Entered CNET Catalog: 02/23/2006
SKU:
Manufacturer: American Honda Motor Company, Incorporated
Product summary
The good: The 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid includes the best voice-recognition system we've seen in a car. It has futuristic styling both inside and out, and the audio system accepts PC cards and has an auxiliary input jack.
The bad: Acceleration is decidedly underwhelming in the 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid. The car doesn't let you forget that it has a hybrid power train, and there is no Bluetooth cell phone integration.
The bottom line: The cabin of the 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid catapults the driver into a cool future where voice commands operate navigation and audio, but the rackety engine and the less-than-smooth power train serve as a reminder that hybrid development is still in its early stages.
Editors' review
- Editors' Choice: No
- Reviewed on: 03/06/2006
The 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid's cabin boasts an impressive array of technology for Honda's lowest-end car--a position soon to be occupied by the Honda Fit, which will push the Civic up a notch. The $1,500 navigation option includes an impressive voice-recognition system that we found very useful. The standard 160-watt stereo in our test car sounded good; it was clear but lacking depth. The stereo comes with an auxiliary input jack and is prepped for XM Satellite Radio. The touch-screen LCD makes for easy access to both stereo and navigation controls.
Although the hybrid power train is an improvement upon the previous model year's, we still weren't overly impressed by Honda's Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) system. The small, 1.3-liter four-cylinder engine has a rough feel, and the IMA is noticeable, especially in traffic. The continuously variable transmission lends itself to smooth acceleration, which is mitigated by engine noise. And the power train doesn't exactly rocket this car forward, making some freeway merges on the dicey side.
The 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid is equipped with standard antilock brakes, as well as electronic brake-force distribution, to help avoid accidents. Air-bag coverage is complete, with dual-stage front, driver and front-passenger side, and curtain bags. This, in addition to the front and rear crumple zones and the side-impact door beams, all contributes to the Civic's five-star front and four-star side-impact ratings.
The base price for the 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid is $21,850. Our test car, which included the navigation and voice-recognition system, came in at $23,350. Possible upgrades include an eight-disc CD changer ($569), a bass speaker system ($364), and iPod integration ($214).
The dashboard of the 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid, and the entire 2006 Honda Civic family, has a very futuristic look. A big, backlit tachometer sits in the center of the main instrument pod, and off to the side are gauges for battery charge, charge level, and motor assist. A second tier of gauges sits above the main panel, and these show a digital-speedometer readout in the center with a fuel gauge on the right. The left gauge can be set to show engine temperature or instantaneous fuel economy. This setup works well because, similar to a heads-up display, the speed readout is at the bottom of the driver's field of vision. However, we did notice that, with the sun behind us, the readouts became washed out and difficult to see.
Buttons on the 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid's steering-wheel spokes handle cruise control, the audio system, and voice commands. The voice-command system is very usable, though a bit stilted. Pushing the voice-command button mutes the stereo and sets the system to accept commands for controlling audio, climate control, or navigation. It's a pretty smart system, able to recognize strings of numbers for, as an example, an address. It doesn't need any training to recognize its set of preprogrammed commands, but the driver will need to get familiar with which commands access which systems. Because it can take only one command at a time, it can feel a bit choppy when entering a route destination, as you have to push the button, choose to enter a destination, then push it a few more times as each part of the address gets entered.
The navigation system itself works well, although it doesn't really stand out. We like the visual representation it gives of upcoming freeway junctions, with a large arrow showing which way to go. Its points-of-interest database is well populated; it includes restaurants, stores, gas stations, and ATMs. In our testing, the nav system acquired a satellite fix quickly and showed no problems holding on to it. When it plots a route to a destination, it lets the driver choose from four possibilities, which include maximum freeways, minimum freeways, or shortest distance. We especially like that it can display all the routes on its map screen. While the voice-guided directions don't call out street names, it does say the freeway number.
