Comments on: Honda Civic Hybrid 2009 Review

By: Car Accessories

Car Accessories — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 08:53:36 +0000

Yeah, I pretty much liked the Honda Civic and enjoyed this review.

By: gavin hughes

gavin hughes — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 06:47:07 +0000

Okay, here is the good oil (saved!) thanks for Bridgestone’s website which said:

Contrary to popular belief, tyre pressure is not determined by the type of tyre or its size but upon your vehicle’s load and driving application i.e. speed

Take the “cold” reading and check them against the recommended tyre pressures from your placard.

Heavy loads or towing puts an extra strain on your tyres. So if your vehicle is fully loaded with passengers and luggage, the general rule is to add 28kpa (4PSI or 4lbs).

At high speed, (defined as driving at 120km/h for over one hour), your tyres will wear out twice as fast as when you drive at 70-80 km/h. If your tyres are under-inflated by twenty per cent tyre life can be reduced by thirty per cent.
The rule here is to add 28Kpa (4PSI) from your Minimum Compliance Plate Pressure. Don’t inflate your tyres above 40 psi or 280 kPa. When the tyres get hot from driving, the pressure will increase even more.

Believe it or not, checking your tyre pressure can have a big impact on our environment. An under-inflated tyre creates more rolling resistance and therefore more fuel consumption. By keeping your tyres inflated to their proper levels, you can help maximise your car’s fuel economy and minimise its impact on our environment.

By: gavin hughes

gavin hughes — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 06:38:55 +0000

Our family has a 2007 Honda Civic Hybrid and love it. Fuel efficiency does seem to get better with time, got 4.8L/100km from Monbulk in Dandenong Ranges down to Chandler Hwy exit in Kew Melbourne. I want to check with Honda & tyre manufacturer if I can increase my tyre pressures a bit more too as they only give one setting and it seems to be for max comfort, not for max efficiency, load or hwy driving considerations. The tyres are low resistance rolling tyres anyway though. I have left roof racks on as they are aerodynamic but keep the roof carrier off unless we use it as it has well recommended quick clamp release system (otherwise I would be tempted to leave it on sometimes).
I am probably getting more used to driving to maximise electric assist and regeneration (breaking early and gradually increasing pedal to floor to get to desired cruise speeds). Also looking far ahead to best guage when to break earlier, not to accelerate or in traffic, not to edge forward unless we are actually starting to all move or there is a big gap (as it puts the engine on soon as you take the foot off the brake!). Engine turns off when you slow enough so I can often coast slowly with no engine in traffic or coasting to lights. I obviously try not to upset other drivers too with all this and most don’t notice it or the fact I am in a hybrid.

TIP: ensure you check with your state motor authority if you need to put a special sticker on your numberplate showing it is a hybrid (like LPG cars need to as emergency rescue staff need to know what precautions to take when attending accidents).

Background: We bought it second hand at the car auctions in Melbourne for under $20K with 67,000kms on it. We had to pay for the roadworthy, rego and a new windscreen due to stone chips and a crack. We then got custom sheep skin covers fitted in the front and custom velour covers for the back that all look/work great for place in Preston for under $400. We got aerodynamic roof racks and luggage carrier that allow us to still go camping despite losing our stationwagon.

By: AdelaidePrius

AdelaidePrius — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 01:58:58 +0000

Civic Hybrid Mileage Brouhaha Continues
http://www.hybridcars.com/fuel-economy-numbers/civic-hybrid-mileage-brouhaha-continues-26296.html
This applies to older Civic Hybrids than your 2009 model – but may still be of interest.
The early Civic Hybrids ran on one cylinder rather than completely stopping when at traffic lights. Their rated fuel consumption was OK but the Green Vehicle Guide rating was worse than the non-hybrid Civic, my theory being that the “one cylinder” trick dirtied the engine emissions.

By: JDM Engines

JDM Engines — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 23:54:54 +0000

I drive an older Prius and my wife and I have considered upgrading, we’ve been looking into the benefits of doing so, if fuel economy improvement is a reason to switch we’re doing it, not to mention it’s a little more stylish than our older prius. I only wonder what the reliability is on the electric motors as the old ones tend to go out.

By: Mr.Gadget

Mr.Gadget — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 10:37:07 +0000

Interesting to see how the Prius economy has actually improved over time…I hope this will be the same deal with the Civic Hybrid.

I’ve always been interested in the progress of the Astra since it was one of the first cars I looked at after graduating from Uni

By: AdelaidePrius

AdelaidePrius — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 02:17:37 +0000

The TS Astra is a similar size to the Civic – with a 1.8 litre 16 valve fuel injected engine and a 4 speed auto – but without variable valve timing.
My Astra’s economy was “bad” because my journey to and from work is problematic for a non-hybrid car. Continual stop start.
The Astra was a CDX with fuel computer so instantaneous fuel consumption was available. It used about 7 litres/100 km at 110 kph and much less (but I forget what) at a steady 60 kph. But I was rarely able to travel at a steady 60 kph – I start in a 40 kph zone and am half way to work before out of 50 kph speed limit. So lots of fuel was used getting it up to speed – then wasted as heat by the brakes when I stopped a short time later. The Astra used usefully less fuel than the Commodore that preceded it!
The new Prius is supposedly 10% more economical than the one that I have. I have made 1 return journey with a demo car – and recorded the same 4.8 l/100 as my 2003-2009 model. But I think new cars are often tuned rich until the first service and 30 km is only a small test distance.
Certainly mine has become more economical throughout its life. The average was 5.00 after 12 months, 4.83 after 24 months and 4.78 after 36 months. Each of these is a whole of life average, not just the preceeding 12 months.
The new Prius has a bigger engine so I expect that its strength compared to the previous model may be more on the highway rather than in the CBD. But that is speculation.

By: Mr.Gadget

Mr.Gadget — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 22:00:33 +0000

Ah ok. My other car’s lease is almost up…I think you’ve convinced me which direction I should take next

Can’t believe that the Astra’s economy was that bad – it’s a small car!?

By: AdelaidePrius

AdelaidePrius — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:06:37 +0000

My “mainly city driving” involves 14 km each way, passing through the city of Adelaide. I live south of the city and work north of the city.
On the way to work I use King William Street – Adelaide’s main street – and pass through the centre of the CBD. I am half way to work before getting out of a 50kph speed zone.
My Astra CDX used 9.6 l/100km on the same route – so the Prius uses half the fuel.

By: Mr.Gadget

Mr.Gadget — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:00:58 +0000

@AdelaidePrius Thank you so much for that detailed description of your driving technique and experience with a Prius Hybrid. Trust me I was gunning for a Prius, however, my wife wanted otherwise…

For a supposedly state-of-the-art-energy-efficient-car, you’d think Honda would have done more to integrate more technology into it. Compared to the Prius it seems it’s more of an introduction to the Hybrid world for loyal-Honda drivers rather than a leap that the Prius symbolizes.

Will try to shape my driving around some of the tips you’ve provided.

Cheers!