I have rented a Honda Civic Hybrid in April 2007, for a week and I really agree with Honda that this car not only delivers a super-efficient 1.3L SOHC 8-valve inline-4, but also delivers promised performance, for example, it has a 93-horsepower gasoline engine, plus a 20-horsepower electric engine, which makes 113 horsepower, which is more powerful then the previous generation. Honda really focused on the fuel-efficiency of the 2007 Civic Hybrid, so it will give you a promised 49/51 mpg, which is in fact in the Toyota Prius territory. The gasoline engine is simple, so barely anything will go wrong, and besides, it is a Honda, which means it seriously has bulletproof reliability.

I only had to go once to the gas station that week! The car overall has a very smooth engine and ride, and not-bad quality seats and interior. I heard it goes 0-60 mph in about 11 seconds, knowing the fact that it weights a bit more than the normal Civic sedan and has less horsepower. Honda also made the car have a very low price, knowing the fact that it is a hybrid, and it costs in the $23,000 neighbourhood when it is new.

I had no problems with the car, of course because of the Honda quality, it is not heavy, due to the small size, weighing less then 3000 lb. One of the things that I really liked are the cool rim designs, the super-quiet sound and of course, the fuel efficiency. Also, the independent suspension helps the ride. Mine was light blue, so it really looked like an economy car. Honda offers very good equipment for the car, especially to make it look good. The 5-star crash test ratings really help the car gain more reputation.

The steering wheel is comfortable, along with most interior materials in the car. I really recommend the car because of the price, fuel economy (no doubt), looks, crash test ratings, reliability and overall comfort. My behind-the-wheel experience was very good too, because the steering wheel didn't shake a lot, nor did the whole car at cruising speeds. The steering wheel had good grip, the seating position was pretty comfortable and the driving excitement was alright. In the inside, the car was luxurious for the 23 grand class, and it was comfortable and roomy for its size, and the materials certainly were not cheap. The door handles were easy to reach. The speedometer was easy to read. Just as I thought, the engine was very quiet inside and outside, thanks to the CVT transmission and the combined hybrid and gasoline engines. The visibility was not bad, and the handling was very good. The braking response was very good, too, so the car had good reflexes(in a car way), and the lights were powerful inside, and they did not look too cheap.

The Civic almost did not make any sound at all when standing still, thanks to the reliable electric motor it has. The brakes were powerful, and the ride height, it was not too high and not low to the ground so it would not hit the speedbumps or anything else. The Civic Hybrid practically looks the same as the other Civics; that is good news for some and bad for others, because some do not want to be noticed but some do, perhaps showing that they love the nature and are eager to use a hybrid. The mirrors were very good; you could see everything.

The inside was very well spaced, and all the parts were not squeezed together. The radio control layout matched the average Civic sedan, and I would say it was acceptable. I think the steering wheel was not that small, but also was not that big. The interior materials were fine, but could have been a little finer. When I was backing up, I figured that the visibility was very good, in fact, and parking was very easy, thanks to that.

The riding positions were right, not too low, but not high up like a tank. When I made full 180-degree turns, I automatically knew that the Honda had a very good turning circle. I was also amazed by the legroom, and it felt very comfortable. The car was not leaning back if loaded, which is a smart technique used by Honda. I liked the feeling of the CVT transmission, and the sound was a straight ummm all the time. So this hybrid proved to give you a good driving experience, fuel efficiency, reliability and more.

-UPDATE-

I updated this review and wrote about what I experienced while driving the car, and now the full review is bigger, and has more details about the car and driving experience...

The Honda Civic hybrid has a comfortable interior, while the steering wheel is a good distance away from you. The engine is smooth and quiet, and it is not harsh. When I was accelerating hard, the engine was surprisingly quiet; much more quiet than I expected. The headlights were bright and worked fine, while taillamps were also good. The 89 pound feet of torque at 4,500 rpm is alright for a hybrid. The mirrors had good visibility and the mirror inside the car also had fine visibility, and when you back up, you could see fine. The visibility out of the windows was good. Did you know the Civic hybrid has 2 valves per cylinder? The gearbox was easy to move to another gear, and it was not hard or anything.

