2002 Honda Civic

Innovative Honda invites you to try a futuristic ride with its new gasoline-electric Civic Hybrid sedan. You can buy a ticket to this ride starting April 1. The cost will be approximately $20,000, and this early 2003 model will make you a virtual stranger to filling stations. More than anything, Honda doesn't want potential buyers to be afraid of the compact, front-drive Civic Hybrid because of its unconventional powertrain.

It's gone out of its way to make the roomy, refined sedan feel virtually as smooth and ordinary as the regular Civic to meet its goal of selling 2,000 Civic Hybrids monthly. It requires no more maintenance than a regular Civic, which is a low-maintenance car. Toyota offers its fairly new, successful small Prius hybrid gasoline-electric sedan, but the Civic Hybrid is the first established, mainstream vehicle with a gasoline-electric hybrid system.

All-electric vehicles have flopped and a decent supply of affordable fuel cell vehicles is estimated to be at least 10 years away. So automakers are developing a good number of hybrid gasoline-electric cars and trucks. Much research and many test miles for Honda's new hybrid have paid off.

Except for a more aerodynamic front end, rear spoiler and discreet "Hybrid Gasoline Electric'' trunk badging, the Civic Hybrid looks the same as the regular Civic, which has ultraconservative styling but is the top selling small car in America. The regular Civic is very fuel-efficient, but the Civic Hybrid provides mpg figures expected from cars of the future. It provides an EPA-estimated 46 mpg in the city and 51 on highways with a five-speed manual transmission and 48 and 47 with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). Only regular-grade fuel is required, and the 13.2-gallon fuel tank gives it a range of more than 600 miles.

Unlike a conventional automatic transmission, which usually has four forward speeds, the CVT has, in effect, an infinite number of gear ratios. My test Civic Hybrid's CVT operated seamlessly and made a conventional automatic seem old-fashioned. One of the nicest things about Honda's new gasoline-electric Civic Hybrid sedan is that it drives like a regular Civic with its base 115-horsepower four-cylinder gasoline engine.

It has a tiny 85-horsepower gasoline engine and a small 13-horsepower electric motor that seamlessly work together to provide lively acceleration to highway speeds. The 65-75 mph passing time is just average with only a driver and no cargo in the car. But the Civic Hybrid is quick off the line and hits 60 mph in a decent 12 seconds. Merging into fast expressway traffic is no problem.

The Civic Hybrid has Honda's second-generation Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) technology. The system's heart is the high-rev 1.3-liter four-cylinder engine, which is coupled with a high-output electric motor between the engine and transmission. When braking or decelerating, energy is recaptured by the electric motor and stored in the compact battery module for later use. As the car accelerates, stored energy is directed to the high-torque electric motor to supplement the engine's performance.

But never mind all that--just turn the ignition key and go, as you would in a conventional car. Honda has been selling its sporty Insight two-seat gasoline-electric hybrid, which provides higher fuel economy than the Civic Hybrid. But the Insight is a light, tiny thing that has given me anxious moments while alongside big trucks on area expressways.

The 2,661-pound Civic Hybrid is a much larger, heavier model that comfortably seats five 6-footers, if the three in back are on the slim side. It also has a large trunk, although the lid's hinges eat space and the inside of the lid has an unfinished look. But Honda had to cut some costs to give the Civic Hybrid lots of standard equipment, while keeping the price attractive. Standard features include automatic climate control, AM/FM/CD sound system, cruise control, remote entry system, premium fabrics, adjustable steering column, rear defogger and power windows, door locks and mirrors. Safety items for the rigidly built car include side air bags up front.

The quiet, upscale, airy interior has everything from supportive front bucket seats to large controls, nicely placed cupholders and a fair number of storage areas. A driver faces a digital and analog instrument display that shows, for instance, when the IMA battery is being charged or when it's providing electrical power assist. There's also a tachometer and the usual gauges, such as those for engine temperature and fuel supply.

All 2002 Civics got better ride and handling, so the Civic Hybrid benefits from these improvements. Steering is quick, although a bit stiff, and the suspension is supple--although the rigid high-mileage tires allow a fair number of bumps to be felt. The car is nimble and thus fun to drive, despite the skinny 70-series tires. The brake pedal has a nice feel, and there's an anti-lock system with electronic brake distribution for surer stops. With the Civic Hybrid, the future is no further away than the closest Honda dealer showroom.

2002 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID

Price
Approximately $20,000
Likes
World's most fuel-efficient five-passenger sedan with gasoline-electric powertrain. Drives like regular car. Refined.
Dislikes
Average highway acceleration. Ultraconservative styling. Average ride quality.