Vehicle Overview Now into its second generation, the Honda Civic Hybrid offers more premium options but remains technologically unchanged for 2009. The Civic uses gasoline-electric hybrid technology to reach fuel economy ratings of 40/45 mpg city/highway. The Civic Hybrid’s main competition is the Toyota Prius.
New for 2009 The hybrid receives a new front bumper with larger grille openings. On the inside, leather seating surfaces, heated seats and heated mirrors are options. An electronic stability system is now standard.
Exterior The Civic Hybrid sedan looks as futuristic as the gas-powered models. A-pillars are practically over the front wheels, and the large front doors make it easy to get in and out of the car.
Redesigned front bumper with more pronounced grille openings
15-inch alloy wheels fitted with low-rolling-resistance tires
Rear lip spoiler
Hybrid badges and turn-signal indicators in the side mirror housings
Interior There’s room for five in the Civic Hybrid, which has two-tone cloth seating surfaces with newly optional leather seating surfaces. The Civic Hybrid has an interesting looking instrument cluster that’s similar to the regular Civic’s. It features a digital speedometer positioned near the base of the windshield and a large tachometer in its own housing that sits in front of the steering wheel. There’s also a battery meter and a charge/assist gauge that monitors the electric portion of the powertrain.
Air conditioning
Cruise control
Tilt/telescoping steering wheel
Power windows, locks and mirrors
10.4 cubic feet of cargo volume (smaller than the regular sedan’s 12.0-cubic-foot trunk)
Stereo with CD player and USB audio interface that works with iPods and flash drives
Optional navigation system with voice recognition
Bluetooth limited to navigation-equipped vehicles
Under the Hood The Civic Hybrid features a 1.3-liter four-cylinder engine teamed with an electric motor.
110 horsepower and 123 pounds-feet of torque
Continuously variable automatic transmission
MacPherson strut front suspension and compact multilink double-wishbone rear suspension
Safety Now standard on all Civic Hybrids is an electronic stability system, which was not previously offered on the hybrid. In the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s frontal-offset and side-impact crash tests, the Civic received the highest overall rating.
