I researched the Honda Civic before purchasing one and I still think I made the right choice. I have the 2.2 Litre TDI Civic and the Japanesse have succeeded in designing a car which is not only fast and powerful but also quite green as it is road tax band E and does anywhere between 40 and 70 MPG on the motorway. It has satnav and bluetooth which operate fine, magic seats in the rear which are very handy, criuse control and air con etc, all work great. No problems with it so far. Only downside is the dashboard is big so it makes it difficult to see over the bonnet, and the rear window has the feature glass transom which makes rear view difficult as well. I guess its good value for money because you have that gut feeling the longevity of the engine and electrics will be massive (IE japanesse engine, 2.2 litre, diesel....) and it looks great. Clutch pedal squeaks though, and i understand repairs are expensive. If cost and cost of repairs is a massive issue then I would recommend the Focus.

I liked this car when I first saw it, I like it after the first day of owning one, just check that your mobile phone is compatible at www.hondahandsfree.com and save yourself a full day of grief trying to figure the phone settings, it just will not work if you have a RAZR V6 Maxx.