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2008 Honda Civic Hybrid Road Test

With gas prices consistently hovering around the $3 per gallon mark, it's now crucial for most consumers to seriously consider fuel consumption when shopping for a new vehicle. So here are your choices.

Honda Civic Hybrid is thriftier than conventional gasoline-powered compacts. (Photo: Kevin Wang, American Auto Press)

There's the efficient group, the extremely efficient group and the ultra-efficient group. The first consists of compact examples such as the Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic, Nissan Versa, Ford Focus, Nissan Sentra and Hyundai Elantra, in order of efficiency according to the EPA. Thriftier still are the conventional gasoline-powered subcompacts such as the Toyota Yaris, Honda Fit, Kia Rio, Hyundai Accent and Chevrolet Aveo, again in order of efficiency. The ultras? Of course, it's the hybrids, including Toyota's Prius at the lead, Honda's Civic Hybrid following closely thereafter and a litany of others, including a number of midsize hybrids and compact SUVs that beat regular compacts as fuel misers. And let's not forget the new smart fortwo, a spendthrift of the highest order. For most though, the smart will be too small, which leaves hybrids as the way to go for practical fuel savings. And of the hybrids, the most affordable one of all in America is the Honda Civic Hybrid.

Redesigned

Hybrids are the fuel economy leaders. (Photo: Kevin Wang, American Auto Press)

in 2006, this second generation Civic Hybrid sees no changes for model year 2008 except for the fuel consumption rating. It's now dropped from an unattainable 49 mpg in the city and 51 mpg on the highway to a more realistic 40 mpg in the city and 45 mpg on the highway, thanks to a more realistic ratings format that affects all vehicles. So, how realistic is this new rating? I covered 65 miles and used 1.3 gallons of regular unleaded fuel. To get those numbers I simply topped up the car, drove the distance, and topped it up again. The numbers translate to 50 mpg, which falls perfectly in between model year 2007's figures and 2008's. And on top of that, my commutes were roughly 50-percent in the city and 50-percent on the highway. This goes to show that Honda's ratings are attainable. If you were to crunch the numbers even further and take into consideration that the Civic Hybrid's gas tank volume is 12.3 gallons, you'll be able to cover 615 miles

The heart of the Civic Hybrid is its IMA powertrain. (Photo: Kevin Wang, American Auto Press)

on a single tank of fuel. And if the gas price is $3.00 per gallon you'll be looking at spending $36.90 for it. But as you see, this works out to a measly six cents per mile. Tell that to a taxi driver.

So, how do you get these numbers? Well, you're going to have to change your driving habits. You can't drive the Civic Hybrid like you stole it. It's not going to work. You're probably better off getting the regular Civic, instead. Let's put it this way: in order to attain 50 mpg regularly you'll have to drive like a police cruiser is following behind you all the time. That means you'll have to drive as smoothly as you possibly can and never breach the speed limit.

Thankfully, being a hybrid, the Civic Hybrid has technology packed in to reward

Power to the unique front wheels is adequate, and the low-rolling resistant tires provide reasonable grip. (Photo: Kevin Wang, American Auto Press)

you for such efforts. Honda calls it Integrated Motor Assist or IMA. Its system consists of a nickel-metal hydride battery pack and an ultra-efficient engine. The electric motor itself is capable of 20 horsepower and 66 pound-feet of torque, while the 1.3-liter 4-cylinder engine pumps out 93 horsepower and 89 pound-feet of torque for a combined rating of 110 horsepower and 123 pound-feet of torque. As you accelerate from a stop, the engine provides the majority of thrust. Should you need more, the electric motor will assist. While cruising at steady speeds below 35 mph on flat road surfaces using light throttle inputs, Honda claims the fuel injection system will shut down, thereby allowing the car to run on electric juice alone. Unfortunately, after many attempts, I wasn't successful at getting this to work. At speeds above 35 mph, the gasoline engine is the car's primary source of power, with the battery standing by should you need that extra boost. According to theory, every hill you ascend must later be descended. And here's where the

The Civic Hybrid's brakes are extremely efficient. (Photo: Kevin Wang, American Auto Press)

Hybrid really does its part (for the environment, of course). As you go down that hill, a conventional car would use its engine to provide light braking by revving higher and by possibly stepping down a gear. The Civic Hybrid, on the other hand, uses its electric generator to slow the car down, which inherently puts forward resistance while creating power. That resistance replaces conventional engine braking, thereby giving the Hybrid's engine a break (no pun intended). Should you require moderate braking, the resistance increases and the battery charges up even faster. It's only when you brake hard that the car will engage its real brakes, which are discs up front and drums out back. The only real disadvantage to this setup is that you'll feel a slight interruption in braking power as it transitions from generator resistance to actual brakes, when you come to a full stop. And speaking of which, when you're fully stopped the Civic Hybrid will shut down its engine and operate on battery power alone. Honda calls it Auto Stop as indicated by its flashing green lettering in the gauge cluster, although the technology is now more commonly known as idle stop.

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