Honda Civic IMA

By Matt Master

February 2003

There is a way out, however. Having pioneered the hybrid car with the radical Insight, Japanese techno-wizard Honda has launched a more practical replacement - and it's exempt from the city centre levy. With the seconds ticking away before Ken Livingstone's controversial congestion charge comes into force, Auto Express put the first Civic Hybrid through its paces.

The Civic IMA (short for Integrated Motor Assist) will save London owners in the region of ΂£1,200 a year. But it's not only in the capital that this Honda makes sense. It boasts very low emissions and excellent fuel economy, too.

Where the Insight was short on interior space due to its massive battery pack, the Civic is a genuine rival to the more roomy Toyota Prius, with a five-seat capacity and a proper boot. Styling has been an Achilles' heel of many hybrids as well. The Prius looks dated, while the Insight would seem at home among Gerry Anderson's Thunderbirds. Here again, the Civic holds its own. Granted, it's no stunner, but at least it blends into the scenery.

Yet another drawback of dual-power cars has been price. Toyota's offering will set you back ΂£16,400, while an Insight is a massive ΂£17,000. However, the Civic will cost less than ΂£15,000 when it arrives in the spring - that's the same as a 100bhp VW Golf TDI.

Laying financial considerations aside, how does the Civic drive? Around the city, it offers practically the same benefits as its rival, the Prius. The petrol engine cuts out when you're stationary in traffic, creating an eerily quiet cabin. Even when the electric power boots the conventional motor seamlessly into life, the car remains remarkably refined.

Up through the gears - the Honda has a manual transmission, rather than the Toyota's CVT auto - there is no indication that this is a hybrid. And at slow speeds there's virtually no sound. What's more, the super-frugal powerplant combination is good for 58mpg, while C02 emissions are only 116g/km.

The Civic's light weight means it is also effortless to manoeuvre and im-pressively zippy. With its Jazz-sourced 1.3-litre I-DSI engine assisted by the 10kW electric motor, the 0-60mph dash comes up in around 13 seconds and the top speed is 100mph. From a passenger's perspective, there is plenty of space, both front and rear, and the decent-sized boot is a real bonus.

The cabin itself is something of a letdown, though. Bland and dated, it lacks any of the charm of the Jazz. Unlike the Prius, on the other hand, the Civic avoids using an array of dash screens and, save a discreet battery charge/assist indicator, gets on with the business of being a normal vehicle.

Hybrids offer a real and sensible alternative for car-committed commuters and eco-warriors alike. But it's not all about Londoners and their new charge. Even if you live out in the wilds of the country, the Civic still makes a lot of sense. Economical to run, it is also tax-efficient, initially affordable and practical. And in addition to this, it drives and looks... well, like a standard motor.

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