The occasional hiccup interrupts every winning streak, even one that runs as long as the Honda Civic's. Born, raised, and home-schooled through eight generations now, the hiccup was unlucky seven, the Civic born in 2001 that's fading out of showrooms now. Yes, it did its job well, but with the same underpowered engines as before, a downgraded suspension that alienated enthusiasts, a softer and slower Civic Si, and an also-ran hybrid variant, people were starting to question the Civic's competitive edge.That question will be asked no more. Honda put the past five years to good use, giving the latest Civic a wealth of improvements on multiple fronts that add up to a better car. It starts with the most expressive exterior to come our way since the revolutionarily rounded 1992 model, and if you think that's something, wait till you see the inside. The Si returns with the engine it deserved from the start, the Hybrid returns with more speed and fuel economy, and all other Civics enjoy a streamlined, improved powertrain lineup along with more features in the luxury, mechanical, and safety departments all at once.Just when you thought the Civic was getting too predictable. . .