2003 Honda Civic Hybrid Battery, Horsepower & MPG

Dynamically, this sedan is a Civic through and through, with all the nimbleness and refinement the model name carries. Several editors commented on the effects of the 63-pound battery pack; some noted that the low, rear mounting helped settle the suspension, while others felt the weight changed the character on challenging roads. All told, the Hybrid weighs only 129 pounds more than a conventional manual-transmission EX model.

Those additional pounds are propelled with less power, however. The 1.3-liter gasoline engine delivers most of the motive force, with 13-horsepower available from the electric motors to supplement during heavy acceleration or under heavy load, such as climbing a steep grade. At no time does the car move on electricity alone. Performance is tepid, with the editors pining for more aggressive gear ratios in first, second, and third to compensate. Zero-to-60-mph sprints take a leisurely 11.3 seconds--enough to handle daily commuter chores without issue nor great enthusiasm.

To save fuel, the engine shuts off when the vehicle comes to a complete, sustained stop with the shifter in neutral. The engine starts back up when a gear is engaged, but it needs a pause to fire up before the clutch is dropped. Getting the timing right can make even a professional driver feel like a high schooler in Driver's Ed.

The powertrain's activity is monitored via an electronic instrument display that reveals levels of charge versus assist, battery condition, current fuel economy, average fuel economy, as well as the more common tachometer, speedometer, fuel-level, and coolant-temperature gauges. These attractive blue-glowing instruments help turn fossil-fuel conservation into a game, teaching the driver how to be more efficient.

We experimented with driving style to determine its impact on fuel economy. One week, we'd be miserly efficient, carefully monitoring shift points, accelerating slowly, and keeping speed under 65 mph on Interstates. The next week, we'd drive it like a teenager in a vinyl-emblazoned Si, going full throttle at all times. The 1100-mile experiment using the exact same route showed mild driving returned 48.2 mpg and wild driving netted 46.1 mpg. Needless to say, that was the end of granny mode.