2005 Honda Civic Hybrid CVT

Pros

Honda Quality

Cons

Exagerrated fuel economy claims

I was a little disappointed with the fuel economy claims. In the summer, I get roughly 800 km - 840 kms (500 - 522 miles) on a 50 liter tank (13.2 gal), city driving. Fuel economy drops dramatically in the winter, 600 km - 650 km (373 - 404 miles) per tank. It seems that the temperature of the vehicle must be at some maximun for the auto-stop feature to activate when the vehicle is stopped at a traffic light etc.. For my particular geographic region, anything below 4 Celsius (39 Fahrenheit) and the auto-stop will not activate. I guess this accounts for the lower winter fuel economy.

Otherwise, this is a great car....read morehide

Pros

Good Fuel Economy, Good sound system

Cons

"Weeee" = sound of electric engine

I have owned my Hybrid since April last year (2005). I live in the Northeast and have seen the mileage slip a little lower (41-42mpg) in the cold weather. At just under 600 miles per week it is a very good comuter car. I trade it for my F150 if the snow prediction is for more than a dusting though, because with its lightness and balanced weight distribution, it doesn't get very good traction in slippery conditions. I have found the optimal outside temp range relative to getting best mileage to be between 50F and 65F. Above and below these temps, the mileage goes down. Peak 110 mile days have been 59mpg. I did that regularly in Spring and Fall. I have a slight downhill run on the way to work and a slight uphill on the way home....read morehide

Pros

better than NON-HYBRID cars in mileage.

Cons

Doesnot hit the mileage mentioned on the sticker- with lame excuses from Honda dealers for low mlage

I bought a 2005 brand new honda civic hydrid. The sales guy
talked only about the higher miles/gallon civic hybrid gives when
I bought it in March-2005. But In winter time, I find (even today)
that the mileage dropped by as low as 34 miles/gallon. I live
in Texas and the winter is not even that bad. Taking it to a
honda dealer, they give tons of excuses saying that
the EPA web -site says so or in winter lower milage is expcected
and stuff. I took the dealership's service manager to a new civic hybrid
parked right there in their own parking lot and asked him
to show to me where, in the new car's window sticker, honda
says the winter mileage will be as low as 34 mpg?!!... He could not
and agreed it is a negative point and went to the extent
of agreeing that usually the sales guys don;t point out
negative points when they sell it. Overall, I feel terribly let down
as I expect honda or the dealer to be upfront in saying that
winter milage will be as low as 35mpg or whatever the number is.
No where on a new Hyrid's window sticker you will find about
winter low mileage. Lastly, the service guy told me that many customers have the same low mileage issue- some going as low as 32mpg.
I use the highest grade fuel (93 rating) and still get this 34mpg.
Not happy at all for the money I paid for a Hybrid car.
Honda is not upfront or frank with precise hybrid mpg numbers.
They expect us to check someother non-honda web-site (EPA's)
to know about the low numbers in winter....read morehide

Have not gotten above an average of 39 MPG. Needs to not cut off the A/C during the summer. It's hot in Texas!

Pros

Excellent design, drives better than most people think for a hybrid

Cons

This our second Civic Hybrid -1st - 45 MPG, 2nd - 38 MPG

My wife purchased a 2003 Civic Hybrid with CVT. She put 70,000 miles on it and averaged 45 MPG. This was a mix of day to day work driving (90 miles per day) and vacation (loaded down in Alabama in the summer with AC and at least 70 MPH - got 45 MPG) Also was able to keep up with our sons V8 Jeep in Chicago- a little less MPG. She traded the 2003 for a 2005 which was advertised at 47/48 MPG (the 2003 held its value even at 70,000 miles - a first for me) The problem is the new one gets only 37/38 MPG. I have tried to work with Honda and after multiple attempts (including changing the CVT out) They now tell me "EPA - Milage may vary". I have seen both extremes (I also test drove another 2005 CVT - it got 45MPG with 70 miles on it)
Be careful what you buy. There seems to be a great difference in Civic Hydrids with no change in fuel source or driving habits....read morehide

Pros

Good fuel economy. Nicely equipped.

