan, you'll be paying sedan insurance.

Our Consensus Report shows how many times products are top-ranked by reviewers included in our
All The Reviews Reviewed chart.

# of Picks	Model(With Retailer Links)	Details from Edmunds.com
6	Honda Civic coupe (*est. $14,360 to $21,940)	details
5	Ford Mustang (*est. $19,115 to $26,320)	details
4	BMW 3-Series (*est. $30,900 to $38,500)	details
4	Chevrolet Corvette (*est. $43,690 to $64,890)	details
2	Scion tC (*est. $16,300 to $17,100)	details
2	BMW 6-Series (*est. $71,800 to $78,800)	details
2	Mazda RX-8 (*est. $26,435 to $27,550)	details
2	Honda Accord coupe (*est. $20,375 to $29,400)	details
1 each	Toyota Camry Solara , BMW M3 , BMW Z4 , Chevrolet Monte Carlo , Chrysler Crossfire , Pontiac G6 , Chevy Cobalt SS , Mercedes-Benz SLR , Jaguar XK8

Given current fuel prices, it's not too surprising that 2006 reviews focus on value. The redesigned Honda Civic, including the coupe variant, wins the most critical praise. The Civic couples a healthy element of style along with practicality and exceptional fuel economy. Several mid-priced coupes are also critical favorites, including the Ford Mustang and Mazda RX-8. The BMW 3-Series coupes and Chevrolet Corvette also received a number of positive reviews and tie for second with 4 top marks each.

Sponsored links