The Hybrid Blog » Civic Hybrid

Honda Civic Recall

Leroy Brown — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 19:49:31 +0000

The recently announced 2006-2007 Honda Civic Sedan recall does include hybrids, by the looks of things. If you’re a proud owner of an HCH-II, then you might want to keep any eye on your mailbox for a notice from Honda.

62.9 MPG – A new record

Leroy Brown — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 20:24:05 +0000

Just yesterday I set a record for my trip to work, with 61.3 MPG. This morning I nudged the bar higher, and achieved an impressive 62.9 MPG – my highest yet for my 7 mile trip to work in the morning. To those who say hybrids aren’t capable of hitting the 2007 EPA estimates, I say Bah! Not only are they capable of hitting the estimates, they’re very capable of beating them. It’s all in how you drive.

61.3 MPG Today

Leroy Brown — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 21:28:31 +0000

On the same trip to work that I got 56.1 MPG on the other day, I managed to hit an impressive 61.3 today. Remember, this is on a 7 mile drive ( very short ), and no A/C being used. Still, it’s the first time I’ve broken 60 MPG on that segment, and I thought it was noteworthy. The Honda Civic Hybrid still amazes me, and I feel like I’ve barely tapped the potential of what it can do.

I think this car is capable of 65 MPG on this trip, and it’s just a matter of time until I learn how to hit it. It’s a big balancing act between EV mode, coasting, and regen mode. Traffic and weather can cause issues of course, and thus the drive home is always lower on the MPG scale.

56 MPG Today

Leroy Brown — Sat, 25 Aug 2007 14:13:56 +0000

I have a short 7 mile drive to work each day – generally not the best length of trip to achieve high gas mileage. Not so in the Civic Hybrid. In fact, on this short trip, I managed to pull off 56.1 MPG. Granted this was early in the morning, so no A/C was needed, and I did drive a tad below the speed limit ( not excessively. ) I did drop in and out of EV Mode a few times, but I didn’t stay in long, as I didn’t want to drain the battery too far, and trigger a forced regen.

Towards the end of my trip, I was actually just over 60 MPG ( 61.2 to be exact ), but a trip to the drive-thru for breakfast brought me back down to 56.1. Now I know the effect that a drive-thru can have on your mileage – out. Looks like I’ll simply park and go inside next time. Overall, I’m impressed – EPA on this car is 49 / 51 remember ( based on the 2007 estimates – they’re even lower for 2008 ). A/C will, of course, cause my average to drop, and since I live in southern Texas, A/C is usually not an option.

When buying a Hybrid makes financial sense

Leroy Brown — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 09:48:41 +0000

Comparing gas-only versions of cars to their hybrid counterparts is as old as hybrids themselves. The naysayers always complain that hybrids take too long to pay off, or that they never actually pay off. I think that they *can* pay off, depending on a few things. Let’s look at my favorite hybrid, the Civic Hybrid. Currently the Civic Hybrid runs just about $3,000 more expensive than the Civic EX, the closest gas-only trim level.

If you qualify for the federal tax credit, you’ll get $2100 of that premium back at tax time – leaving you with just $900 to make up in gas savings. Even if you only drive 10,000 miles per year, and gas stays cheap, you’ll be in the black in less than 2 years. Since most people drive more than 10k miles / year, and gas is likely to head back up in price, it’s even easier to break even. As long as you can snag that tax credit, the Civic Hybrid makes perfect sense. It seems almost foolish to buy a regular ‘ol EX, doesn’t it?

2007 Honda Civic Hybrid

Leroy Brown — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 01:58:47 +0000

The Honda Civic Hybrid is the second most popular hybrid available today, second only to it’s arch enemy, the Toyota Prius. There’s a lot of fantastic technology at work under the skin of the Civic Hybrid, so here’s a look at some of the technical specs:

2007 Honda Civic Hybrid Specs

1.3 liter SOHC 8 valve 4 cylinder gas engine
IMA electric motor system
110 combined HP @ 6000 RPM
123 ft-lbs combined torque @ 1000-2500 RPM
AT-PZEV rating
Continuously Variable Transmission
15″ Alloy Hybrid-Only wheels
34.8 ft turning radius
106.3″ wheelbase
EPA Ratings ( 2007 ) 49 MPG city / 51 MPG highway
Curb Weight : 2875 lbs
Automatic Climate Control
Front / Side / Curtain airbags standard
ABS standard

Honda Civic Hybrid vs Toyota Prius

Leroy Brown — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 01:28:56 +0000

The two most popular ( and most efficient ) hybrids available today are the Toyota Prius and the Honda Civic Hybrid. While the Prius is rated for a bit better gas mileage, real world testing shows that the two vehicles are very, very close. The Prius generally gets a bit better gas mileage in the city due to it’s superior all-electric mode, while the Civic Hybrid tends to get the nod on the highway.

For a lot of folks, choosing between these two models doesn’t come down to gas mileage though – it comes down to looks. The Prius announces in a loud way that it’s a hybrid, and it’s owner bleeds green. The Civic Hybrid is simply a regular Civic to the average passerby – only the pizza-dish wheels and small hybrid badge on the rear give away it’s green nature.

For me, I’m definitely choosing the Civic Hybrid. I think it looks great ( I like the regular Civic a lot ), and I can’t stand the hatchback look of the Prius. It isn’t for everyone, and it’s not at all for me, even considering the extra space that it has.

I’ll be writing up full, detailed pages on both of these popular hybrids in the near future, so stay tuned to The Hybrid Blog.