2006 Honda Civic Hybrid Review

Specifications

What a Difference a Model Year Makes

What a year its been for motorists! I cant say that the astronomically high fuel prices, which went up to $3.00 per gallon in some parts of the country, are as difficult to live with as those long lineups at filling stations during the fuel shortage of the mid-70s, but they sure are changing the way most of us drive. I, for one, am a little lighter on the throttle than I used to be, enjoy thrifty gas misers more than gluttonous premium vehicles, at least over long periods of time, and if Im stuck with a gas guzzler, tend to fill up with a lower grade of gas than I would have before the $2.50+ per gallon era.

Ive heard similar stories from friends and colleagues, many of which are thinking about going smaller for their next vehicle, or leaning toward diesel or hybrid technology. Personally, Im a big fan of both. Diesel is a less complicated way to solve one aspect of the current fuel crisis, increasing range from a tank of fuel and therefore reducing consumption. Diesels also lower greenhouse gas emissions over traditional gasoline engines, partially due to using less fuel, but some emissions, such as nitrogen oxides and particulates, are often increased. Theres also the problem of 2007 emission regulations, and the fact that there isnt a single diesel sold anywhere in the world that currently meets them.

While automakers such as Volkswagen, which sells a substantial portion of its new vehicles with TDI diesel engines, and Mercedes-Benz, which has long offered diesel power to an extremely loyal clientele, will no doubt find ways to meet the 2007 regulations, a small number of rival manufacturers arent worried one iota about such problems. Rather, Toyota, Honda, Ford, and to some extent GM, are raking in market share, if not profits, with hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs). With noticeable benefits in fuel economy where it matters most, in the city, and very often advantages in acceleration, hybrids are not only becoming the darlings of the environmental movement, but also answering consumers need for a more economical transportation alternative.

Of course, doing the right thing has a price, which only last year was $19,900. Now, that price has increased to $21,850, $23,350 with the optional navigation system, which puts hybrid ownership even more out of reach of those needs driven consumers who could use the fuel savings most. That sum does buy a fully optioned Civic, mind you, a much better car overall than the 2005 model, and its still less than a top-tier Civic GX CVT with ABS - although that car comes with leather seating surfaces and trim, plus additional goodies. 
OK, enough already, the new Civic Hybrid is a good deal. So what makes it all that more enticing than the old model?

Well, styling for one. The new Hybrid enjoys all of the design upgrades that make the conventional Civic sedan a real head-turner, such as a sportier front end treatment incorporating sharply angled headlamp clusters, a new chromed grille insert, flowing character lines that run from the front wheel arches, across the cars shoulders and through to the its tail end, bypassing raked A-pillars and large exterior mirrors, integrating unique triangular turn signals - exclusive to the Hybrid.

The rear design looks most distinctive, unlike previous Civics that either appeared too staid to inspire comment or left the impression of being heavily from one of Mercedes-Benzs sports models. Now, the sedans taillights are positively original, and shaped in such a complicated yet pleasing form as to make describing them without the help of a photo near impossible. The Hybrids wheels are also unique, and designed with minimal openings to enhance aerodynamics.

Inside, its surfaces are equally complex, but once again attractively laid out, especially in Hybrid trim. While all Civics get a unique dual binnacle instrument gauge package, which includes one set of electronic dials in the traditional location behind the steering wheel and the other cluster atop the dash, directly below the drivers line of sight when looking at the road ahead, allowing for quick referencing of primary controls without compromising safety, the Hybrid features more metal-like surfaces than its siblings, and combined with the already higher-than-average quality plastics found in every Civic it appears as technically advanced as its sophisticated drivetrain is technically advanced.

Yes, Honda has pulled no punches in reintroducing its top-selling HEV, equipping it with the most advanced hybrid drivetrain in its history. No longer will Toyota Prius and Ford Escape Hybrid fans be able to play the “full hybrid” royal flush against Hondas “mild hybrid” full house - full hybrid is now the common terminology for explaining a system that can drive on full electric power without internal combustion engine (ICE) assistance, rather than an “engine assist” system that merely helps the ICE along without ever taking over propulsion on its own (mild or partial hybrid) - as the 2006 Civic Hybrid can now silently roll away from a stoplight, just like its rivals. Just what this particular feat of engineering has ever done to reduce fuel economy or lower emissions has never been quantified, but it is mighty cool and prepares the way for fuel cell technology to take over from the ICE when an infrastructure delivering economically priced hydrogen is in place.

