The Honda Civic Hybrid Sedan, the only one in the new Honda Civic 2006 line-up that can go up to 650 miles per gallon*(i.e. 650 mpg). That's only 1 full gas tank fill up every 20 days if you drive about 30 miles a day. With current gas prices, the Honda Civic Hybrid is a God-send, or Honda-send as the case may be. What OEM Honda Civic Accessory can give you such mileage- none. You need to get the Civic with the Hybrid Honda Civic Engine to experience excellent return for you money (in terms of gas). I heard that Nissan Motors is planning to buy this technology from Honda (could it be for the Nissan Altima or Nissan Maxima? send your opinions...)
New lighter, more powerful and efficient Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) system with greatly enhanced energy regeneration capability and electric-only operation
Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) as standard equipment
50/50 mpg city/highway (3)
AT-PZEV emissions
Exclusive interior styling includes IMA instrument panel meters and two-tone seating surfaces
The Civic Hybrid integrates features from Civic Sedan EX and adds a 1.3-liter i-VTEC 4-cylinder engine with Integrated Motor Assist, automatic climate control, 15-inch aerodynamic alloy wheels, P195/65 R15 low rolling resistance tires, special hybrid badging, rear lip spoiler, side mirror turn signal indicators, two-tone seating surfaces, IMA system meters (fuel economy, battery level and charge/assist) and automatic climate control. Compared to the Civic Sedan EX, a moonroof and folding rear seat are not available in consideration of weight savings and IMA packaging.
The Civic Hybrid styling sets the direction for the Civic Sedan with a technologically sophisticated and refined presence derived from a monoform design, long wheelbase and short front and rear overhang. The steeply raked windshield on the sedan forms a 23.9-degree angle.
* Based on 2005 EPA mileage estimates. Use for comparison purposes only. Actual mileage may vary. Manual-transmission model only. ULEV model only. AT-PZEV model mileage range will be lower.
"I wouldn't get rid of it for anything. (A tank of gas) lasts me two weeks of commuting," Kennell said of his 3-year-old Honda Civic that combines a gasoline engine with battery power to save fuel and cut harmful vehicle emissions.
With gas prices hovering near $3 a gallon, people across the nation have followed Kennell's lead and bought a hybrid car. That nationwide hybrid-car craze hasn't hit Central Illinois, however, where gasoline peaked at $3.20 per gallon before dropping down to around $2.70 in the Twin Cities Friday.
"Frankly I think it's really strange," said Mike James, manager of Brad Barker Honda in Bloomington. "People are just pumping $40 to $50 in the tank and going on."
Barker's sales of hybrid cars are up slightly but not significantly, James said.
Nationwide, however, hybrid sales are in high gear. Sales of Honda's three hybrid vehicles increased 240 percent from July to August, James said. In August, Honda dealers across the country sold more than 6,700 hybrids.
"A lot of consumers are buying them because they're earth friendly. I also think there are those who want to make a (fashion) statement as well:
J.D. Power expects national hybrid sales to triple in 2005 from the 87,000 sold in 2004, Tews said. Through August, national sales have totaled more than 135,000, according to hybridcars.com.