Since the 1970's, the Honda Civic has stood at or near the head of the economy class. A leader in reliability and overall performance, the Civic consistently rates as one of the best overall car values available-- and that value has only improved since the introduction of the Civic Hybrid in the United States in 2002.
By definition, the Civic Hybrid will get you around town and down the highway on less gasoline, achieving this with remarkable fuel figures. The gas and electric four-door 2010 Civic Hybrid gets 45 mpg—all while maintaining the traditional Civic styling. Only careful observers can tell it's a hybrid of its thirstier sibling.
The Civic Hybrid gets a 40 mpg city and 45 mpg highway rating—not as high as a Prius but not enough to woo us away from the better styling and comfort. Under the hood is a marriage between a 93-horsepower 1.3-liter gas motor with a 20-horsepower electric motor wedged between the engine and transmission-- the Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) hybrid system that is essentially a power-sharing arrangement with five electric/gas functions.
Side curtain airbags and dual-stage multiple-threshold front airbags are standard. Honda offers an exclusive body design, the ACE body structure, for better passenger protection in frontal crashes. Honda says they are "committed to providing safety for everyone" but we haven't heard those back-up beeps yet to announce when a hybrid in battery mode is backing out of a parking stall (but you can bet that these will be coming soon).
The front seats are comfortable (like its sibling Civic, the Hybrid allows plenty of room in the front for larger drivers and passengers). If there's a drawback inside it's still the back seat row— cozy at best and not one you want to spend a long highway drive in (especially if Grandma is nodding off on your shoulder). A disadvantage you'll want to contend with is the lack of a pass through from the rear compartment into the trunk—skis and other longer items will need to find another way to travel.
The Civic Hybrid is a solid vehicle, safe and sane. Besides being good for the environment, the car is good for your conscience—it's safe, efficient, and affordable to operate. When you go looking for your used Civic Hybrid for sale, click here and find the car that will help you maximize your 'green' driving coefficient.
