Skip advert
Advertisement

Honda Civic Hybrid ES

Gutless electric motor hampers the saloon

Are hybrid cars the future? While there’s no doubt they have helped drive down CO2 emissions, questions remain over the true benefits to fuel economy, especially out of town. As the Prius shows, the concept can work – but does the Honda Civic Hybrid IMA pull off a similar trick?

IMA stands for Integrated Motor Assist. As with its Toyota rival, the Honda uses an electric motor to boost the power of its petrol engine – the 1.4 is upped to 94bhp. The idea is to offer the pace of a 1.6-litre with the economy and emissions of a 1.1.

The electric motor is triggered by the brake pedal. Slow down or come to a standstill, and the petrol unit is disengaged; accelerate again, and it fires up. The problem is, the electric motor gives only 15kW, compared to 50kW in the Prius and 147kW in the Lexus. As a result, it’s not strong enough to propel the oddball four-door Civic on its own, so the engine is employed more than you’d expect.

Also letting the car down is the CVT box. While its shift-free running means smooth progress, the set-up holds the engine noisily at high revs when accelerating. This explains why the IMA failed to match the firm’s economy claims in our test, too.

Jerky and over-sensitive brakes make it hardto drive the Honda smoothly. The ride is poor in town, while thick A-pillars cause large blind spots – key flaws in a car designed for urban use.

The good news is that even greener Hondas are on the way. The FCX Clarity is the first commercially available hydrogen fuel cell vehicle in the world. It hits 100mph, covers 0-60mph in 10 seconds and doesn’t use a drop of fuel. And while it’s currently only available in California, it’s sure to come here – and prove a stronger package than the Civic Hybrid.

Details

Price: £18,005
Model tested: Civic Hybrid ES

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Hyundai Tucson

Hyundai Tucson

RRP £29,820Avg. savings £4,935 off RRP*Used from £13,090
Volkswagen Tiguan

Volkswagen Tiguan

RRP £35,385Avg. savings £3,710 off RRP*Used from £15,440
Vauxhall Corsa

Vauxhall Corsa

RRP £19,690Avg. savings £4,794 off RRP*Used from £6,320
MG MG4

MG MG4

RRP £26,995Avg. savings £7,541 off RRP*Used from £12,599
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New Xiaomi YU7 2025 review: a world-beating new EV to worry the establishment
Xiaomi YU7 - front cornering

New Xiaomi YU7 2025 review: a world-beating new EV to worry the establishment

BMW or Mercedes would do anything to keep the new Xiaomi YU7 from sale in the UK and Europe, and this is why
Road tests
14 Jul 2025
Electric Car Grant in detail: Which cars will get the UK EV discount?
Auto Express creative director Darren Wilson charging the Lexus RZ

Electric Car Grant in detail: Which cars will get the UK EV discount?

The government has set out its plan to help reduce the cost of affordable EVs by introducing a new £3,750 Electric Car Grant for new EVs sold under £3…
News
18 Jul 2025
Electric Mercedes CLA Shooting Brake will keep going long after rivals need to stop
Mercedes CLA Shooting Brake - front action

Electric Mercedes CLA Shooting Brake will keep going long after rivals need to stop

The second of Merc’s new-era EVs is here in the form of an attractive estate with a huge range
News
14 Jul 2025