The base stereo system, with which our test car came equipped, is good but not excellent. The quality of the sound is crisp, but better bass speakers would give it more depth. Beyond AM and FM, it's also prepped for XM Satellite Radio, a $444 option. The CD player plays MP3 CDs, displaying ID3-tag information on the LCD. To access the CD player slot, a button on the dash causes the motorized LCD to open up, revealing a panel with the CD slot, the navigation DVD slot, and a PC Card slot--something we haven't seen on any other car. Although flash-memory PCMCIA cards are not all that common, there are cards that work as adapters for SD or CompactFlash memory, which would allow for up to 2GB of music. For MP3 players or other devices, an auxiliary input jack is set into a shelf at the bottom of the center stack with a power point right near by. iPod integration is available as an option.
The 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid lacks Bluetooth cell phone integration, even as an option, which is disappointing, as it would have really rounded out the excellent tech offerings in this car.
Honda's IMA hybrid system works by having an electric motor integrated with the engine, as well as powered by a battery pack and regenerative braking. In the case of the 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid, the engine is a small 1.3-liter four-cylinder with a single overhead cam and Honda's i-VTEC variable valve timing. The engine produces 110 horsepower, which is complemented by the electric motor's 20 horsepower. The electric motor gives it a boost during acceleration and, at low speeds, can power the car entirely. During our driving, we never noticed the car working under electric power only, although Honda's specifications insist it will happen. While you're stopped in traffic or at a light, the engine turns off. If the fact that this fairly noisy engine becomes silent isn't notice enough, a green light that reads autostop will flash on the instrument panel. Although the light was designed to assure the driver that nothing is wrong, the flashing feels like a warning.
We found the bar gauges indicating battery charging and motor assist to be mesmerizing. While you're going downhill or slowing down due to freeway speeds, the regenerative braking provides electricity to the battery, and a green bar gauge indicates how much energy is getting fed into the system. It makes hitting the brakes almost enjoyable as energy is reclaimed. The same can't be said for the motor-assist bar gauge, which shows how much boost the electric motor is contributing, as well as how much electricity is being used. The electric motor gives the car only adequate acceleration. That said, the Civic travels well at freeway speeds of 70mph to 80mph.
The shifter's podlike appearance fits with the 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid's futuristic look. It pushes the CVT into drive, sport, or low. The CVT makes acceleration smooth, without any feel of popping through gears. However, the sport setting didn't feel significantly different from the drive setting.
MacPherson struts in front and a double wishbone in the rear make up the 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid's stiff suspension, which has a feel appropriate for a car at the low end of Honda's model line. Steering is precise, although it's not taxed much by the car's lack of power.
The 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid gets a PZEV rating, meaning it qualifies as a partial zero-emission vehicle. The EPA rates its mileage at 49mpg in the city and 51mpg on the highway, but we observed only 36.2mpg in combined city and highway testing.
The 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid's five-star front-impact and four-star side-impact ratings speak for themselves. The car's air-bag coverage is very complete, with dual-stage front and side bags for the driver and front passenger, along with curtain bags for all occupants.The 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid's front disc brakes and rear drums include a regenerative system and are helped by antilock, electronic brake-force distribution (which adds braking power to the wheels that need it most), and brake assist--a technology that pumps up the hydraulics ahead of time so that the driver gets instant braking power.
For the 2006 Civic Hybrid, Honda offers a five-year/60,000-mile limited warranty, along with an eight-year/80,000-mile warranty on its battery pack.
User opinions
Select a User Opinion to view: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24out of 24 user reviews
Overpriced rust bucket
Pros: Improved gas mileage over the non-hybrid (although not even close to their advertised gas-mileage)
Cons: Garage kept Civic hybrid begun rusting all over, not Honda says the Corrosion Warranty only covers spots where it has TOTALLY rusted through the metal. (One wheel-well has rusted through- the other is about to but isn't covered. Same w/ the trunk.)
out of 24 user reviews
Not impressed
Pros: Fuel savings; can play my MP3 through the auxilary jack.
