Aboard the Hybrid
The Civic Hybrid does not feature any special seats or extra accessories, nor does it need to. The Civic is already fully stalked with storage bins, user-friendly controls and excellent visibility. The steering wheel is one of my favourites as it is small in overall size and provides great grip.

The Civic's instrumentation is ideal.

As with any Honda, fit and finish are spot-on. The plastics used are of first-rate quality. I was very annoyed with a glove-box rattle that only disappeared when a piece of paper was shoved into a gap to keep it from moving.

What makes a Hybrid a Hybrid
Honda's compact Hybrid gets its mojo from a 1.3L 8-valve SOHC 4-cylinder engine. Combined with Honda's i-VTEC valve timing system, it puts out 93 hp and 89 lb/ft of torque. When coupled to the IMA hybrid-electric motor, the output climbs to 110 hp and 123 lb/ft of torque. Coupled to a continuously variable transmission (CVT), power delivery is smooth and seamless. The motor is far from being explosive on acceleration however if the gas pedal is smartly manipulated, the Hybrid will get up and go quickly enough.

Unlike Chrysler's and some of Nissan's CVTs, the Honda's gradually climbs the rev counter as opposed to screeching all the way to the redline in an instant. Drivers will get the maximum out of the engine when positioning the transmission lever in S. This mode is more aggressive and permits slightly better throttle response.

There is nothing wrong to say about the Hybrid's road behaviour. As it is essentially a Civic, the car handles very well and rides on a suspension that readily soaks bumps and potholes with relative ease. The electric variable power-assist steering presents no shortcomings and is precise enough.

The batteries of the Hybrid are replenished through regenerative braking. This means that the batteries are recharged through kinetic energy. Because of this the Civic has a range like any other normal vehicle. Another important feature of the Hybrid is the Auto Stop mode. Without driver input, the engine will shut off at a light or a stop. Should you be stuck in traffic, the system recognises stop-and-go movements and automatically disrupts the Auto-Stop.

The IMA Hybrid system's 110 hp is sufficient for day to day driving.