Canon Puts Efficiency On Press
Entered CNET Catalog: 02/08/2007
SKU: 100825608
Manufacturer: American Honda Motor Company, Incorporated
Product summary
The good: The 2007 Honda Civic Hybrid delivers excellent fuel economy and emissions numbers while not compromising too much in the way of performance. Voice-controlled navigation and satellite radio are good tech options for the price.
The bad: The gas engine's automatic shut-off feature causes driveline shudders, making for a rough ride in stop-and-go driving. The gas engine can feel underpowered when working alone.
The bottom line: Honda's reputation for practical economy is shown in the Civic Hybrid, well-built and simply designed to sip fuel. Interior tech options are usefully done, making this Honda a great commuter sedan.
Editors' review
- Editors' Choice: No
- Reviewed on: 04/16/2007
Photo gallery:
2007 Honda Civic Hybrid
The 2007 Honda Civic Hybrid may have relinquished its title as the Mercedes E320 Bluetec diesel, but the previous winner hasn't changed much since we reviewed a 2006 Civic Hybrid last year. As then, our 2007 test car was equipped with the main option: voice-controlled touch screen navigation, which remains one of the best such systems we've used (it also appears in Acura models).
The combination of a miserly hybrid power configuration and a welcome dose of interior tech make the Civic Hybrid a formidable rival to its only real competition, the Toyota Prius. The redesign of the Civic line for 2006 seemed to take some cues from the futuristic shape of the Prius, notably in the extreme rake of the windshield, but the latest Civics have been as well-received as earlier versions and are comfortable inside.
Test the tech: Welcome to L.A.
For our test of the 2007 Civic Hybrid, we gave it a chance to stretch its legs a bit with a road trip from San Francisco to Los Angeles and back. Hybrids are generally acknowledged to realize their best mileage gains in city driving, where frequent regenerative braking and low-speed electric-only operation can be exploited (the Civic Hybrid can operate electric-only under very specific circumstances, which we never encountered). We wanted to see what sort of efficiency we could get for an extended highway trip if we kept cruising speeds relatively low and--as we assumed upon reaching the 405 freeway near L.A.--mixed in some stop-and-go traffic to see what it would do to fuel economy.
When we topped up the tank before leaving San Francisco, it didn't occur to us that we would reach Huntington Beach before needing to refuel again, but that's exactly what happened. Having traveled 466.3 miles, it took almost exactly 10 gallons to refill the Civic, for an overall average of 46.6mpg for the trip. This also meant that there was a fair amount of fuel left in the 12.3 gallon tank, and that under the right circumstances a cruising range of over 500 miles should be possible.
Interestingly, the average mpg gauge--which resets with the trip odometer and updates every 10 minutes--didn't show an appreciable move either way between extended steady-state cruising around 75mph and the inevitable clogged freeways we encountered on nearing Los Angeles. Also of note, the gauge read low compared to our calculated average over the trip south: 42.6mpg compared to the true 46.6.
Our choice of the coastal Highway 101 route over the shorter but monotonous Interstate 5 option may have been beneficial to the mileage recorded. Mostly flat and curvier than the arrow-straight I-5, the 101 is usually taken at around 70-75mph, which is in the Civic Hybrid's sweet spot. This longer route foiled editor Kevin Massy's attempt to get the E320 Bluetec to Beverly Hills and back on one tank of gas, but allowed the Civic Hybrid to make the most of its particular strengths.
On our return trip, we struggled through morning traffic back north on the 405 but took the I-5 route from there, and our mileage wasn't nearly as good. The long climb through the Grapevine had the small gas engine revving mightily to maintain momentum, and the increased cruising speeds once on flat ground meant that the northbound trip wasn't as efficient an affair (although travel time was, naturally, shorter). We calculated 42.3mpg while the odometer gauge figured it at 36.2.
In the cabin
Inside the Civic Hybrid, there is the impression of forward thinking thanks to some unconventional split-level gauge placement and the two-spoke steering wheel. The layout works well, with the tachometer, battery-assist indicator, odometer, and various warning lights viewed through the steering wheel; the digital speedometer, fuel gauge, and toggling mpg/temperature gauge are set in a row above the rim of the wheel. The steering wheel has a nice, grippy covering and thumb rests at 9 and 3 o'clock, and the spokes have controls for the audio system, cruise control, and voice-recognition activation.
