A lot of technological advancement and hard-work engineering has gone into the 2012 Civic Hybrid, but the number on thing that potential buyers will gravitate towards is the EPA rating on the widow sticker. Good news then, that mpg ratings have gone up to 44 mpg in the city and a matching 44 on the highway, too. The current car is rated at 40/43, city/highway.
One of the biggest reasons for these improvements is Honda’s switch to a lithium-ion battery in place of the old nickel-metal hydride affair. In addition to adding a bit of torque overall (output figures are up to 110 horsepower, and 123 pound-feet of torque for 2012), the li-ion unit is lighter, smaller, and more efficient. In fact, Honda has taken out weight, and increased both efficiency and durability for the whole powertrain—1.5-liter engine, electric motor, and CVT transmission included.
In a move that adds a little bit of driver involvement, Honda has also developed a virtual “coaching system” for Hybrid drivers, too. Colored light bars on either side of the speedometer change from blue (bad) to green (good), as drivers get closer to the optimum throttle/gear position for great fuel economy. You may not get to grow a garden of leaves, as in Ford’s Fusion Hybrid system, but the lights seem like a decent hypermiling primer, anyway.
This Civic Hybrid will also make a full EV drive mode available, when the car is in what Honda calls “low-cruising speed.” Depending on state of charge, throttle inputs, etc, that speed can range from about 11 to 43 miles per hour.
Our group of journalists was asked to complete a ten-mile fuel economy challenge, with some pretty impressive results. Top honors for the day went to Car and Driver’s Tony Quiroga, who managed a remarkable 62 mpg over the course. Averages were in the mid-fifties, though guessing by the hail of horn honking from local drivers, that miserliness won’t be attainable by any but the hyper-dedicated on a regular basis.
2012 Honda Civic EX-L Sedan
Engine: Inline-4, 1.8 liters, 16v
Output: 140hp/128 lb-ft
Weight: 2795 lb
Fuel Economy, City/Hwy: 28/39 mpg
Base Price: $21,995
2012 Honda Civic DX Coupe 5AT
Engine: Inline-4, 1.8 liters, 16v
Output: 140hp/128 lb-ft
Weight: 2659 lb
Fuel Economy, City/Hwy: 28/39 mpg
Base Price: $16,405
2012 Honda Civic Si Coupe
Engine: Inline-4, 2.4-liters, 16v
Output: 201 hp/170 lb-ft
Weight: 2877 lb
Fuel Economy, City/Hwy: 22/31 mpg
Base Price: $22,205
2012 Honda Civic Hybrid
Engine: Inline-4, 1.5 liters, 8v, electric motor
Output: 110 hp/127 lb-ft
Weight: 2853 lb
Fuel Economy, City/Hwy: 44/44 mpg
Base Price: $24,050
2012 Honda Civic HF
Engine: Inline-4, 1.8 liters, 16v
Output: 140hp/128 lb-ft
Weight: 2698 lb
Fuel Economy, City/Hwy: 29/41 mpg
Base Price: $19,455