Assisting the engine is a 10 kilowatts electric motor that utilizes nickel-metal-hydride batteries that are recharged by the gas engine as well as by deceleration and braking. Thus you don't plug this car in to an outlet. The batteries take up space that is hardly missed, but it does require the elimination of that very popular rear-seat fold down feature available on other Civics. The electric motor is brushless and silent and gives you about between 15 and 30hp of electric boost at high speeds, and is capable of providing all the drive energy necessary in slow, bumper-to-bumper traffic. Honda calls this the Integrated Motor Assist. The electric motor sits between the engine and transmission and together they operate nearly seamlessly.
You can order a five-speed manual or the continuously variable automatic transmission version that we evaluated. Either way, in real life you get about 42 miles per gallon on the highway with the air-conditioning working. On a cool day at posted limits you can count on a ten percent higher figure with a family onboard.
One element I found disconcerting was the fact that the Hybrid automatically turns off its engine when you are stopped and have your foot on the brake pedal. This does not stop the air-conditioning and stereo from continuing to work without pause. The problem is that once you release your foot from the brake pedal the car immediately starts and gives a slight tug. This is barely a fault, but it is more noticeable than I found while driving the competition's Toyota Prius.
The Civic accelerates fairly well, but if you are going at a brisk pace don't expect much of a boast when you ask the Honda for more power. It is set-up more for cruising. It definitely is not set up for canyon runs. In addition, if you are going uphill at speed with the air on the batteries can be exhausted and you must rely on the gas engine only. This can slow you. This Honda is not at its best in the mountains. Besides, the gas mileage oriented tires don't appreciate having their sidewalls tested and the steering is slow to react to tight corners. Let's be honest, here, Hybrid is a couple of hundreds pounds heavier than other Civics and simply not aimed for the sports car crowd. But, since gas prices are now at record highs, I feel that some those lead footed drivers would welcome the 600 miles or more range of the Hybrid.