The optional voice-controlled navigation system is the highlight of the cabin tech in the Civic (Bluetooth cell phone integration is unfortunately not available), and we continue to enjoy using it. We've seen better graphics and resolution (generally in much more expensive cars), but the voice recognition system and the overall ease of use are excellent. Using either the 7-inch touch screen or spoken commands works well for destination inputs, although we again noticed that using the voice system took longer, as each step requires confirmation. Map display is configurable with a split-screen look and audible route instructions have speed-sensitive volume adjustments.
Our test car was equipped with XM satellite radio, always a welcome companion for a full day's driving. We actually found ourselves listening to our iPod more this time around, which was easily connected to the audio system's auxiliary input. We also played a few tracks off our Sony Ericsson k790, with similar ease. Sound quality from the base 160-watt stereo was, as we noted previously, somewhat underwhelming but clear enough. MP3 and WMA discs can be played in the single-CD player behind the tilt-out nav screen, with ID3 info displayed for MP3s. Also present is a PC card slot, a feature Honda has been offering for some time but which we've seen little of elsewhere.
The front seats proved comfortable and supportive, if slightly firm, over the course of the trip. Adjustment is all manual, but effective, and a tilting and telescoping steering wheel is a nice touch in a car at this price. 12V power outlets are placed next to the aux input low in the middle of the dash and in the center console, which is topped with a sliding armrest. We were surprised that the rear seats didn't fold down for trunk access at all, but otherwise the interior is a nice no-nonsense environment.
Under the hood
When it comes to the performance of a hybrid, considerations like acceleration times and lateral g's are secondary to the goals of efficiency and conservation. The Civic Hybrid uses a 1.3-liter four-cylinder gas engine with iVTEC valve timing working eight valves, a continuously variable transmission, and an electric motor mounted between them. The gas engine is good for 110hp and 123 pound-feet of torque, and the electric motor can add up to 20hp and 76 pound-feet.
This doesn't sound like a whole lot of power, and on the road the Civic can struggle up grades, especially extended ones where the battery's assist capabilities diminish. The CVT does help by keeping the engine around its low-rpm torque peak until more revs are needed. But under most conditions, the dual nature of the power train is transparent.
One exception to this is the auto-idle stop feature which shuts off the engine at a stop, and refires it when the brake pedal is released. The cycling produces noticeable vibrations through the car and can produce some bucking when restarting following a brief pause, but worse is the flashing notification light below the tachometer. We still don't understand flashing dashboard "warnings" of normal operation, and hope this "feature" disappears from Honda hybrids in the future.
As we noted in the "test the tech" section, the Civic Hybrid returned mpg numbers in the mid-40s over the course of our week with the car. This isn't quite up to the EPA's ratings of 49mpg in the city and 51mpg highway, but is still quite respectable. With fuel prices nosing skyward once again as summer approaches, a hybrid looks more and more compelling as a commuter ride, and the ability to ride solo in less-congested carpool lanes is an added bonus. The Civic Hybrid also scores on the emissions front, with an AT-PZEV rating with zero evaporative emissions.
In sum
The 2007 Honda Civic Hybrid and the Toyota Prius are still the only compact hybrid sedans on the market, with other manufacturers preferring to make their larger sedans and SUVs more efficient via hybrid technology. The Civic line has long been regarded as the star of the compact economy segment, and the presence of the Civic Hybrid is in keeping with Honda's ballyhooed image as "the most fuel-efficient car company in America."
Our test car--with the navigation system and XM radio options--stickers at $25,234 including destination charges, according to Honda's Web site. A nonhybrid Civic EX with navigation and automatic transmission starts at $21,260, so there is still a premium to pay for the extra tech hardware of the Hybrid. The efficiency gains might not make up the difference in price over a normal ownership period, but the eco-friendly performance and real-world advantages of hybrid ownership, like carpool access and tax breaks, can help swing the deal in the hybrid's favor.
User opinions
Select a User Opinion to view: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13out of 13 user reviews
good but not what I expected mileage wise
Pros: Beautiful to look at and drive. Great sound and interior design. Really enjoying having the XM radio included, too.
Cons: I don't like that I can't tell where I'm going when I'm backing up - it's too dark through the shaded window. I've already nicked the bumper twice and need to repaint it.
out of 13 user reviews
No disappointment!
