Honda Civic Hybrid

I bought a 2004 Civic Hybrid about a year and a half ago, and have been VERY
happy with it. At this point, my average mileage, according to the panel
display is 42 mpg. I use it mostly in town and avoid freeways whenever
possible. Highway mileage is a bit better if I keep my speed at 65, but
drops pretty precipitately at speeds over 70.

I'm just wondering how this compares with the experience of other Civic
Hybrid owners.

 

After 2 years, I'm getting 33 summer 34 winter - very unhappy - dealer
checked, nothing showed up. 85 percent town driving.

 

Wow, you can get better than that with an 06 non-hybrid Civic.

Shoot, I can get that with a 95 Corolla...

 

Check out this website:

http://www.greenhybrid.com/compare/mileage/

It allows hybrid owners to submit their actual mileage results, and
pools that information to provide "typical" results for each model.
Granted, different people have different driving needs (ratio of city
vs. highway miles) as well as driving styles (leadfoot vs. "sipper"),
but it's a start...

 

Oh yeah- our 2004 Civic Hybrid (automatic) is averaging 42.7 mpg over
25,000 miles with a mix of about 50% city driving and 50% rural
road/hwy driving (hwy speeds usually around 70-80 mph)...

We're pretty happy with our car, although the A/C cutting off with the
engine at stops can be a little annoying on hot days (I believe the
2006 model has an electric compressor that runs the A/C even when the
car stops at intersections)

We are seriously considering an '06 Accord Hybrid as a second car for
our household, although we would be more inclined if they had mated
the IMA with the 4-cylinder (even better fuel economy, and the 4-cyl
does a pretty good job at moving the car on its own).

Cheers!

 

Rechargeable batteries take less and less of a charge as they accumulate
cycles. I very much wonder if this effect results in dropping fuel
economy over time with hybrids.

John

 

My experience after two years with a 2003 Civic Hybrid is about the
same as yours. By the panel I usually get 42 mpg. By actual calculation
of miles I've gone divided by gallons used, I'm getting right at 40
mpg. The vast majority of my miles are on city streets going to and
from work. That's what I got the hybrid for - an economical work car.
So I'm pretty happy averaging 40 mpg in very demanding stop and go
conditions.

Like you, I find I get very good mileage when going at between 50 and
65 miles an hour. And it drops pretty quickly at speeds over 70.

 

not true, certainly not anywhere near true enough to be used as a
blanket statement. In many cases, its as much straight time as cycles,
and in other battery types, its mainly dependant on the type of cycle.

 

How does your (everyone who posted here) mileage compare to mileage of a gas
powered (non-hybrid) Civic?

And how much more does a hybrid cost?

 

My gas 2002 Civic 5 sp gets 38 to 43 mpg depending of couse on how much more
time I send on highways.

 

Exactly. I don't see the economics of buying a hybrid.

 

I didn't buy my Civic Hybrid primarily in cost. I bought to save on gas,
and also because I enjoy innovative technology. No disappointment on either
score.

 

Why?

So you'll spend MORE for the privilege of using a bit less gas?

 

Ah! The "toy factor"! I admit...that's an answer I can relate to! Enjoy it.

 

I thought I said the technology fascinates me. It's roughly for the same
reason that I bought a Mazda RX4 about 30 years ago, and a Honda CRX Si in
1990. They're all fun to drive, and I like something different. What's
hard to understand about that?

 

I get 38-39 on a 03 Civic LX 5 spd with a mix of about 75% highway and 25%
urban driving. Speed 75-80.

 

Splitting hairs a bit here, aren't you? The point is that rechargeable
batteries become less and less effective as they age and eventually fail
to take a charge at all.

John

 

I just upped my tire pressure all around from 28 psi to 40psi, and saw an
IMMEDIATE improvement of 5.5 mpg in town driving--from 42 to 46.5 mpg. I
expect to see an even greater improvement at 60 mpg. Max pressure for OEM
tires is 55 psi.

Low air pressure could account for your poor gas mileage.

 

Have you checked around to see if such a high pressure (to
me) is safe?

Maybe it is, but I'd at least google.

Off the top of my head, I would expect the tires to heat up
while driving, and so raise the pressure, perhaps
dangerously close to the design limit.

 

The very first thing to do is look for the manufacturer's recommended
tire pressures, and start there. 28 sounds awfully low for a hybrid.