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2003 Honda Civic Hybrid
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| A breath of fresh air |
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| Updated |
Jun 10, 2004 22:09:50 |
| Rating |
 1810 ( -187 -10.33% ) | | Author | Brian Chee |
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Description:
2003 Honda Civic Hybrid
A breath of fresh air
Writer's Notes
2003 Civic Hybrid
MSRP: $19,550
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: How long does the battery last?
A: The battery should last 10 years, and is covered by an 8-year/80,000-mile warranty.
Q: What kind of gal mileage does the hybrid get?
A: The Civic Hybrid (manual transmission) gets 46/51 mpg. (Actual mileage may vary.)
Q: What's the horsepower?
A: The Civic Hybrid's engine and motor is 93 horsepower.
Q: Do Civic Hybrid buyers qualify for the $2,000 Federal Clean-Fuel Vehicle Tax Deduction?
A: Yes.
The 2002 Honda Civic Hybrid is a landmark vehicle because it is just like every other economy vehicle on the road: no funky styling, plenty of space, enough power and the convenience car buyers have come to expect.
Comments or suggestions about this review? Send an e-mail to: editor@autobytel.com
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I have seen the future, and it looks like a Honda Civic.
True, it's not the most exciting vision of undawned days, especially for those who like bigger, taller and more powerful cars, and think nothing of squashing little Civics like bugs on the road. But for those who think -- at least a bit -- that saving the earth is a worthwhile cause, the fact that Honda built a hybrid that drives, rides and looks exactly like a regular Civic -- well, that's all the reason you need to celebrate.
The 2002 Honda Civic Hybrid is a landmark vehicle because it is just like every other economy vehicle on the road: no funky styling, plenty of space, enough power and the convenience car buyers have come to expect. A family of four can now help save the planet. Commuters can go to work without killing a tree and do so in comfort, without looking like a teenager. In a few years, who knows what changes this inauspicious little Civic will cause: a hybrid CR-V, maybe a hybrid Toyota Corolla...it's a short jump from Civic to other mass-produced cars on the road.
The Civic Hybrid fits with our priorities. Let's face it -- saving the planet is secondary to back seat room and fuel economy. We'll buy green if we don't have to sacrifice comfort, convenience and price.
And while price is still an issue, the $2,000 premium hybrid buyers pay over the standard Civic is in the right neighborhood, and will probably come down over time -- should Honda figure out how to increase the number of hybrid Civics they build, and at a lower cost. If not, there's a $2,000 Federal Tax Credit that brings the price right in line with other CIvics in the model line.
The Civic Hybrid is a quiet car, but it's really quiet at stops. Which is what it's supposed to do. The electric energy source serves as a 'jump start' for the combustion power plant at stop lights.
But it should not be about money, when the difference is probably $5 a month. What it should be about is doing something good for the environment without compromising standards of safety, convenience and power. While we'll never see a Dodge Viper in hybrid form -- think of the size of that electric engine -- we can send a message to the major automakers: hybrid power has the power to get us in your cars.
Hybrid power. It's a much used tagline, but what it does is really less hybrid than assist. What makes this Civic a "hybrid" is the interaction of an electric power plant. You don't have to carry around a big extension cord, or even stop at a charging station. The Civic self-charges through the energy that's created while the car is braking and cruising. This energy is recycled into the electric battery, and is used to assist the traditional combustion engine, a 1.3-liter 4-cylinder thumper, churning out 93 horsepower.
Hey -- it's enough to get you to work, and handles hills very well. Like any other Civic, it's a great car for traffic driving -- zero emissions aside. The Civic is simple, straightforward and comfortable. For a daily driver, it combines the reliability and convenience of the re known Civic with a hybrid source of power. Honda calls this source the Integrated Motor Assist System (IMAâ„¢). What the electric motor -- located between the engine and transmission -- does is to act as a booster for the four-banger under the hood. The "boost" is significant, to the tune of a 66% torque increase. This kicks in during acceleration and as an on-the-fly starter.
The system is so seamlessly integrated that it was hard to tell I driving anything but a regular ol' Civic -- until I came to a stop light. Puttering along, humming a merry tune, feeling puffed out driving a earth conscious car -- I was, for at least a little while, doing my thing for the greater good. And, well, I was consumed with the cool gauges on the driver instrument panel, the sliding lights that noted electric charge or use.
Hurrah for me. Then I came to a stop light, and I thought to myself -- my, this car is certainly quiet. With all that's going on in the engine compartment, you'd think there'd be more noise. Those Honda folks can sure build a quiet car.
Then it dawned on me -- the tachometer was at zero! The car had failed! I went to try re-igniting the engine, and as I pushed in the clutch, the soft purr of a four cylinder came to life.
That was a relief. Mind, the Civic Hybrid is a quiet car, but it's really quiet at stops. It's a bit spooky, and it takes a little getting used to -- after the the third or fourth time, I had completely forgotten about the engine and had once again focused on the bright and cheery instrument lights.
Stopping is what it's supposed to do, and a major way it saves gas and cuts out emissions. The electric motor serves as a 'jump start' for the combustion power plant at stop lights. When you come to a stop, the engine stops -- flat lines. But just as soon as you engage the clutch, the engine springs to life, and off you go, flower powder coming out of your tailpipe, giving us all a look at the next generation of new cars.
--Story by Brian Chee |
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