Gas-electric Civic fails to get promised mileage

[jaje]

BY LAWRENCE ULRICH DETROIT FREE PRESS AUTO CRITIC Brilliant technology. Not-so-brilliant gas mileage. That was my experience with the Honda Civic hybrid. I truly wanted to love this Honda, a so-called hybrid whose front wheels are driven by a powerful electric motor and a small gasoline engine. We've seen similar technology in Honda's own Insight and the Toyota Prius sedan. All are designed to green the land and ease our guilty, gas-guzzling consciences. But where previous alternative fuel cars looked like science fair projects, the newest Civic sedan is the first hybrid based on a model already known and loved by millions. For the most part, the Honda hybrid looks and drives like an everyday Civic, the best-selling compact in America. Nearly 332,000 were sold last year, and Honda hopes 24,000 Civics sold this year will be the hybrid version. But nothing disappoints like a car that doesn't perform as advertised. From the bottom of the tank, the bottom line: I managed only 37 miles per gallon in a week of driving this hybrid. That's not even close to the EPA rating and manufacturer's claim of 48 m.p.g. city and 47 highway, equipped with the continuously variable automatic transmission. That's still excellent mileage, of course. Honda says other test drivers have indeed achieved 45 to 50 m.p.g., though it acknowledged my below-40 m.p.g. experience is not unique. As with other efficient cars, it feels good to drive the Civic for hours and miles and watch the gas gauge needle barely dip. Even at my consumption, the Civic's 13.2-gallon tank gives it a range of nearly 500 miles, with Honda claiming it's 650 miles. Hey, conservation is a good thing, especially in brutal winter weather when you're sailing past gas stations instead of shivering at the pump. But the Civic's mileage and technology come at a steep price: about $21,000 with the automatic or $20,000 with a five-speed manual, which changes the fuel rating to 46 m.p.g. city and 51 m.p.g. highway. For me, that $21,000 tag pushes the upper limits for a Civic, or any economy sedan. It's also $6,000 more than the gas-engined Civic HX coupe I tested last June. That car, by the way, delivered 34 m.p.g. in some fairly hard driving, only 3 m.p.g. less than what I managed in the hybrid. Compared to a Civic LX sedan, the hybrid will set you back an extra $4,600. Let's note that buying a Civic hybrid wins you points, and money, from Uncle Sam. The IRS has confirmed the Civic hybrid is eligible for a $2,000 federal tax deduction in 2002, with that credit dropping 25 percent each year thereafter until it disappears in 2006. Honda also emphasizes that the hybrid is the top-of-the-line Civic. It comes with several standard features the HX lacked, including antilock brakes, side air bags, a CD player, more upscale seat fabrics and interior trim. The instrument cluster's gauges glow with a high-tech, ice-blue sheen. But while Honda throws in some nice goodies, most of the additional cost is still found under the hood, where a 10-kilowatt electric motor is sandwiched between the 1.3-liter engine and front-drive transmission. It's also behind the back seat, where a Panasonic battery pack, cooling system and sophisticated electronics converge. After debuting the Integrated Motor Assist system on the two-seat Insight, Honda has has reduced its volume nearly 40 percent. That made it small enough to squeeze the battery and electronics behind the Civic's backseat, where it robs only about three cubic feet of trunk space, still leaving 10.1 cubic feet for cargo. The battery never needs to be plugged in. It's always being charged by the electric motor, which becomes a generator during braking or when the car is coasting and decelerating. The already economical, 1.3-liter, four-cylinder gas engine produces 85 horsepower and 87 foot-pounds of torque. The DC electric motor comes on only when you need it, such as from a standing start or under hard acceleration. It boosts the engine with the equivalent of 13 horsepower for a peak total of 93 horsepower. That might sound underwhelming, when a typical Civic LX sedan manages 115 horsepower and 110 foot-pounds of torque with its larger 1.7-liter engine. Troubling torque But hold those horses: What's great about any electric motor is that its torque, the power that gets you moving, is instantly available. The Honda's electric motor peaks at a extremely low 1,000 r.p.m. Those slow-running speeds are exactly where a small gas engine has trouble making useful power, which is why an electric motor and gas engine