Cons: EXPENSIVE to change oil and repair
out of 24 user reviews
Civic Hybrid is Amazing!
Pros: Great acceleration for a hybrid no problems, ever. Love the auto stop at lights and in traffic. Really comfortable cabin.
Cons: I wish it got a little better mpg with the AC on, but other than that I love it.
out of 24 user reviews
Best Car I Have Ever Owned
Pros: Bought this car new so now it is 3 years old. Never have had a problem with it. Great gas millage-50ml/gal for me, 45 for hubby-he drives faster than I do. Has always been reliable.My husband uses it to go to work-150 mile round trip 6 days a week.
Cons: I only dislike 2 things about it. Because the batteries are in the trunk area, it does not leave much trunk room. Also, if it rains, you can not crack the windows even a little bit because it will rain in the car.
out of 24 user reviews
After two years on the road, I'm still happy
Pros: No problems or complaints after two years. One of the lowest CO2 emission vehicles on the road. I get about 40 mpg (with my winter tires) and that improves to about 45 mpg in the summer time. Great design and interior.
Cons: Only design drawback is you cannot fold down the rear seat for more luggage space. Engine has high pitch whine when you give a lot of gas going up steep hills, but you get used it. This is an eco-car, not sports car.
out of 24 user reviews
Great car, 2 years and would not change
Pros: reliable cheap and easy to drive
Cons: back seat does not drop down
would i sell it or change it? NO
I love this car,easy to drive and i spend no money on it, in 2 years i have had 3 services and i have spent $200.
it sticks out very low emmisions and the MPG is real good.
one change would be that the hand brake rubs against my knee on long journeys, i am 6,2 and my height is no issue in the car.
I have never written a review before and i just love this car, i have met 5 people on the streets of chicago with the same car and we ALL agree..... fantastic.
out of 24 user reviews
Owned the 2003 Civic Hybrid.
Pros: Not many. GPS, interior is nice. WIsh there was more pros.
Cons: sub 40 MPG. Honda apathetic. Steering issues
Since the temperature creeped below 60F the mileage plunged from 43/44 to below 40. We are currently getting 30 to 36ish numbers. Honda America has no answers save one case manager that said "I wouldn't buy this model."
My biggest concern was that ours was defective in some way and after 5 days at the shop their road test eeked out 42 MPG which is on the low end of expected. On the trip home and the next week we got an abysmal 35 or less. It's since rebounded to 37.
Further research on greenhybrid.com finds similar stories and from what I can gather is the early models had a different version of software. Honda is mum to outright silent on this.
Comparing notes with other 2007 owners finds similar stories.
Bottomline? Avoid the 2006/2007 models if you live in cooler regions of the world. This car will be fine in 65 and up climates.
About that steering. It's poor compared to the other Civics.
Parting thoughts. My buddy got the plain Civic and current gets mid 30s MPG. That hurts. Wish I bought the Prius.
Bob
out of 24 user reviews
Great car could use some tweaks
Pros: Honest MPG est., Solid & safe car, Good accereration
Cons: No fold down back seat, no electric only power
I commute 83 miles each way with hills, open road, stop-and-go traffic and city streets so this is not a biased estimate. My record one-way on this drive is 55.4 mpg
I don't know how it compares to Prius mileage but from what I see I think the Civic beat it handily. I drive the speed limit and in flat open highway I usually use the cruise control set at 65. I have found the CVT style of the engine is great with cruise control and that it actually manages the mpg over the full course of my drive very well, including hills.
Contrary to some opinions I have found the acceleration and torque effect of this engine to be astounding. That little engine with the electric assist suprisingly sprite and accelerate up a hill with adeptness.
I too think the tires are noisy and hope to quiet the car with better tires as needed. I love the air quality control and temperature adjustment though I leave the A/C off unless absolutely needed because that does drag on the mpg.