Pros: mileage, GPS, balance of style and performance
Cons: mileage could be better, rear legroom (of course)
out of 13 user reviews
Very poor gas mileage and customer service!!!
Pros: The style of the Honda Civic Hybrid is very appealing, however, don't be drawn into that appeal. The performance is not worth the money.
Cons: Honda simply doesn't care about it's customer's concerns. Not on a dealership or corporate level. The dealerships are clueless as to why the civic hybrid loses MPG over time. Check the www.hybridcars.com forum for more discussion on this issue.
I went in for an oil change and tire rotation at 14,000 miles, and was told that the inspection indicator on the dash was requesting that a full vehicle inspection be conducted. Since my gas mileage had went from 41mpg to 34mpg, I agreed to pay the $150.00 to Sunnyside Honda in Parma OH for the inspection. My vehicle at that time was only 8mos old and straight off the boat directly to me.
Following the inspection, I was told the control arm was defective, and that both rear tires needed to be replaced as a result. The dealership would only replace the control arm and not the rear tires, since the vehicle was over 12,000 miles.
I contacted American Honda customer relations and was told that the tires would not be covered. Why? Because I did not get a tire rotation sooner, and furthermore, that factory Honda tires do not have a mileage rating. This ill logic was the case managers conclusion for not covering the tire replacement. Overall, I paid out over $300.00 for Honda's negligence.
As you can well understand, I am not a happy and proud Honda Civic Hybrid owner at this time. To all that read this, I hope you will get the control arm checked. This is a grave safety issue and Honda Motors is severely negligent to its Honda owners. Personally, I feel they're customer care philosophy, is customer care"less".
Since then, my gas mileage has further decreased to 32 miles to the gallon. FYI, it's not the weather. I moved to NC and it's still dropping. I'm absolutely disgusted because I could have saved a lot of money by purchasing a non-hybrid vehicle, and probably with higher gas mileage.
out of 13 user reviews
Form follows function - great car, great mileage...
Pros: Clean design. Great mileage.
Cons: No moonroof.
out of 13 user reviews
This car only averages 31 miles a gallon!
Pros: It's roomy.
Cons: This car's gas mileage is poor for a hybrid.
out of 13 user reviews
Best commuter car on the market
Pros: Efficient without compromises
Cons: Acceleration a bit weak
out of 13 user reviews
Great commuter and highway driver
Pros: Fit and finish; attractive styling; comfortable, even for 6+ footers, good handling car
Cons: Limited trunk space
The car's acceleration will never be confused with that of a sports car, but cornering and braking are quite good and the car has a very solid feel. I don't know what the guy barking about tires is all about; our car has just gone over 16K miles in ten months and the tires are in great shape.
out of 13 user reviews
Works Great for Me
Pros: Gas Milage, Comfort, Quiet, Voice Navigation / Radio / Climate Control
Cons: No Bluetooth for my phone
out of 13 user reviews
I had a 2006 I just got rid of
Pros: the mileage was around 40. trade value
Cons: 2 recalls tires bald after 14000 miles.
out of 13 user reviews
This car is the best 2007 hybrid overall
Pros: Safe; Efficent; Inexpensive; Attractive;
Cons: Limited paint colors and lower than some mpg
out of 13 user reviews
Fantastic Hybrid and a joy to drive!!!!
Pros: Highway gas mileage (47 mpg plus), good visibility
Cons: No master interior light switch, back seat does not fold down
out of 13 user reviews
Beware. MPG falls in Cold Weather.
Pros: Ok in warm climates.
Cons: Not for cool/cold climates.
This was not as pronounced in our 2003 Civic Hybrid and Honda is very quiet on the issue.
-> BEWARE THE STEERING. Honda's ads talk up the handling of their product but take this model and the non-hybrid Civic for a spin and you'll find the steering to be almost dangerous at times in the 2006/7 Civic Hybrid.
Bottomline. These issues were not in the 2003 to 2005 models. Honda has lost the magic for 2006 and 2007 so look to the Prius.
Me? Wish I bought the Prius.
out of 13 user reviews
Great commuter, OK on trips
Pros: Fuel economy, build quality, ride and handling
Cons: FM radio reception
FM radio reception is a disappointment. Moderately-powered local stations come through with frequent pops that I never experienced in my '94 Infiniti. Perhaps it's the tiny rooftop antenna or just a cheap radio. CD and AUX sources are fine.
All in all, a great commuting vehicle.