But the reality of a hydrogen economy seems too far into the future to be taken seriously today; therefore HEVs are the only non-diesel alternative that makes any sense. And with this in mind, how well does the Civic Hybrid perform? Well, that depends on what I mean by perform. In the traditional sense of the word, its 110-horsepower total output, maximized at 6,000 rpm, and 123 lb-ft of torque, available way down at 1,000 rpm thanks to the electric motor portion of the drive system, allows it to move away from stoplights with more power than is necessary to keep up with the flow of traffic, zips along the highway with more than enough speed to cause problems with the authorities, and goes about each process in a controlled and stable manner.

Actually, while all Civics offer a larger, more comfortable interior, I was especially impressed with the new Hybrid, which is smooth, quiet and overall a dream on the open highway, accelerating quickly via its efficient continuously variable transmission and maintaining Chicagos rather rapid highway speeds for long periods of time without any compromise when compared to a conventionally powered Civic sedan. I should mention, however, that overall the Civics ride, whether in hybrid, regular sedan or base coupe guise, while smoother over uneven pavement, is sportier than the outgoing Civic, managing corners with less body lean and braking in a more controlled manner thanks to a fully independent, control-link MacPherson strut front and reactive-link double wishbone rear suspension setup. So, it performs extremely well, to answer the first portion of that question.

To answer the second part, how it performs from a fuel consumption and environmental perspective, I dont think youll be disappointed either. Where the conventionally-powered Civic achieves an impressive 30 mpg in the city and 41 mpg on the highway, the new Civic Hybrid delivers a stunning 50 mpg city and 55 mpg highway rating, allowing it a maximum driving range of about 600 miles per tank-full. Whats more, the Civic Hybrid manages Advanced-Technology Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (AT-PZEV) certification.

And what about safety? A set of dual stage, dual threshold front driver and passenger airbags are included standard, as are front occupant side airbags, plus side curtain airbags for front and rear outside passengers. In case you were staring at the page in dumbfounded shock once again, thats eight standard airbags. Dual seatbelt pretensioners and active front head restraints are also part of the standard package, as is Hondas Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) Body Structure, all combining to assist the new Civic in attaining top marks in the NHTSA NCAP crash safety tests.

The Hybrid gets some items that are extra on other Civic models, such as an auto up/down drivers side
window and auto up window on the passengers side, power door locks,
heated and remote controlled body-color sideview mirrors, body-color door handles, cruise control, steering-wheel mounted cruise and audio buttons, variable intermittent wipers, an air filtration system, keyless entry that includes a trunk release and an engine immobilizer, front and center console 12-volt adaptors, and an upgraded 160-watt six-speaker AM/FM/CD audio system that includes an auxiliary jack for an iPod - the latter convenience exclusive to the Hybrid.

There are more Hybrid exclusives too, such as standard Brake Assist (BA), a safety feature that senses the application speed and pressure rate a driver places on the brake pedal, and if needed applies the brakes more firmly than most drivers ever would, reducing braking distances and therefore minimizing prospective accidents. BA complements the four-wheel discs with ABS and electronic brake force distribution (EBD) that come standard on all Civic sedans.

The Hybrid is also the only Civic to feature those cool triangular turn signals on the sideview mirrors I spoke of earlier, a unique rear decklid spoiler, automatic climate control instead of basic air conditioning, digital fuel mileage indicator, and a bevy of hybrid-only digital instruments in the gauge clusters.

The only option is a navigation system, as previously mentioned.

The Hybrid does not include the one-touch power moonroof standard on the EX, and there isnt a rear seat armrest, also only available on the EX. All other Civics include a folding rear seatback too, with the EX getting a 60/40 split-folding rear seatback, but no such convenience with the Hybrid.

Of course, when your monthly credit card bill comes and your fuel costs have been cut substantially, will you really be concerned about that time you couldnt fit your mountain bike into the slightly smaller, 10.4 cubic foot trunk? You got a bike rack, problem solved? Honda has many accessories for making the Civic Hybrid, and other Civics more convenient.

So whether it makes more sense than ever to get an HEV due to the Civic Hybrids many improvements, or its higher price now puts it out of your budgets reach, will have to be a decision you make. My guess is that Honda will dramatically increase its Civic Hybrid sales despite the higher price, as this vehicle is so much more advanced than its predecessor, and so much more enjoyable to drive. It certainly deserves your attention.