At high speeds, the wind noise was normal, if not a little better than average. The ride was fine, and the fully-independent suspension was surprisingly not soft or anything; it was good. The car behaved like a normal Civic sedan, although there were so many changes, for example, the gigantic reduction in emissions, the battery pack, etc. And no, this is not a plug-in hybrid. I noticed that while I was driving at about 40 mph, the electric motor worked by itself, which is amazing technology. While waiting for the green light, the electric engine could work by itself, which is also smart.
The room in the back was alright, but not as good as in the front. The cargo capacity is just below 300 litres, which is not a bad thing. The headroom was fine, the legroom was alright for the size of the Civic, while the overall room of the interior was good. The 15-inch alloy wheels have a nice design, and the whole car does not really look any different from the normal Civic.

Power steering was a very good feature in this car, which made the steering even better. Speaking of steering, it was precise. There was not a lot of wheelspin, or in a better way of saying, barely any. Braking is good, and it was actually at little better than I expected. For long trips, the car is okay, with seats that are fairly comfortable for a long time, with the fuel tank measuring 45 litres, which is nice, and interior space that is good, too. The handling was awesome, and if you turn hard, the car listens to your every move.
The radio and dashboard controls were designed well, and they were comfortable to use and easy on the eyes. The interior materials were pretty good, although they could have been a little better. The ride height is good; the car is not too low, while not being way too high above the ground. And if you are speaking of build quality, this is the right place to say good things. ABS, brake assist, electronic brake distribution (EBD), and more, the car has good features. The build quality is very good, with no or extremely little shaking or rattling at even high speeds. Speaking of cutting-edge performance, of course this is not perfect, but for a hybrid, it actually surprised me.

Reliability

I cannot cover full reliability for now because this is a fairly new car, but obviously this car proved to be reliable, and it is actually one of the most reliable hybrids out there, along with the Toyota Prius. Lots of sources prove that this car has a very good reliability record. So, overall, the Civic hybrid prevails in reliability, but it is really no surprise, it is a Honda, after all.

Better than the old hybrid?

Of course. This is huge improvement over the previous generation car. That car was also good, but this one is improved, with more power and features. Both Civic hybrids are very good ideas, and I respect both of them.

How much does it cost?

This car costs about US$23,000, which is just spectacular for such a smart, fuel efficient, and reliable hybrid. The availability is limited, so there are not a lot of them built. Take the Honda Accord hybrid, for instance. Only 5,000 out of all Accords were hybrids. That is why Honda discontinued the Accord hybrid. At least it is a very smart and efficient hybrid, just like the Honda Civic hybrid.

Power for the electric motor comes from a 158-volt nickel-metal hydride battery pack and power control unit located behind the rear seat.

What powers the electric motor?

There is a 158-volt battery pack behind the back seats with a power control unit that powers the electric motor, which without any doubt, is very smart technology.

Safety

With standard side curtain airbags, ABS, and brake assist, but no traction control, stability control, this car provides good features, but no perfect, but hey, who would expect stability control on a compact car? Not a lot of cars do. But here is the good part- there are 5-star crash test ratings by the NHTSA on both frontal driver and passenger! Honda really cares about the customers that buy their cars. Overall, the safety is excellent.

Warranty

The basic warranty is 3 years/60,000 km, powertrain warranty is 5 years/100,000 km, and there is Hybrid warranty, which is 8 years/160,000 km. It also received a 4-star rollover test, and a 4-star front side crash test, and a 5-star rear side. Those results are good, and I like that the Civic cares about its customers.
Overall, the warranty is good.

Current models

The current models are: Civic DX, Civic DX-G, Civic LX, Civic EX, Civic Coupe DX, Civic Coupe DX-G, Civic Coupe LX, Civic Coupe EX, Civic Hybrid, Civic Si, Civic Si Coupe, Mugen Civic Si, Mugen Civic Type R, and one that you probably do not know- the new 240-horsepower Mugen Civic RR! I cannot for the 2009 Honda FCX Clarity...

Is it worth it?

Absolutely. Just imagine, a compact sedan turned into an affordable hybrid, with awesome fuel efficiency. I would recommend this vehicle to people who need fuel efficiency. This is a good, affordable, and reliable city car at a good price. I am impressed with this car.

Overall

Overall, I am very impressed with the 2007 Honda Civic hybrid. Introduced in 2003, the previous generation was good, and the redesign in 2006 (the first year for the new Civic and Civic hybrid) proved to be even better. Thank you Honda!


I hope you enjoyed my review, and that taught you a lot about this car!


Amount Paid (US$): Rent
Condition: New
Model Year: 2007
Model and Options: base hybrid, no options