It takes a lot to become an icon.
It takes longevity, but it also requires a certain quality. You have to stand out from the pack in a way that your contemporaries do not. You have to become synonymous with a sort of mindset or perception or ideal. And sometimes icons can from the most humble of beginnings, the most unlikely of places.
Take, for instance, the Honda Civic. There's nothing immediately spectacular about this compact car. It is, for all intents and purposes, a utilitarian car. It gets exceptional gas mileage. It is reliable and durable, one of the longest-lasting cars on the road.
But the fact that it is so immediately unremarkable is part of what makes it so remarkable. It's a car that has engendered a firm and unshakable legion of followers and fans, drivers who come to rely on their Honda Civic day in and day out, knowing that they have a vehicle that will get them to where they need to go with as little drama and effort as is possible.
And it speaks volumes to the endless and malleable and diverse appeal of the Honda Civic that you have devoted fans and drivers from all walks of life. Whether it's the kid going off to college with their first car, the parent who needs to haul kids and groceries (and not worry about the car breaking down) or the gearhead enthusiast who loves to tinker and modify and race. No matter who you are or what you do or where you go, you will always find legions who swear allegiance to this remarkably unremarkable car.
And that, in turn, is precisely what makes it so iconic. Built on a foundation of care and attention to detail, there's nothing quite like the Honda Civic.