Hi, I'm Steve Turgeon and these are my driving tips to help you achieve the best possible fuel efficiency with the Honda Civic Hybrid.

The Honda Civic Hybrid can be driven like a regular, normal gas and go car. Driven normally you can expect to get around the standard EPA MPG rating. Buit, is also loaded with special tools that help you achieve outstanding MPG. How you utilize these tools are up to you. Each drive is a new challenge for better results, though it requires a small bit of effort. These techniques will become natural after some practice.

These tips are based on driving a 2004 Honda Civic Hybrid (HCH) with a continuously variable transmission. 5-speed transmission HCH's will be slightly different in regards to the CVT.

Knowing your Car

Some Things to Consider

Create Some "Work" Space Leave plenty of room to the vehicle in front of you. If the traffic ahead slows, you will have a buffer to maintain momentum and conserve energy, allowing you to plan ahead. I use a buffer of 100-200 feet or more. As an added bonus, the vehicle in front of you won't be spraying gravel on your car.

Alternative Routes Try different routs for common trips. I could use the freeway for 99% of my daily commute. I have learned instead to take the first 20 miles of my 44 mile trip using a parallel highway. I travel an extra mile but this way I avoid freeway speeds and traffic while gaining 10 MPG or more. It's also helpful to memorize common routes. Know where IMA Assist is required and where you can coast.

Because the 2005 Accord Hybrid is only the fifth model to come on the market — after the Insight, Civic, Toyota Prius and Ford Escape — it’s expected that reviews will spend some time on the technology. However, since it also simply another car Honda is selling, it’s time to pay attention to the ordinaries.

Driving speed Wind resistance roughly doubles between 55 MPH and 70 MPH. You also must figure in the safety of a slower moving vehicle and the common courtesy to others. As a rule of thumb, consider driving 10–15% below the speed limit. You will always find me driving in the far right lane.

Quality of Gasoline The Honda Civic Hybrid uses regular 87 octane gas. I haven't noticed any performance changes from the most expensive gas to the cheapest.

Air Conditioning & Windshield Defroster The A/C system does slightly decrease your mileage. If you turn on the Econo button, the A/C will turn off when the Auto Stop is active (such as a traffic light). If the fan control is not set to Auto, the fan doesn’t stop with the car and the air continues blow cool for a quite some time. When you begin again it cools almost instantly. If you desire further savings, wait to activate the A/C button until rolling down a hill. Otherwise keep it off. This way the momentum of the car runs the A/C instead of the fuel. Lastly, be sure it’s off when climbing a hill. Remember your car is for you to enjoy. There is no reason to broil in a hot car to save a few cents.

Windshield Defroster The A/C compressor is automatically turned on when the heater is set to defrost. This way the moisture that has condensed on the windows will evaporate faster.

The Econo button has no function in the defrost mode. The compressor will be on, reducing about 2 MPG. If the windows are getting foggy, first see that the recirculate button is off. Then put fresh air out through the middle vents and turn the fan on high. If the windows won't clear this way then switch to the regular Defrost mode.

Driving Strategy

Beginning from a Stop

This is where you kill your mileage numbers.

To begin, release the foot brake and wait a second. Then quickly and smoothly depress the accelerator to gain about half IMA. Don’t overdo the assist. Watch the speedometer. When it reaches 25–30 MPH, look at the FCD meter and back off the accelerator until the FCD is about 35–40 MPG. It is critical to raise the meter to 35–40 MPG in only a few seconds.

If you are accelerating on a flat road then slowly raise the FCD to about 45–60 and accelerate from there. Begin to raise the FCD to a specific reference point and hold it there. How fast you raise the MPG to the reference point depends on your rate of acceleration and how fast you want to drive.

If you have to accelerate up a hill then you may need to hold the FCD lower somewhat longer. Hills always have some areas that are not as steep. Notice where these are and take advantage of them by backing off the FCD temporarily.

When beginning from a stop and there isn't anyone behind you then raise the FCD much higher and take extra time to gain speed, but don’t linger in the lower MPG numbers.

Cruising Down the Road

The most important factor in getting great MPG is now at hand. You must pick a reference point on the FCD and hold the accelerator exactly at that point. When climbing small hills the car will slow down a little because of the load. Don't add more gas to keep speed. Let it slow down. On the other side of the hill the car will speed back up as the load decreases.

Suppose you are driving along at a constant speed on a flat area of the road. Notice that the instant MPG gauge is at 60. Ask yourself: can I raise my FCD higher?

Back off the accelerator until the FCD is at 82 MPG. Immediately look at your MPH speed. Are you slowing down? If so, quickly try 70. If your speed hasn't changed, be happy. You've gained 22 MPG.

Now try for 90 MPG. Find out how high the FCD can go without loosing speed. That is your reference MPG point. Adjust the FCD on the flat road, drive with the current load.

Your FCD reference point will need to be adjusted from time to time. If you are currently driving on a relatively flat road for miles then 70 or 85 MPG as a reference might be possible. On a gradual uphill battle for miles then 60 or even 40 might be the reference point that might be necessary.

Don't drive only by how it "feels". If it seems like you are slowing down don't just blindly push the accelerator down. I find that it is a difficult habit to break.

Climbing a Hill

Bigger hills are the second main MPG killer. If this is a familiar route, perhaps you can find a different road going around the hill. Pick a route that doesn’t add significant distance to your trip. Raise the FCD whenever it is possible and try for just 2 or 4 MPG even if only temporarily in mid-hill. Most hills have flatter areas as you climb. Learn to watch for these flatter areas and take advantage of them whenever possible.

