2012 Honda Civic hybrid, best Civic hybrid ever
The Honda Civic Hybrid and the Toyota Prius have been going at it for a quite a few years now, and according to the sale’s numbers the Prius is king. Ultimately, the Prius has offered better fuel economy, more functionality, and a more unique look.
However, the 2012 Honda Civic hybrid has undergone a pretty significant transformation, but can it yet match up to the Prius?
That’s what a bunch of InsideLine editors recently tried to find out. So, they put the revamped, lithium-powered Honda Civic hybrid and the 2011 Prius through the paces, testing each vehicle on the track and, more interesting, in the real world via the daily commutes of several editors.
Since we’re talking about hybrid cars, fuel economy is obviously a critical benchmark, and it appears the Civic hybrid is catching up to the Prius. InsideLine testing still found the Prius to be the leader; however, the Prius only beat the Civic by 1 mpg, although a speedy freeway drive sucked a good chunk of mpgs out of the Prius average.
Keep the Prius in the city, and it offers clear mpg advantages over the Civic hybrid. Put these hybrids in more highway-like conditions, however, and the Civic hybrid is a real challenger.
And that takes us to drive quality, and there the Civic hybrid has also improved quite a bit compared to the previous Civic. Nevertheless, noise at high speeds is still a problem, and the drivetrain is still far too choppy. The Prius, on the other hand, still offers a more refined drive via the more seamless Hybrid Synergy Drive, as well as a more functional cabin that feels incredibly spacious.
Consequently, once again, the Prius wins, at least according to the editors at InsideLine. But, the Civic hybrid is catching up, and if your commute isn’t too congested, it’s definitely worth giving the Civic hybrid a test drive if you’re in the market.
Source: InsideLine