are so well-suited to working in tandem. Conversely, when you're tooling along at 70 m.p.h. in the engine's sweet spot, the electric motor doesn't have to work at all. The electric motor produces a healthy 46 foot-pounds of torque with the manual transmission, 36 with automatic. So the hybrid's total torque of 116 foot-pounds actually tops the 110 in the gas-powered LX. More importantly, the hybrid power train reaches peak torque at just 1,500 r.p.m., compared to 4,500 r.p.m. for the LX. Despite the helping hand from the 144-volt DC motor, acceleration is leisurely. The Civic hybrid roughly holds its own with the standard gasoline versions, running from 0-60 m.p.h. in about 12 seconds versus 11 seconds in an LX sedan With its low-end advantage, the hybrid actually tops gasoline Civics in the 0-30 m.p.h. run. The hybrid cruises fine at freeway speeds, and its quiet, unobtrusive operation is certainly part of the appeal. Roll to a stop, and the engine automatically shuts off, as long as the car's up to operating temperature or you're not cranking the air conditioning. That Idle Stop feature saves even more gas, allowing the hybrid to get roughly the same mileage in city or highway driving. Lift off the brake, and the engine restarts so smoothly you barely hear it. Skinny 14-inch tires mean less rolling resistance, another boon to fuel economy. The hybrid has all the virtues of the redesigned Civic that arrived in 2001: a taller roof and a roomier back seat and trunk. The revised suspension that jettisoned the front double-wishbone layout for a more traditional strut set-up. Rear legroom is up two inches over the previous Civic, though it still trails the class-leading Ford Focus by 4.5 inches. The flat floor in the rear makes it easier to squeeze three into the back, at least for modest distances. Sharp-eyed Civic fans will note the mild exterior tweaks, including some that improve the wind-cheating shape. The front bumper looks more aerodynamic and alluring than the typical Civic, as do the multi-element taillights. There's also a trunk spoiler, body-color door mirrors, roof antenna and alloy wheels. Trouble-free driving The hybrid adds slightly firmer springs and shocks, a larger front anti-roll bar and larger rear drum brakes. But I was hard-pressed to notice big ride-and-handling changes. Like any Civic, it's smoothly benign, a trusty, hassle-free appliance. Start it, drive it, forget about it. And that could be the hybrid's most notable achievement: Many people would never suspect there's a small-scale electric power plant humming away inside. Clearly, Honda's goal was to make the hybrid a car for anyone who wants a solid sedan with great gas mileage, not just the tech-heads and enviro-conscious crowd who embraced previous alternative-fuel cars. With that in mind, I showed off the hybrid to my friend Melody Sellers. She's part of a loyal Civic family, along with her husband, jazz pianist extraordinaire Mick Dobday. Sellers drives a '97 base model Civic. Dobday finally gave up his '89 Civic that served him for more than 250,000 miles. I figured she'd go bananas over the hybrid, but instead she slipped on the price and so-so mileage. Noting she had paid about $12,000 for her Civic, she decided the hybrid was a car for people with cash to burn. "Or people who can't do math," she huffed. For all Honda's brilliance, that 37 m.p.g. kept coming back to me. If my fuel economy had really grown to 45 or 50 m.p.g. in the Civic, my estimation would have climbed with it. It just didn't happen. I'd still choose a standard Civic, save big bucks, and live with slightly lower mileage. So it's two stars, one for the seamless technology, one for Honda's determination to drive the market for alternative fuel cars. And if you're civic-minded enough to pay the premium and own this car, consider an extra star pasted on your forehead. Engine: 1.3-liter four-cylinder, 85 horsepower, plus 10 kilowatt high-torque electric motor EPA fuel economy (CVT transmission): 48 m.p.g. city 47 m.p.g. highway Curb weight: 2,732 pounds Wheelbase: 103.1 inches Length: 174.8 inches Width: 67.5 inches Height: 56.3 inches Where assembled: Suzuka, Japan Rating: 2 STARS (out of four) The first alternative-fuel car with appeal beyond science geeks and granola girls. Bragging points: Thrifty on fuel. Transparent operation of gasoline-electric drive system. Solid construction. Roomy interior. More stylish face and interior than standard Civics. Nagging points: Observed gas mileage far less than advertised. Steep premium for hybrid power technology. Utilitarian style and feel.