I have found driving a hybrid has changed my driving style to much more defensive as I am more apt to let other cars speed by with the smug knowledge I learned the secret of how consistent driving at sane speeds actually gets me there in the same amount of time without the pressures of trying to get through traffic.
I have not found that the car engine goes into auto-stop on decceleration (except and 5 mph or so) and I wish it would (At what speed can you get the engine to auto-stop?) Makes me wonder what I am doing to stop it.
As for my wishes, I wish it would not have to restart the engine to go from stop to park to off.
I wish the 2 and L gears were offset because I find I put it in second sometimes by mistake and the CVT makes it hard to notice, In fact what usually tips me off is slightly worse MPG than I ususally get. I wonder with CVT what the value of the lowers gears is as it seem so adept and being appropiate.
I wish it could go in reverse under electric power, though I understand why it can't but being able to back out of my driveway under electric power would be great.
I would have been willing to pay for a keyless (fob) car and would like to see this as a future option.
I wish the turn signals showed in the mirrors as well as on the front of them.
Overall this is a great car. My wishes are mostly minor. I didn't get the nav package but can attest they are great when you need them. If you are looking for a hybrid, seriously consider the Honda because it really delivers in MPG, safety, and air ventilation and more, it is a comfortable car to drive for long miles.
out of 24 user reviews
in its evolutionary phase
Pros: great start
Cons: still needs some help
The car does give a infinite feeling as you sit in the driving seat. It seems to project out more so then other cars giving a feeling of openess, which is good considering the size of the car not to mention the interior space. Staying in the interior the color integration is very well put together putting out a luxury lexus look. The auxililary input is very nice to have. This very simple, inexpensive add on was finally integraded into the car opening up the options for people who are anti - ipod even though there is an ipod adapter. The clarity of the instumental panels is laced with blue lights that give the readout of inportant diagnostic information of current conditions of the car such as oil level, A and B mile trackers, and temperature outside. There is also a assist and charging readout to see what state the car is in when driving. The audio controls are easy to navigate however there is a cheap to the console - too much plastic. The rocker switches on the steering wheel is very efficient.
Outside the car there is a nice aerodynamic look to it. The wheel size ratio to the car is somewhat off. The hub caps although design for a reason is something to get use to. The front end is very simplistic and aggressive looking.
The car drives very smooth after reaching desired speeds. However when accelerating and braking the car is very unstable. When hitting the gas pedal you feel the car straining to reach the speed being ask to. No shift shock counteracts this problem by giving it a smooth transition to higher speeds. The braking on the other hand is amazing. It takes very little pressure to begin to brake and slow the car down. It takes some time to get use too. I have lock up the brakes before accidently. The ignition and start up of the car is very smooth - replicating the push button start.
Overall this car is a start. Honda makes a good attempt at the hybrid market. Very efficient car. A good car if not sure if a hybrid car is for you - an easy transition.
out of 24 user reviews
Outstanding drive, elegant design A++
Pros: IMA, steering / braking assist, mpg, safety, exterior AND interior design, quiet,
Cons: no fold-down seats from rear, but not missed.
And, by the way, I drove a Prius, and that was every bit of a disappointment that the Honda has been a delightful surprise. (Tacky interior, cannot see behind, lousy user interface - you actually have to lean over into the middle of the car to read the radio / navigation instrument panel.)
With the 2006 HCH I cannot get over the elegant and functional instrument panel design. It appears simple, is packed with features, but most importantly, is very user-friendly.
I was actually very surprised by speed and agility. The only noticeable difference is takeoff at lights. The engine shuts down (saving emissions, gas) at full stops most of the time. (very quiet) As soon as you let up on the brake, it very, very quietly starts and proceeding slowly allows for (1) safe driving (2) less stress and (3) saving gas / emissions.
