TORONTO, Canada, December 6, 2005 - Honda’s quality design and manufacturing, and advanced performance and styling were recognized by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC).  With Honda vehicles claiming the top pick in each of three key categories, Canadians can confidently rely on AJAC’s objective evaluation process when selecting the best new economy car, best new sports car or best new pick-up truck.

“We are proud of the work of our Canadian associates who manufacture and market Honda products in Canada,” said Jim Miller, executive vice president, Honda Canada, Inc.  “All three of Honda’s award-winning vehicles are built in Canada and are a tribute to the efforts of our associates and the growth of Honda during its 35-year history in Canada.”

The Honda Civic Sedan won the 2006 Best New Economy Car category in the annual Car and Truck of the Year competition.  The new Civic Sedan offers Canadians increased performance with excellent fuel economy, stylistic exterior design, refined interior and class-leading standard safety features. 

The Honda Civic, which first went on sale in Canada in 1973, has been Canada’s top-selling passenger car for the past seven consecutive years, truly making it “Canada’s Car.”  After just two months on the market, the 2006 Civic sedan and its sister model – Civic Coupe – have resulted in record sales for Civic in both October and November.

The Civic Si Coupe won the 2006 Best New Sports Car.  The 197-horsepower Civic Si Coupe is designed to showcase the performance of Honda’s new global compact platform that implements advanced body construction technologies for enhanced safety, better rigidity, improved ride comfort and a quieter interior. 

Civic Si Coupe features a 6-speed manual transmission, limited slip differential, exclusive exterior styling with rear deck wing and aero cladding, and an exclusive interior with deeply bolstered seats, red fabric stitching and unique trim panel.

The Honda Ridgeline won the 2006 Best New Pickup Truck category.  The 2006 Ridgeline is Honda’s all-new truck entry that features true half-ton payload capability, an interior similar to a full-size truck and an exterior length of a compact truck.  Built on a segment-first closed box unibody frame, Ridgeline adds refinement, handling performance, an innovative In-Bed Trunk™ and other packaging features previously unattainable with traditional body-on-frame truck designs.

Across its entire portfolio of products, Honda Canada provides Canadians with dependable vehicles, motorcycles, power equipment and marine engines.  With 124 manufacturing facilities in 28 countries worldwide, Honda now attracts nearly 20 million customers annually.  Honda Canada manufactures the Honda Ridgeline, Pilot, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan and Civic Si Coupe, and the Acura CSX and MDX at its two plants in Alliston, Ontario.