2003 Honda Civic Hybrid

No one loves a performance car more than I. The bigger the engine, the faster the stats, the more frightening it is, the happier I am. But I gotta tell you, I get into this smooth, peppy little four-door 2003 Honda Civic Hybrid with its thrifty gas-electric powertrain and I find myself thinking, “Why aren’t we all driving this car?”

Unlike the Honda Insight with its odd shape, two seats and a rear bank of batteries, the Civic Hybrid is a normal car. It is virtually the same vehicle as the gas-powered Civic, only engineered to get 48 miles to the gallon both city and highway when equipped with the Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT). Mine came with a five-speed manual, which pushes the highway EPA rating to 51 highway.

But I’m getting ahead of myself with specifics. The bottom line is this Civic Hybrid is the first alternatively powered vehicle I’ve tested that feels like a real solution.

The future looks bright, indeed.

The Good News
I’ve already spilled the good news, but allow me to elaborate.

First off, a little on how the Civic Hybrid operates. It uses a version of Honda’s Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) technology found in the Insight. The Civic has a 1.3-liter 4-cylinder gas engine assisted by a high-output electric motor. The electric motor also acts as a generator during braking and deceleration, thus automatically recharging the nickel-metal hydride battery, so the Civic never needs to be plugged in like a golf cart.

Working in concert via IMA, these two powerplants generate 93 horses and 116 lb-ft of torque. Considering the fuel economy, the easy acceleration and ultra low emissions, that’s just fine with me.

Even though the Civic Hybrid appears to be a clone of the gas-powered Civic, there are a few modifications. A front air dam, rear spoiler and some underbody panel changes reduce drag coefficient, making it more slippery and therefore more fuel efficient. Also, the power steering uses electric assist so as not to drag on the engine, and special tires give it an easier roll.

But you feel like you’re driving a regular Civic, both on the highway and around town. That’s especially pronounced in the ride that, compared to the Insight, feels grounded and very smooth. What jumped out at me about the Insight (besides its quirky shape and limited interior) was how ultralight it felt and how flimsy the ride was. There is neither sensation in the Civic.

It’s a real car.

The air conditioning (automatic climate control, no less) works perfectly, as do all the usual power accessories, cruise control, four-wheel antilock brakes, AM/FM/CD and dual-stage airbags for driver and passenger. All this, by the way, is standard equipment.

The Bad News
If you’re so enamored with your big gas-guzzling whatever that you’ve made your bed in the garage, you may have trouble accepting the tradeoffs for economy. Outgunning your neighbor at stoplights would definitely be a thing of the past.

Our current preoccupation with such large vehicles, sport utilities in particular, does pose some threat for those who choose any small economy car, hybrid or otherwise. But I feel far more substantial in this four-door Civic Hybrid than I did in the Insight.

The other concern some buyers have is investing in new technology early on and the availability of knowledgeable technicians if something goes wrong. All I have to say to that is this is a Honda. Dealers are everywhere and the company stands behind its technology.

Gas mileage
EPA rated at 47 mpg city/51 highway with 5-speed manual

Price
Manufacturer’s base, $19,550;
Price as tested, $20,010

Is it worth it?
The Civic Hybrid is at least $3,000 more than a gas-powered Civic LX or close to the price of an Accord. Figuring that $3,000 buys a lot of fuel, this Hybrid looks less like a money-saver than you might expect.

But there are other considerations. The knowledge that you’re saving other precious resources, not to mention the luxury of passing right on by Exxon for days at a time, these are worth something, too.

Personally, I am quite taken with this little Civic Hybrid. Although I haven’t driven the hybrid Toyota Prius which is also a four-door, I love the fact this Civic started life as a normal car, something the rest can’t claim.

What’s more it continues life as a normal, very nice car, inside and out, instead of looking like some environmental freak. It gives me hope that our alternatives will continue to improve and the market will make room for them. Time will tell.

Beth Stein is a life-long car buff and free-lance journalist living in Nashville. She has reviewed new vehicles in print for 12 years as a weekly columnist for Nashville’s daily newspapers and on television for Road Test Magazine and Motor Trend Television. Currently, her reviews appear nationally on Car And Driver Television.

• by Beth Stein
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