Some more info:
mpg - I just bought mine, it has not been "broken in" (which means better mpg) It has a 16 gallon tank. I've driven 250 miles and I've almost used a half tank. I've averaged 45 mpg, 125 miles driven on highway, the rest in town (los angeles)
battery - comes with 8-year/80,000-mile limited battery warranty. (depending on emissions standards) battery recharges w/ each drive - every time you brake, slow down, coast.
tax credit - $2100
hov sticker - -0- (as long as they last in CA)
safety - comes standard with side and front airbags (plus auto passenger sensors - front bags will not deploy if a child or underweight adult is sitting there.)
synthetic oil - better for car / emissions - and you get an additional 3 mpg to boot
Finally, there are a few excellent user forums to learn tips and tricks. I'm eager to learn about hypermiling. One person posted that they'd nearly gotten 1,000 miles out of one tank.
By the way, you can get MSRP - even here in California. I paid $22,150 before ttl. Destination / handling = $595
Oh, and - I am not associated, affiliated or in any way related to Honda!! Just a young grandmother happy to have made a wise choice.
out of 24 user reviews
Almost perfect...
Pros: MPG.... $$$SAVE$$$
Cons: No bluetooth!!! WHY?!?!
For everyone who says the costs dont add up for a hybrid, DO THE MATH!! $21,355 MSRP for EX Civic with Nav. $24,245 MSRP for Hybrid Civic Nav. Minus out your $2,100 tax credit and you're at $22,145 net cost apples to apples. How long would it take to make up $800 in gas??? I drive 25k miles per year and the difference in the hybrid to a normal civic is about 15mpg. At $3.00 per gallon it takes LESS ONE YEAR. Not to even mention the fact the hybrid will be worth considerably more money for resale....
Im far from a tree hugger... In fact I say "Screw the Caribou, DRILL ALASKA!!" but when the money makes sense like I just spelled out, why not?
One rant I'd like to throw in. A car with this much tech and a complete redesign for 2006 deserves bluetooth... What would the cost be to the manufacturer?? $200 maybe?? Pad the cost $300 and they'd still be selling just as well....
out of 24 user reviews
NO NO NO NO NO
Pros: Does help a little with the environment
Cons: cost cost cost
out of 24 user reviews
Examine the Car Vehicle Carefully...
Pros: It's a Honda
Cons: Engine Starts Up with You Take Your Foot Off the Brake
1. Big blind spot on the right side. For some reason, the Civic to me had a major blind spot on the right front where a support column is located. The windshield is curved and with the warped view, I could not see in that corner. I almost got into an accident. I adjusted my defensive driving procedure to make up for this blind spot. I did not have this problem with the Prius.
2. Engine starts up when you remove your foot off the brake. That was unnerving to me, because it would go into idle mode and propel the car forward if I did not have my foot on the brake. Prius was different, where the electric motor propels you first then the engine "catches up" to take you to a higher speed.
3. Blinking "Engine Off" indicator. Anything that flashes on the dash is a cause for emergency action. I had to learn not to panic with the turning signal. But the green blinking "Engine Off" when you are at a stop is real annoying. If I ended up owning the car, I would cut a small piece of black electrical tape to cover the blinking thingee.
So, I suggest examine the car vehicle carefully to ensure it meets your needs and annoyance factor
It is a very nice vehicle, but for me, the Prius was suitable for my needs.--GIF
out of 24 user reviews
Beautiful car!!
Pros: Performance - mpg ratio, fun to drive, ergonomics, design, innovation, echologically correct, personality
Cons: Just perfect.
out of 24 user reviews
A great car if you get the tax credit
Pros: Gas mileage, ride, seat comfort, style
Cons: tire noise, XM capability, engine noise
Acceleration is very good particularly from a stop. Don't expect muscle car performance (or gas consumption). It cruises very well at 80. Long trips are very comfortable thanks to the great seats.
I love watching SUV's at the gas station getting $75-$100 worth of gas and I get a fill up for about $22.