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[yianni64]

That sucks, hope other reviews dont turn out like this

[Troopa-R]

Well... maybe the guy just had serious lead foot, cuz I know I've read reviews where they got mid to high-40s in the CIvic Hybrid.

[yianni64]

Originally posted by Eternal RSXness
Well... maybe the guy just had serious lead foot, cuz I know I've read reviews where they got mid to high-40s in the CIvic Hybrid.

Thats what i dont understand, even if he did have a lead foot, dont the eletric motors do the most work when accelarating? Whatever, Ill wait til a real mag reviews it.

[s2ktonv]

that dude is on crack or something...its just one review

[98CoupeV6]

They're called "Haters"

[yianni64]

DETROIT FREE PRESS AUTO CRITIC

Hmmm, wonder if that means anything

[fastball]

Want to save fuel? Ride a bicycle!

[ldfrgirl]

Originally posted by 02RSXTYPES
They're called "Haters"

hahaha for real...I haven't heard anyone say anything bad about em yet. saw the first one the other day on the road. All I can say is it looked niiice.

[Troopa-R]

I like the taillights on the Hybrid, for sure. And the instrument panel, with the cool blue lighting... seriously. Honda needs to do this withall its' cars. Hell, can I change the red lights in my RSX to this?

And I've seen a lot of the Hybrids around. They're all over (well not "all over", but a lot) around Berkeley and Davis.

[yianni64]

Originally posted by Eternal RSXness
I like the taillights on the Hybrid, for sure. And the instrument panel, with the cool blue lighting... seriously. Honda needs to do this withall its' cars. Hell, can I change the red lights in my RSX to this?

And I've seen a lot of the Hybrids around. They're all over (well not "all over", but a lot) around Berkeley and Davis.

I've yet to see one. I havent seen a Pilot either. Only seen one new Si. Yet i see civics all the time..... sigh

Well, the Civic Hybrid owns all other hybrids. Until the Dualnote

[98CoupeV6]

Originally posted by Eternal RSXness
Honda needs to do this withall its' cars. Hell, can I change the red lights in my RSX to this?

Take those beautiful gauges out and I will have you shot

[Jeff TYPE R]

That review is bull****. The guy is a moron. The engine does not "peak out at 1000rpm". He just doesn't know how a CVT works.

[Jeice]

People have gotten over 120 MPG with the insight!! hahah well...drafting that is...

so this guy sucks! everything has its critics..

[MJTigress]

good points...

i am just happy that they are finally ignoring the oil companies bids to buy ideas and bury them and going ahead and starting to experiment. It'll be liek CDs... the price will go down eventually (unless there is a computer program that downloads cars for free).

[98CoupeV6]

Originally posted by MJTigress
good points...

i am just happy that they are finally ignoring the oil companies bids to buy ideas and bury them and going ahead and starting to experiment. It'll be liek CDs... the price will go down eventually (unless there is a computer program that downloads cars for free).

A better analogy can be found in the microwave, computer, VCR, digital camera, etc etc but I can see where you're coming from. Eventually better battery sources will be discovered...but Hybrid cars are NOT the answer. They are merely a stepping stone to other power sources. But think about this: Where will our military be when oil runs out in 70-100 years?

[AcuraFanatic]

37mpg is still better mileage than you'd find in a conventional Civic, and the price is only about $2,500 more than a fully loaded EX Sedan. So why are people complaining? This is no Insight...the Insight goes above and beyond for fuel economy, such as feather-light weight, tapered rear end panels and rubber band-thick tires.

The Hybrid offers realistic everyday driving practicality. Besides, the guy likely had a lead foot.

[98CoupeV6]

Originally posted by AcuraFanatic
37mpg is still better mileage than you'd find in a conventional Civic, and the price is only about $2,500 more than a fully loaded EX Sedan. So why are people complaining?

Person, don't make it people. He's from Detroit and thinks that a Japanese electric car should get 400 MPG while he drives his Suburban to work. The Hybrid is not just 2500 bucks of electricity, it offers a more comfortbale driving experience to the EX (Quoth C&D).