2008 Honda Civic Hybrid

Design

The biggest difference in terms of the styling between the Hybrid variant of the Civic and the standard model are the alloy wheels. The alloys on the Civic are flatter and of a different design so as to produce less drag. The design of the alloys also gives the sedan an identity of its own on the road. Then there is also the ‘Integrated Motor Assist’ inscribed on the left rear quarter glass and a ‘Hybrid’ badge on the right section of the boot. Other than these two things there is no difference between the Hybrid and the standard model. Even though the Civic has been around for a while, it still is one of the most stylish sedans in the country and when launched it looked from another generation. With its cab-forward stance the Civic is aerodynamic to look at and has a flowing design with hood merging almost seamlessly into the boot. The styling overall is sharp with multi-element headlamps siting on either side of a prominent ‘V’ shaped bonnet. The grille has use of chrome and the detailing at the rear is exquisite as well. The design of the tail-lights has been inspired by a fighter jet according to Honda and you also get a double chromed exhaust.

Interiors

The instrument cluster separates the Hybrid from the standard 1.8-litre Civic. The temperature gauge switches to a mileage gauge on the Hybrid giving you an instant readout of the current fuel consumption. There is an 8 stepped bar at the bottom that displays the charging situation of the electric motor’s battery. Next to that is the amp-meter displaying ‘ASST’ at the top and ‘CHARGE’ below. Another difference is the AUTO STOP light that glows when the engine is shut off and the motor is running when the car is not moving.

A reason for the Civic’s success was the styling of the cabin and the digital display is mounted at the base of the windscreen. Its blue glow is carried over to the tachometer and the radical console looks more jet fighter than saloon car. The steering wheel is brilliant to look at and to hold on to.

While the interior space for front and rear passengers is good the rear seats are set a bit too low for our liking. The front seats though provide good driving position and the steering wheel adjusts for both reach and height. There are loads of storage areas as well.

Engine and performance

The Civic Hybrid uses a 1.3-litre, i-VTEC petrol engine (the regular Civic uses a 1.8-litre engine) aided by an IMA (Integrated Motor Assist). The engine produces 95PS and 122Nm of torque. The IMA is an electric motor which is present in the hub of the car and develops 16bhp. While at high speeds the i-VTEC engine is completely in charge and delivers reasonably good performance, the electric motor turns off the engine temporarily when it is idling which saves fuel. The intelligent ‘Drive-by-Wire’ technology is introduced in the new Civic Hybrid which sends an electronic signal to the power control module when the accelerator sensor senses pedal activity. The electric motor is primarily used at low speeds where torque is needed and the engine is mated to a CVT gearbox which has L, D and S modes. The engine feels the most relaxed in D mode and in S mode it becomes a bit more responsive. The battery gets charged under braking because of the kinetic energy regeneration system fitted onto the brakes. Overall the engine is smooth and there is hardly any noise from it but when the electric motor is being used you can hear it inside the cabin. The 8 valve SOHC engine which has two spark plugs per cylinder reaches 100kmph in under 14seconds and you get a fuel efficiency of over 16kmpl in real world conditions.

Ride

The new Civic Hybrid uses the standard MacPherson coil at the front and a double wishbone at the rear. The Civic is equipped with the G-CON technology which increases survival chances for passengers in case of collision. There is also ABS and EBD. Ride quality has never been the forte of the Civic and while the ride isn’t as plush as the Toyota Corolla Altis and the Renault Fluence, it is reasonably good. The low ground clearance can be a problem on broken roads especially with four passengers on board. In the handling department the Civic responds with confidence when you push it around corners and the sporty steering is well weighed and offers good feedback.

Competition

There is no other sedan in this segment which offers Hybrid technology. The Toyota Prius is one of the few Hybrids in the country but prices for the Prius start from over 27lakhs. The Prius is for you if you want to make a statement and the Prius also delivers low fuel consumption and the low CO2 emissions. The Prius is genuinely comfortable and offers good ride quality and interior space. The Mahindra Scorpio Micro Hybrid isn’t a Hybrid like the Civic or the even the Prius. It has only a start stop system which saves a little fuel when you have to crank up the engine.

Verdict

The Civic Hybrid when launched cost more than 21lakhs which made it out of the reach for most. Sales were understandably poor but even when Honda reduced the price to a little over 13 lakhs the Civic Hybrid didn’t find many takers. Though it would be a little hard to find a used Hybrid, it does make good sense since the build quality of Honda cars make them last a long time and the car would be in reasonably good shape. The Civic Hybrid provides good fuel efficiency, styling is sharp and the alloys make the car look distinct. The interiors are probably the most stylish around the ride and handling is typical of Honda.

Quotes from other reviews: BSMotoring: ‘But the true test of the Civic Hybrid came through at the end of our run. Despite me driving the car flat-out as if it was a normal Civic, and barely glancing at the fuel consumption figures, we got a figure of 16.1 km to the litre. Now imagine if you had a light right foot. Okay, we didn’t exactly win the mileage run, but the point is that we had fun. Yes, it’s possible in a hybrid!’