I also love the regenerative brakes. I make a game out of seeing how long I can keep the maximum power generation going when I am approaching a light or a stop sign. I win the game when I max out the battery level.
A lot has been said about the price differential of hybrids. To me, the extra cost does NOT add up unless you include the US government tax credit. I did the math and with the tax credits, the extra cost of the hybrid pays for itself in less than a year at today's gas prices. The Civic is also a much better deal than the Prius in this area because the Toyota dealers add about 3-4 grand to the sticker which is already higher than the Civic.
Watch out for the "XM Ready". The only thing that is ready is the button on the radio. There is about $300 worth of labor to install this $400 option. I read the instructions online and the work is a nightmare that should only be taken on by an experienced person. I just use my XM Skyfi2 and hook into the audio input which I love (a much simpler setup).
The tires do generate alot of road noise. I'm sure that will get better with a set of Michelins. Alos when the engine makes a lot of valve clatter when it revs (4000rpm) when your going up a hill at high speeds.
Bottom line is this is still a great car. Buy it as long as the tax credit is available.
Rating is wrong. It should be an 8 out of 10
out of 24 user reviews
Still the same car as 2005
Pros: The style and new model
Cons: fuel eficiency and weird looking for interior.
out of 24 user reviews
Near Perfect Hybrid
Pros: Well Equipped Well Designed Car
Cons: Maybe a bit too cute
out of 24 user reviews
EPA MPG very close
Pros: great interior; great mpg; great ride
Cons: no split down rear seat
One thing I really like about the Civic Hybrid is the styling. I like that it looks like a car and not a space pod. I love the interior. It is very refined. I'm not partial to the Prius' swoopy dash and strange gear shift and push button parking brake. The interior in the Civic is just pleasing and very well thought out.
The voice recognition is superb and another safety feature. You can say "find nearest gas station" and it will find you a station and plot you a course to it immediately. You can say "show parking garages" and it will display icons of all the parking garages in your area. Let's say you're on the freeway and the traffic is really backed up. You can say "detour" and the system will immediately plot you a new course, rerouting you off the highway and around using surface streets. Really handy if you're in an unfamiliar area. The voice recognition is also hooked into the climate control and audio systems so you can say "temperature 72" or "play next track".
Finally, I was blown away by the standard safety features the Civic Hybrid offers: 6 standard airbars (2 up front, 2 front side bags and 2 rear curtain); active head restraints where the car will sense a rear collision and automatically raise and push the head restraints forward to brace your neck; A.C.E. body structure. This is new for Honda and they'll roll it out into all Honda models but the Civic is first. Basically, the frame of the car is designed in such a way that there are two different pathways for energy to be rerouted around the passenger cage: one for head on with a normal car and another with a raised center point of collision (read:SUV). The car also supports a 4 channel ABS system and the computer can supply 2 different ABS braking patterns based on conditions.
Honda is known first as an engine company, then as a car company and the engine on the Civic is a fine example of this. It is a 1.3 liter 4 cylinder that I find has good power to get on freeways as well as to pass. The engine is very advanced. It is an iVTEC engine meaning that the onboard systems can switch the valve timing to meet different load demands. Also, the engine features variable cylinder management (VCM) where all 4 cylinders can be deactivated: no fuel being consumed. The transmission on the Civic Hybrid is Continuously Variable (CVT). This means there are no gears. No shifting, just infinitely smooth acceleration. The CVT also allows the engine to stay in its optimal RPM range thereby increasing fuel economy. Finally, there is a very flat but efficient electric motor sandwiched between the gas engine and the drivetrain. The battery pack is located behind the rear passenger seats which is why they don't fold down. The electric motor provides great high-end torque when you need it (like taking off from a light or passing on the freeway). The entire Honda hybrid system is collectively known as IMA (Integrated Motor Assist). It is different than Toyota's HSD (Hybrid Synergy Drive). I prefer the IMA system because of its engineering simplicity. Being an engineer I subscribe to the theory that the less complication there is in a system, the less chance there is for something to go wrong. In the end, the two real-world MPG's are almost exactly the same (check out www.greenhybrid.com for real world fuel estimates on the two).
