Looks like a Civic, drives like a Civic, but achieves better gas mileage than a regular Civic. In a nutshell, that's the Civic hybrid, one of the best cars for highway commuters according to Forbes Magazine, and the car with the best resale value according to Kelly Blue Books.
And quite soon, the Civic hybrid might be the only Civic available, a trend that could soon begin in Japan in 2012, although non-hybrid versions will remain in the US much longer.
Anyway, the 2012 Honda Civic hybrid offers a new rounder design, but overall the design will remain the same. Underneath the hood, however, things will look a little different.
First the 2012 Civic hybrid upgrades from a 1.3-liter engine to a 1.5-liter engine, providing more horsepower and torque. Second, and most important, the new Civic hybrid will switch from its current NiMH battery pack to lithium, increasing fuel economy by 1 mile on the highway, and 4 miles in city.
Additionally, the smaller and lighter battery should decrease the volume needed for the battery pack, opening up more space for cargo and passengers. Additionally, the new battery pack should resolve some nagging issues regarding the reliability of some Civic hybrid NiMH battery packs.
And while the 2012 Civic hybrid is a small car, it's one of the safest small cars available according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
For now, however, Honda's second generation hybrid Civic offers improved city fuel economy, and an incredibly better body design with softer, sleeker design cues.
And, despite some complaints over mileage, particularly in city traffic, most Civic hybrid owners are very happy with the gas mileage of their hybrid Civics, although a recent battery software update for older Civic hybrids has decreased Civic hybrid fuel economy for many drivers. Fortunately, this is not an issue for new Honda Civic hybrids. For more, check out Civic hybrid testimonials.
Still, why the problems in the city? The first generation Civic hybrid, unlike the Prius hybrid, could not function on electric power only at low speeds. That; however, changed when the second generation Civic hybrid was launched.
While the Civic hybrid still cannot functional on electric power in the way that a Prius can, the Civic hybrid is still a winner for those interested in hybrid technology and fuel economy. Still, for those driving in harsh urban congestion, some might find the Civic hybrid's technology and a fuel economy less than expected.
Speaking of technology, the second generation hybrid Civic also increased its horsepower, which when combined with a continuous variable transmission, provides a smooth, yet powerful ride. Ultimately, the Civic hybrid significantly reduces fuel consumption without losing any performance.
While the first Civic hybrids offered a manual transmission in addition to the CVT version, only the continuously variable transmission version is available today.
Unlike the Prius, the current Civic hybrid isn't available in 20 different packages - yes, I'm exaggerating. Still.....
Starting at $23,195, the hybrid version of the Civic offers two basic packages - navigation or no navigation - a difference of about $1800.
Recently, I went Civic hybrid shopping, read more. The selection was good and Honda is willing to deal when it comes to the hybrid Civic.
The hybrid Civic went on sale in March 2002, marking the first time a mainstream vehicle had been converted to run on a hybrid powertrain in the U.S.
Recently, however, the Honda Insight hybrid has replaced the Civic hybrid as Honda's best selling hybrid.
The Civic hybrid is a nice car, and a much improved hybrid vehicle.
Still, when choosing a hybrid vehicle, your driving conditions should be an important consideration, at least if one of your primary concerns is fuel economy - which is probably why you are buying a hybrid in the first place, right? Thus, if you are a city driver that spends most of your daily commutes in stop-and-go traffic, then another hybrid, particularly the Prius, might be a better option.
If, however, you have a more mixed commute, or one where steady mileage is common, then the Civic hybrid might be your perfect hybrid.
For more on choosing the right hybrid vehicle, check out our Hybrid Buyers Guide.