TO THE POINTWhat’s New? With daring new styling, a more powerful and fuel-efficient powertrain, added interior space, and a bigger trunk, the redesigned 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid is also more fun to drive while getting better gas mileage. Selling Points: Sleek styling, sophisticated engineering, comfortable front and rear seats, lots of standard safety equipment, reputation for reliability, excellent fuel economy Deal Breakers: Funky dash design, not as roomy or utilitarian as a Toyota Prius Our Advice: If high fuel prices and long waiting lists at the Toyota dealer have got you down, the redesigned 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid might be just the cure for what ails.
Estimated Base Price: $21,500
Gasoline Engine Size and Type: 1.3-liter inline four with variable valve timing
Gasoline Engine Horsepower: 93 at 6,000 rpm
Electric Motor Size and Type: 70mm wide permanent magnet with 158-volt nickel metal hydride (Ni-MH) battery
Electric Motor Horsepower: 20 at 2,000 rpm
Combined Horsepower Rating: 110 at 6,000 rpm
Transmission: Continuously variable transmission (CVT)
Estimated EPA Fuel Economy (city/highway): 50/50 mpg
Observed Fuel Economy: 47.1 mpg
Leg room (front/rear): 42.2/34.6 inches
Head room (front/rear): 39.4/37.4 inches
Max. Cargo Volume: 10.4 cubic feet
Competitors: Ford Escape Hybrid FWD, Toyota Prius
Photos courtesy of Honda America
About Christian Wardlaw Christian Wardlaw joined Autobytel's Automotive Information Center (AIC) in January 2003, and current serves as Manager of Content Development for Autobytel. Previously, Christian spent eight years as Editor-in-Chief and Director of Automotive Data for Edmunds.com. A writer, editor, and automobile aficionado, Christian is a different sort of car enthusiast. His passion lies in the vehicles that people most often buy, rather than with high-performance sports cars or ultra-luxury sedans. “Given the choice to spend an hour with a Dodge Viper or a Honda Accord, I’ll choose the Accord,” he claims. Unless, of course, the driving venue is a racetrack. Christian has been a car enthusiast all of his life, uttering “car” as his first word while growing up in Detroit. A graduate of Western Michigan University, he holds a bachelor’s degree in English. His daily drivers include a 1994 Mazda Miata, a 2004 Mazdaspeed Miata, and a 2005 Nissan Murano.