How do all these systems work together? Well, taking off from a light, the electric motor kicks in and gives you good starting torque. As you pick up speed, the gas engine provides more and more power. The iVTEC switches to low valve timing as you level out to highway cruising speeds. This means the engine is in lean burn mode. The engine RPMs are around 1800 at 60MPG which is unheard of for an engine this small. If you need to accelerate on the freeway, the iVTEC switches to high valve timing for added power. The electric motor also kicks in to give you a boost. As you go downhill or coast, the VCM kicks in and all the cylinders are shut down. Basically, the engine turns off. All is quiet as your fly down the road. Occassionally, the electric motor will kick in to assist in maintaining speed. As you hit the breaks to slow down, the rengerative braking system kicks in and slows the car down by reversing the electric motor which acts as a braking system as it recharges the batteries. This means less wear on your brakes. The whole system is seamless is amazingly efficient.
One incorrect statement in the review is that the 2006 Civic Hybrid cannot power the car alone on electric. This was true for the 2005 version but is not the case for 2006. The electric motor on the 2006 can and does power the car on its own under certain load conditions. The electric motor isn't big enought to get the car moving on its own from a stop. But, on level surface streets or on the freeway, the engine VCM will kick in shutting down the gas engine and the electric motor will power the car. This happens to me on the freeway quite a bit and its cool because all you hear in wind.
Great car. Long review but I hope it was helpful.
out of 24 user reviews
Great Milage and Comfy!
Pros: Excellent milage, comfortable ride, stylish, cmall for parallel parking
Cons: Annoying anit-hybrid users! No moonroof, and smaller sound system
The driver seat is much more comfy then the Pirus, and is heigth adjustable, unlike the Pirus. The Pirus speedometer is much smaller and harder to read then the Civic hybrid.
Honda did everything possible to reduce the weight of the vehicle. No moonroof, electric seats, heated seats, and they installed a smaller sound system, probably to reduce the drain on the batteries.
The Nav system is coolio.
The car handles much better then the Pirus. The Pirus is like most Toyotas, soft and floaty.There is a six month waiting list for Civic hybrids in the NY area. Fuel prices are not falling anytime soon. If you only need a small car, I recommend this one.
out of 24 user reviews
SUPERB!! GREAT PRICE/FEATURES/LUXARY
Pros: Spacy Dashboard/Useful Hookups/Roomy Interior
Cons: No frimness/softness control for seats THATS IT!!
out of 24 user reviews
Highly Recommended
Pros: Great Gas miliage
Cons: No cup holders in the back seat
We have tested the gas miliage. After months of owning it we have learned that it averages 46 MPG in the city. The engine actualy turns off when you stop at a red light and INSTANTLY turns back on when you take your foot off the brake. No hesitation. You would never know the engine was off if you have your radio turned up. Pretty cool.
We have tested the miliage on the highway on 5 trips so far. We have discovered that the MPG is relate to our speed (go figure). At a constant 65 MPH set on cruise we consistantly get 51-55 MPG. We drove back roads once and at only a constant 55 MPG (6 hr trip) we got 61 MPG. Then we drove the interstate at a constant 70 MPH and got 46 MPG.
Therefore we believe that the rating of 51 MPG highway was tested at driving a constant 65 MPG.
Needles to say we are very happy. The Civic has plenty of leg, head and elbow room. We average 46 MPH city and 51 MPH highway.
I recommnd you test drive a 2006 hybrid. It has plenty of power. It of course is not a race car, but it has plenty of get up and go to merge into traffic and GREAT gas milliage. Our last trip was a total 12 hr round trip and we spent $25.00 on gas. Yeah we are loving it!
out of 24 user reviews
Wow! That review was DEAD wrong. Read MotorTrend's review.
