Super TestCar reviews - Honda - Civic - Hybrid sedanHonda modelsOverviewHonda's second-generation Civic Hybrid - a green sedan even enthusiats will enjoy26 May 2006 WATCH out Toyota! Honda is challenging the Prius with a new Civic Hybrid that’s better in every way than its stupefyingly dull predecessor. And it even rights some of the old car’s – as well as the criminally underrated Insight’s – drivetrain wrongs. Today’s car, for instance, can run purely on electric power plus it’s more frugal and efficient. Better still, even a brief drive reveals a Hybrid that a driving enthusiast may enjoy punting around. Since you can’t really say that about the Prius, that’s progress. Model release date: 1 February 2006 to 1 February 2012 All car reviewsAlfa Romeo Abarth Alpine Alpina Audi Aston Martin BMW Bentley Chevrolet Chery Citroen Chrysler Dodge Cupra Ferrari DS Ford Fiat FPV Foton GWM Great Wall Holden Haval HSV Honda Hyundai Hummer Isuzu Infiniti Jeep Jaguar Lamborghini Kia LDV Land Rover Lotus Lexus Maserati Mahindra McLaren Mazda Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-AMG Mini MG Nissan Mitsubishi Peugeot Opel Proton Porsche Renault Ram Rover Rolls-Royce Skoda Saab SsangYong Smart Suzuki Subaru Toyota Tesla Volvo Volkswagen Previous modelHonda deserves success after the 2001 Insight (narrowly) became Australia’s first-ever petrol-electric hybrid vehicle. But that car’s wildly expensive pricing and two-seater configuration guaranteed its failure here. Not so 2004’s Hybrid sedan, which was affordable at $30,000 and offered reasonably benign performance from its 69kW/146Nm 1.3/electric motor combo married to a CVT auto. Sales have been reasonable but this Civic’s dull styling and watered-down hybrid experience – Toyota's Prius wears its innovation on its sleeve to great effect – means it will soon slide into oblivion. |
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