Use the IMA on hills very sparingly. If Assist comes on you are pulling hard and need to try and squeeze just two or four more MPG out of the FCD meter. Sometimes you just can’t avoid it but back off as soon as you can.

The CVT can do some fairly unpredictable things climbing a big hill. If the FCD is down to one segment below 40 I can usually lock some Assist in at that point. Sometimes I can back off to 40 MPG and still have the Assist locked in, keeping my speed schedule up the hill. Feather back as the hill begins to flatten out near the top.

If climbing a really BIG hill say about 1,000 ft per half mile, the IMA might shut down the Assist and select a very low ratio. This causes a sudden increase in RPM’s and a big drop in MPG, slowing you down quickly. Try shifting the CVT into Sport mode. Sometimes you can back off the accelerator and the CVT will go to a lower ratio again but it may be difficult to get an Assist lock. Just pull the hill the rest of the way as best you can.

Continue to drive with the load. Don’t maintain speed climbing hills. Try to guess the time it will take to reach the crest. Also decide the minimum speed required at the crest.

As you climb the hill, slow down gradually and attempt to time it so the minimum speed is reached near the top. Hills are not linear from bottom to top so some minor FCD adjustments are made. This can be a fun challenging part of the MPG “game”!

In heavier traffic, often times 18 wheel trucks will drive with the load and will be going slower in the right lane up a big hill. If you follow at a safe distance then it appears that the truck is going slow, not you. Same goes with any slower vehicle in the right lane.

If you reach the top of a tall hill and find a short flat area that leads to another big hill you are at a disadvantage because of your minimum speed. Accelerate as easy as you can on the flat area and time the next crest as you did for the first hill.

Rolling Down a Hill

Always plan ahead. If I know the decline is immediately followed by a steep uphill I will usually begin my decent with as much MPG as I can, then about 1/2 way down I'll add enough accelerator and gain momentum for the onslaught of the incoming hill. If the hill flows down to a long, flat road at the bottom I'll immediately reset the FCD reference position as described earlier.

Traffic

It's always frustrating to be in grid lock traffic only to see your hard-earned high mileage drop lower and lower. Constant starting, stopping, starting again can be brutal.

One of the requirements for Auto Stop to work is that you must go a minimum of 10 MPH and then slow below 5 MPH.

Since stop and go traffic is so unpredictable, don't creep (1 or 2 MPH) along in the heavy traffic. If you do, Auto Stop may not work. It is better to give a little distance, then slowly accelerate up to a minimum of 15 MPH and back off to raise the MPG meter. That way Auto Stop will come on if it is needed again. When traffic is moving then drive with the load as before.

Listen to traffic reports on the radio. If you hear of a backup go around if possible. Be extra careful to conserve your IMA battery. Always maximize regenerative braking and coasting charging. Every little bit of a recharge will help!

While most or all of these tips can be applied to the extreme in the middle of the night with zero traffic, adjustments will have to be made in less favorable conditions. If aggressive drivers are tailgating with nowhere to go around then it is your courtesy to find a convenient place to let them pass. Choose an area which will not damage your achieved MPG, like the top of a hill. Sometimes I fake a right turn in a long turning lane, keeping my momentum as the other drivers pass by. I safely merge back into the lane still keeping momentum.

Faking a left turn is sometimes possible as long as there is a center turn lane and no threat from other traffic. Beware: center lanes are sometimes loaded with sand, gravel, debris, glass and broken car parts. Know where all of these favorable passing areas are on your daily commute route.

Miscellaneous Tips

If waiting in a line (fast food, etc.) and Auto Stop fails to come on, set your parking brake and put the shifter into neutral. Turn the key one click to turn the engine off (provided that you do not need A/C, defroster, etc.). If you need the fan on then click once to on again but do not restart the engine until the line you are waiting in has moved at least a cars length. Don’t just let it idle while stopped.

If waiting at a light with Auto Stop activated and the car ahead of you "creeps" ahead a few feet, do not follow. Stay where you are to keep the Auto Stop activated.

If your route uses a toll booth, get a cruising pass. That way you don't have to stop and fight traffic. Keep your car's momentum, even around corners if it can be done safely. Try to time traffic lights so you can cross without stopping. Don’t burn extra gas getting to a green light. It might change at the last moment, forcing you to stop and waste the extra fuel.

When you get into the car and start it, don't waste time. Don't just stay parked to let it warm up. If it is possible to start the car, immediately roll out of your subdivision street and put the shift into neutral and roll along until you have to stop. Of course this only works if you live uphill from the stop.

Allow extra time to accelerate when the engine is still warming up.

Some people are putting Mobil1 0W-20 Trisyn oil into their cars and gaining a few MPG, keeping the oil level between the marks, not above or below.

Don’t let the car linger under 40 MPH mile after mile. Above about 40 MPH you can often raise your FCD reference point to a higher MPG. My car loves about 50 MPH. I can maintain about 84 MPG at that speed on a flat road.

For a quick boost in MPG while coasting down a long steep drawn out hill that is not followed by a hill climb, you can back off the accelerator and put the CVT into neutral and let the engine idle. This is a good time to switch on the A/C if you are working the button to conserve fuel. Notice that while the CVT is in neutral there won’t be any charging of the battery. When the car begins to slow then raise the RPM to just under 2,000 and then put the CVT back into drive. Then return the FCD to the current reference point.

Playing the mileage game can sure be a lot of fun! You may be proud of yourself with the great results you got on your last drive. Can you achieve even better results next time? Are you up to the challenge?

Additional thanks to Wayne Gerdes for his input. Wayne is an experienced Honda Insight pilot achieving over 105 MPG.