Honda Civic Hybrid

Reviewed: The Honda Civic Hybrid

Overview: The Honda Civic hybrid doesn’t look much different from its conventional gasoline engine powered brother, yet it is an entirely different vehicle underneath the hood. Does the Civic offer the same driving mechanics and experiences of the gasoline only model?

Read on to find out.

Detail:

There are styling cues which separate the hybrid model from the conventional ones. Gone are the amply sized multi-spoke rims, and in their place are oddly shaped hubcaps, designed, no doubt, to improve the Hybrid’s aerodynamics. Also different are the tires, which are a bit smaller and designed to maximize fuel economy.

Initial Impression

The Civic Hybrid that I was standing in front of was black, lower to the ground than I expected, and had seventeen miles on the odometer. I’ve been informed that the paint job is a special midnight black pearlescent paint, and that it doesn’t come that way from the factory, however, you can definitely get your hybrid in black.

The interior has the same styling cues and accents as every other Civic on the road. The seats are comfortable and easy to get in and out of and the driver’s seat is adjustable in every direction, just like we like. One minor difference is the addition of an indicator light on the instrument panel that lets you know when your electric assistance motor is doing its job.

Driving the Civic

The newest Civic cars have the most horsepower of any Civic released in North America to date. The latest Civic Si, which features a screaming 197 high-revving four cylinder, is the fastest factory-model Civic to be produced. If you’ve ever driven that car, prepare yourself for a rather anemic drive by comparison.

The hybrid is quick to accelerate at slow speeds, and within the city, you are unlikely to notice a significant difference between the Hybrid and the conventional model. On the open highway, however, you will find the Civic Hybrid to be slow to gather speed to pass. Most people won’t find that to be limiting since speeding unnecessarily down the highway defeats the entire purpose of this car, which is to be as efficient as possible.

The suspension is firm enough for my tastes and I do not feel every bump and crack in the road. This pleasantly surprised me, as I was expecting handling that was overly soft and spongy. This Civic takes corners exactly the way I like.

Conclusion

This vehicle is one that you can be happy with and drive every day. It accelerates quickly enough for the average person and it gets plenty of miles per gallon.

Overall, I’m impressed, great job Honda!