Advantages and disadvantages of the Honda Civic Hybrid

Honda has joined the hybrid bandwagon by creating the Civic hybrid vehicle. What exactly are its strengths in comparison to non-hybrids as well as others in its class? Can it show to be a significant contender in the ongoing competition for maximum fuel economy and efficiency? Find out more about the new model and features and determine whether it could be your very next automobile.

The Honda Civic Hybrid

The Honda Civic Hybrid is a hybrid counterpart of the gas-powered Honda Civic sedan. Honda discovered another means the transmission, system and engine of the car in order to be much more fuel-efficient. The style and design are similar to the conventional model. The Honda Civic Hybrids engine received international acclaim by winning the International Engine of the Year for three consecutive years from 2002 to 2004 in the 1 to 1.4-liter division. In 2003 and 2004, additionally, it won Best Fuel economy as well as Motor Trend 2006 Car of the Year.

In 2006, the Civic Hybrid was remodeled featuring a cool new look in addition to an EPA gas mileage of around 49 mpg city driving and 51 mpg highway driving. It’s the new version of Hondas Built-in Motor Assist system that allows the car to operate on the electric motor solely using the right cruising conditions.

The outside of the new model seems very contemporary than the previous one. The car features 15 inches of disc-like alloy wheels with low-rolling-resistance tires. The A-pillars were placed over the front wheels. Obtaining in and out of the Civic Hybrid was relatively easier due to the large front doors. Other futuristic additions were hybrid badges, rear lip spoilers and turn-signal indicators right within the side mirror housings.

The interior is generous in space having a maximum seating capacity of 5 persons. The vehicle also features two-tone cloth seats, air conditioning, CD stereo, power locks, steering and mirrors. The XM Satellite Radio and navigation system is standard in all units. There’s also a digital tachometer, battery meter and charge/assist gauge check the electric capacity of the power train. The 10.4-cubic-foot trunk is rather small than the conventional 12 cubic feet. The rear seat additionally doesn’t collapse down.

More Impressions

The Honda Civic Hybrid includes a 1.3-liter four-cylinder engine combined with an electric motor able of generating power of up to 110 hp and 123 lbs-ft of torque. All units have the standard continuously variable transmission.

The Civic has a variety of safety functions getting the highest rating like antilock brakes, side-impact, side curtain airbags and dynamic front head restraints. The car might not be what one considers super fast but acceleration is a great one. There’s also an engine feature that instantly shuts the engine when idling for added fuel efficiency.

The Honda Civic Hybrid can be fueled at any station using a 12.3-gallon tank able to go as much as 490 miles. Total gasoline consumption is considerably much better than a traditional Civic. Greenhouse gas emission of the hybrid vehicle totaled around 4.4 tons yearly when compared to regular Civics 6.3 tons. The vehicle is an Advanced Technology-Partial Zero Emissions Automobile or AT-PZEV and is easily obtainable in all states at around $21,000 to $23,000.

The Good and the Bad

The hybrid has very firm and stable suspension with a well-controlled body roll. Passengers may feel some rattles and shakes on exceptionally unequal paths and roads. Steering and maneuvering is relatively easy. Visibility is additionally excellent on the sides. The idle-off capability is a good thing but the Civic may need to be restarted manually sometimes during full stops.

The style is certainly one of the best characteristics of the car in addition to several standard accessories like the XM Satellite Radio, power locks and windows and navigation system.

Some passengers report more jittery experiences even on fairly even roads. The interior is decent however the seat surfaces could look better. There’s also very few luxury options available despite the sporty physical appearance of the Honda Civic Hybrid. Headroom at the rear is rather low and the rear seats don’t fold so luggage is seen as a problem. The non-linear braking performance and split instrument panel are also minuses. Overall, the Civic Hybrid rates perfectly due to the fact the good points still far outweigh the cons.