For years, the Honda Civic Hybrid has been on the short end of the stick in terms of gasoline-electric automobile sales. With the popularity of the Toyota Prius II, Honda has taken a big hit in terms of hybrid market share; Honda’s hybrid trio is currently only netting half the sales figures of Toyota’s single claim to hybrid fame. However, the 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid might be the key to changing that trend for Honda in the coming years. More importantly, the 2006 HCH is a step in the right direction for consumers looking for excellent fuel economy in an unobtrusive family car.

Under the Hood

As with most hybrids, the most impressive features of the HCH can be found under the hood. The 2006 model will feature a 93-horsepower 1.3-liter i-VTEC engine coupled with a 20-horsepower electric motor and Honda’s Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT). 2006 will be the first year that the hybrid features an i-VTEC engine, which is known for its 3-stage VTEC capability. This new 3-stage engine adds a valve timing configuration for rapid acceleration that allows the 2006 HCH to boast a 20% increase in power over its older sibling, the 2005. While Honda tuners and Japanese import enthusiasts are no strangers to i-VTEC, Honda is hoping that its introduction to the hybrid crowd will help settle some questions about sluggish, underpowered gasoline-electric Civics.

Another small, yet very interesting, innovation that can be found under the hood of the 2006 Civic Hybrid is the use of eight spark plugs. This is not an unusual thing in the automotive world, as there are many eight cylinder engines on the market; however, the fact that Honda has placed eight spark plugs on its four cylinder engine is quite unique. These spark plugs then have two modes of operation. Sometimes they will fire one after the other, with the plug situated near the intake valve firing first and the exhaust plug firing later. This offset firing order allows for a more complete combustion of fuel in the cylinder, giving the car more power, greater efficiency, and cleaner emissions. Other times, in high stress situations, the plugs can also fire simultaneously for a greater power boost.

The 2006 innovations continue with the new electric motor. The HCH’s DC motor is mounted between the engine and the CVT, and commands an improved 20-hp and 66 pound-feet of torque. This 50% improvement in horsepower and 14% improvement in torque is an important step given the electric motor’s greater role as a part of the 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid. Also important is an increase in the motors ability to convert available electricity into kinetic energy, up to 96% from 94.6%. This new electric motor is the mark of Honda’s commitment to move away from total dependency on the gasoline engine in favor of better fuel efficiency. Also exciting is the new, standard Continuously Variable Transmission found on the 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid. This CVT is the fourth generation that has been produced by Honda, and features a 9% increased range between minimum and maximum gear ratios. This allows for smoother acceleration, in which transitions are predictable, and lower engine RPMs at high speeds. Also, the fact that you will find the CVT to be standard equipment on the 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid means that you will not experience a loss in gas mileage if you give up your manual shifter in favor of Honda’s CVT transmission, which is a good thing for those of us who can’t or don’t want to worry about shifting our cars for maximum efficiency.

Fancy Features

The 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid’s new features are not restricted to what is under the hood; they can also be found peppered throughout the structure of the car. To complement the added power of the electric motor, Honda upgraded the car’s battery from 144 volts to 158 volts. This battery will also be charged with a more efficient, cooperative regenerative braking system. The new system allows the Civic’s computer to balance braking force between the hydraulic brakes and the electric motor, which allows electricity to be collected even under normal braking circumstances. This results in a whopping 170% increase in electrical regeneration over the 2005 model, which means that the electrical motor can have a bigger share in powering the car.

Also new are the 2006 HCH’s four modes of operation:
Engine Off: The 2006 Civic Hybrid has the convenient ability to run all electrical systems on the car without the gasoline engine being turned on. This means that you can power the air conditioning for a short stop without having to leave the engine idling and burning gas.
Low-Speed Valve Timing: One of the timing configurations of the 3-stage i-VTEC engine, LO-VT allows the engine to operate with greater fuel efficiency and less power output while accelerating gently or cruising at high speeds.
High-Speed Valve Timing: The HI-VT mode changes the valve timing to generate greater power and also has the electric motor kick in more torque for times when stronger acceleration is necessary (i.e. highway passing and merging).
Cylinder Idle: This is the most exciting part of the 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid; this is what gives it the title of a “full” hybrid and allows it to compete more evenly with the likes of the Toyota Prius. Cylinder idle happens during deceleration and highway cruising, and it involves a shut-down of the gasoline engine and transfers all power to the electric motor.

Overview

The 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid has taken a few important steps ahead of its predecessors to become a competitive, full hybrid. Besides the improvements to the engine, battery capacity, regenerative braking, and full hybrid capability, the 2006 model will also be slightly larger and feature a sporty new look. The space age interior is a deviation from what Honda has done in the past, but is extremely functional and also offers more room than earlier models. This combination of roominess, sporty styling, fuel efficiency, and standard CVT transmission is a great addition to the hybrid car market, and will herald the coming era of choice when shopping for a gasoline-electric vehicle.