Two Seasons with a Honda Civic Hybrid

[Tideland Prius]

After several years of pioneering by the likes of the Toyota Prius and Honda Insight, hybrid-powered vehicles have moved from the fringe to the limelight in the automotive world. In the public eye and for the mass media, ‘hybrids’ have long ceased being oddities and are considered cool and trendy.

Hybrids are about reducing overall vehicle emissions and, in some cases, making a statement of sorts, but steep increases in fuel prices are also making them increasingly attractive to consumers simply seeking to save on overall vehicle cost.

If demand for hybrids is rapidly rising, the offer has also improved greatly, in efficiency, in variety and now even in price. From two hybrids in the 2001 model year (the Honda Insight two-seater was introduced as a 2000 model, followed soon after by the 2001 Toyota Prius) the breed has grown to more than ten for model year 2007.

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[Sarge]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Dec 5 2006, 01:17 AM) [snapback]357836[/snapback]</div>

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Interesting article.

Our actual overall fuel economy average, for this three-month test, was 6.707 L/100 km, or 42.12 miles per gallon, if you (still) prefer, after 3190 kilometres of driving. Quite different from this model’s NRC ratings of 4.7 L/100 km in city driving and 4.3 L/100 km on the highway.[/b]

Hopefully, their "real world" numbers do not scare off potential hybrid customers, as a Canadian winter and rookie driver are not anywhere near an 'ideal' environment. <_<

We remained puzzled by the fact that the engine-stop function does not kick in at every stop or traffic light. We traced it to the fact that it does not work if the heating system is in full defrost or mixed defrost/floor modes, because the air conditioning system is active in both cases.[/b]

I don't know if classifying this as a "con" is really a fair assessment - the heat has to come from somewhere, and with a cold engine, where to they expect the warmth to come from?

As I enter my first winter with my Prius, I find myself toggling the Auto A/C button on the steering wheel at each red light until the engine is warmed enough to allow the engine to shut down and maximize MPG. Not like I'm sacrificing much heat during those "idling" 45 seconds anyway.

[Tideland Prius]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Sarge @ Dec 5 2006, 09:54 AM) [snapback]358014[/snapback]</div>

Hopefully, their "real world" numbers do not scare off potential hybrid customers, as a Canadian winter and rookie driver are not anywhere near an 'ideal' environment. <_<

[/b]

Not to mention winter tyres. CanadianDriver did a test last year with the old HCH and the new 06 Prius as a comparison. Their numbers are closer to "normal" people's mileage (both winter and "spring").

[mikepaul]

My mom already gets hyper when her HCH gets less than 45MPG. I'll have to remind her what Winter does to my gas mileage.

Of course, if she still gets big numbers come January, I'll never hear the end of it...

[MSantos]

Good find Tideland.

Ok article, overall. But I agree with Sarge regarding the defrost setting's impact on the autostop which should not have been regarded as a negative attribute... oh well, we're used to it.


Cheers;

MSantos

[Tideland Prius]

Thanks.

They're doing (yet) another hybrid comparison... but this time it's a little odd. There's a Jeep Grand Cherokee Diesel, TCH, and some other regular cars that slip my mind right now.

not sure what they're trying to accomplish esp. since the cars don't match (hmm.. diesel SUV vs. hybrid car.. that doesn't work. diesel SUV vs. hybrid SUV and diesel car vs hybrid car works better).

[MSantos]

Must be yet another opportunity to bash on hybrids. I hope not.

Knowing that many folks in the automotive press date back to the days of traditional ICE design & performance, their affinity for a sensational angle never ceases to impress me. What could more sensational than to compare a diesel platform to a hybrid driven by a lead foot test crew?

You know what we need? An alternate GreenDriving publication and a matching weekend TV auto show that focuses on clean/ forward looking car tech. I am actually tired of this "truck/power hour" auto shows littering the TV programming. For so long it has looked to me like a large experiment in "in-breeding".

Cheers;

MSantos

[Tideland Prius]

Originally Posted by MSantos

Must be yet another opportunity to bash on hybrids. I hope not.

Knowing that many folks in the automotive press date back to the days of traditional ICE design & performance, their affinity for a sensational angle never ceases to impress me. What could more sensational than to compare a diesel platform to a hybrid driven by a lead foot test crew?

You know what we need? An alternate GreenDriving publication and a matching weekend TV auto show that focuses on clean/ forward looking car tech. I am actually tired of this "truck/power hour" auto shows littering the TV programming. For so long it has looked to me like a large experiment in "in-breeding".

Cheers;

MSantos

The new Driver's Seat had a entire episode on "green" cars. They had the fortwo (vs. Hummer), TCH and Jetta TDI

[MSantos]

Originally Posted by Tideland Prius

The new Driver's Seat had a entire episode on "green" cars. They had the fortwo (vs. Hummer), TCH and Jetta TDI

Ahhh, those two guys (Ted & Tony, right?).
I used to watch their show during the 90's, and it was fun watching the recurring contrasts every week - at times they got very lively.
I guess an episode about some green cars is good, but I would hope to see a show solely dedicated to green cars (including tips, EV's & BEV, HEV mods, FE enhancements & gizmos, hypermiling advice, etc).

Now that... would interest me greatly.

Cheers;

MSantos

[Tideland Prius]

Originally Posted by MSantos

Ahhh, those two guys (Ted & Tony, right?).
I used to watch their show during the 90's, and it was fun watching the recurring contrasts every week - at times they got very lively.
I guess an episode about some green cars is good, but I would hope to see a show solely dedicated to green cars (including tips, EV's & BEV, HEV mods, FE enhancements & gizmos, hypermiling advice, etc).

Now that... would interest me greatly.

Cheers;

MSantos

Yeah but Ted left (saw him in Rmd once!) and Tony is no longer part of the show. They have a new 3 crew team hence the "new driver's seat"