Cons

Hybrid more expensive.

Bought this car on a Friday and took it on a 300 mile road trip over the weekend. Mileage calculated by trip odometer says ~42.5. Not quite up to what the EPA estimate says, but I wasn't expecting that.

Honda makes a very nice car. Other than feeling a bit underpowered if you try to pass someone, you will soon forget you are driving a hybrid, until you look down at the gas gauge. After our 300 mile drive, our 13.2 gallon gas tank was still half full.

I liked the engine design of the Toyota Prius better, but my wife liked the style of the Honda. Couple that with the lower price of the Honda and that is what we went with.

Now you must understand that this is a little more expensive way of flipping off OPEC. You don't get something for nothing and a hybrid is no exception. You pay a little more up front, which certainly counterbalances any cost savings from low gas usage. Then there is the question of cost, when you eventually have to replace the hybrid batteries. However, if you are like me and want the immediate satisfaction of feeling like YOU are making a difference, the hybrid might be a good choice.

Not the most exciting car I've ever driven, but it does what it's supposed to do...sip gas....read morehide

Pros

50 MPG, smooth tranny

Cons

Does not use the electric motor enough.

Got mine in early July and am quite happy with it. Better milage than I expected. Better milage in town than on the highway and it helps to keep the A/C off if you can stand it. My only complaint is that it does not use the elctric motor enough. I belive this gets rectified in the 2006 version. That along with the new tax credit make me wish I would have waited a few months. Still, 50 MPG is a lot better than the 16 MPG I was getting in my Dakota. I do love driving past that pump!...read morehide

Pros

Estimated fuel economy exactly as advertized Has plenty of pickup and can run at turnpike speeds

Cons

Ride is excellent but handling alittle mushy when cornering. Larger tires would enhance the looks a

This car is the answer for a person who does short trips and does alot of driving around town. I did not realize I was putting over 500 miles a week until the gas prices went thru the roof. I do 550miles on 11 gallons of reg. gas. I also own a new Miata and a Ford Explorer but use the Hybrid about 90% of the time. The technologly is just terrific. My friend has had a Honda Hybrid for about a year and I really didn't believe him when he said he was getting 50 MPG. I also have gotten 50MPG between fill ups and my total average over 3000 miles is 47 plus MPG. I have had the car on I-95 and it will cruise along at 80 MPH
However the mileage drops off to the low 40s.......read morehide

Pros

smooth transmission; honda quality in all but one area

Cons

mpg not as high as expected

Having owned 6 Honda products in the past 7 years, our family expected to thoroughly enjoy the 2005 Civic Hybrid. But for the first time, we've been disappointed. We're averaging only low-mid 30s for the mpg, far below the touted 47 mpg on the sticker. I'm surprised to read so many reviews of 45+ mpg b/c I'm usually easy on a car. When I contacted my dealer after the first two weeks, I was given many excuses about the mpg, such as the fact that running the defrosters could lower my mileage. Cold weather was also cited along such as gas additives. At this point, I was told other customers had been complaining. None of this was mentioned in the test drive/sales pitch. I've contacted Honda to express my disappointment in the information presented by the dealer both pre-sale and post-sale and to discuss the mpg issue in general. Consumer Reports got 36 mpg during their test of the vehicle, which I found out after I bought the car. Don't get me wrong; that's great mileage, but it's not 47 mpg. When considering the price difference between the regular Civic and the Hybrid Civic, I'm looking at almost 5 years before being "green" pays for itself.Hopefully, mileage will improve and Honda will respond to my concerns. Honda should give accurate info for the area in which you live....read morehide

Pros

reliable, fuel mileage+++++

Cons

a/c shuts off when running on electic power when stopped

I have had this car for nearly 3 years with 90k+ miles and I have no regrets. Nothing like pulling up to the gas pump next to a SUV knowing how much they are spending on gas. The only thing I have had done to the car was replace the catalytic converter under warranty recently. I would recommend this car to anyone. The fuel mileage has spoiled me. It would be hard to go to something different. Gets better mileage in the city than the highway....read morehide