Pros: Gas mileage, acceleration, comfort, handling, near-zero emmisions, sound system, Civic resale value
Cons: Smaller trunk
When I read CNET's review I was shocked. I found the article very misleading in terms of acceleration, "rough ride", and interior noise. I tested 12 other cars (all non-luxury/performance, including Prius), and when comparing mpg, acceleration, handling/feel, and noise, the Civic Hybrid easily won. This car can EASILY merge w/ highway traffic, and pass at-an-instant on a single-lane road. Some of the other qualities include speed-sensitive volume (sound-system) control, 6 air-bags, well-placed hand controls, easily viewed digital speedometer, moveable middle armrest, soothing (not sleep-inducing) and controllable blue display, and tilting/telescoping steering wheel.
Bottom line: I've owned "american" cars and toyotas and hondas (all non-luxury/performance), and this car is, BY FAR, my favorite.
out of 24 user reviews
no thanks ! don't see the potential yet
Pros: good resale value while demand is still strong
Cons: $5,300 more than Civic LX 4dr Auto
In reality, people and governments who are buying these trendy silly things are wasting money and not achieving any real savings.
---What is the true cost of owning these things when future battery replacement costs are thrown into the real calculation? Where is the info on future "proprietary battery" costs (Will Sears sell 'DieBrid'/will Costco sell 'KirkBrids' or will they only come from Toyota at top dollar)? What about the higher cost oil changes that require local mechanics to get special syn oils from the dealers or the higher cost low roll resistance tires? What about other repairs that may appear on new tech electronic systems that these things need to function?
Let others experiment with their money.
---Real example: A 2.7 liter V6 Dodge Intrepid achieves real 29-31 mpg on highway trips with AC running in NY metro area with plenty of traffic at times; the car new cost $20,900 w/taxes; has required only regular oil changes, normal brake pads, and new tires in 5 years of ownership. How is that going to be bettered by spending approx $23,500 for this smaller Civic Hybrid that sees 40 mpg with a "rough" engine? (see CNET and other reader's review) Where is the logic for me to look at a hybrid now?
---People are keeping cars for longer periods of time (9 years plus and growing) per the latest news. Will hybrid owners keep their cars that long that or just sell it after 3-4 years (BEFORE the batteries go flat and wont recharge) while the hype is still strong and used buyers will be willing to overpay for these things?
---Time will tell; I won't be part of the experiment.
In my opinion, I am not over spending to buy a hybrid.
Why such rude denial of my right to my opinion?! I dont believe in hybrids and have all the right to say so! Over spend your money any way YOU see fit.
Or is it your way or no way?
And yes, on full highway trips (NOT IN NYC traffic) I regularly see 29-31 mpg. Did I ever say NYC traffic? NO! Re-read carefully.
How much do your replacment hybrid batteries cost? Does anyone out there have that info?? Let's hear it from anyone with real info on the batteries- not braggarts who have to justify their over spending.
out of 24 user reviews
Highly recommended!
Pros: fun to drive, great mileage, classy design, roomy interior, comfortable to drive
Cons: expensive...
On the interior, the new dash design is very efficient. Digital speedometer is easy to read even in direct sunglight. An outside temperature gauge toggles with average mpg, oil life and odometer displays and an instant mpg gauge toggles with the engine temperature gauge. The stereo/heating controls are integrated into the middle of dash, for a nice even look (I don't envy the person who plans to upgrade the stereo system on their own) and there's an ipod or mp3 player input jack. The blue/purple backlighting on the controls is sporty without being distracting and the audio/cruise controls on the steering wheel are long overdue in a small car.
From the outside the car looks little, but it's actually roomier on the inside than previous Civics. The hood is short and aerodynamic and the overall look is quite nice.
If you're not impressed with hybrid technology, the non-hybrid Civics have similar features, the same design, good mileage and a cheaper price. But for people who want to have the benefits of hybrid technology and also enjoy driving, look no further.
