Yes! the civic has a small electric AC compressor (15cc) to compliment the standard belt driven unit (75cc). Under heavy load (ie. very hot outside and/or c.c. temp turned all the way down) both units run to deliver max cooling - no autostop when this is the case. Once the interior temp is cool enough, the vehicle will autostop and the small electric a/c unit will keep the interior cool. So, IMHO, you most certainly do not have to choose between good FE and keeping cool.

Other's may tell you that you have to choose because running the A/C certainly takes it's (relatively minor) toll on the FE! Relatively minor meaning 5-10% of 50MPG equals a drop of 3-5MPG. A vehicle that acheives only 25MPG on average, with the same overall 5-10% decrease will yield only 2-3MPG difference....