Honda Civic Hybrid 2007 review

The two-seat Insight was an expensive, rather odd-looking thing, with performance and handling best described as interesting.

The Civic Hybrid that followed in 2003 was a huge step forward and the second generation, petrol-electric Civic launched last year raises the bar again.

Fuel economy has been pegged back even further, but by far and away the biggest appreciable difference is in the packaging of the car.

The previous model was a practical but rather boring small sedan while this one is not only easy on the hip pocket, it looks pretty good too.

Honda continues to offer its hybrid technology as part of its normal line up, instead of as a dedicated model like Toyota's Prius.

The new Civic Hybrid is larger and showier, with a breezier, roomier cabin of which many so-called larger sedans would be proud.

But what's it like to drive?

Readers may remember that we tested the first Civic Hybrid over a period of several weeks back in 2005.

Honda has been good enough to come to the party again with an extended loan of the replacement model.

The first Civic delivered a claimed 5.2 litres/100km, while this one is rated at just 4.6 litres/100km.

We've yet to put this claim to the test, but looking back we averaged 6.4 litres/100km in the previous model.

To look at the Civic Hybrid looks like any other Civic apart from the pancake flat alloys which are fitted with special low rolling resistance tyres.

It is a probably worth pointing out at this point that our test vehicle was brand spanking new with just 25km on the clock.

So we've not only go the job of testing economy but running it in too.

Honda lays claim to the fact that the Civic is Australia's most affordable hybrid vehicle at $31,990 (the Toyota Prius is $37,400).

That's the same price as the top of the line Sport, making the choice is a clear one _ power or economy?

As in the previous model, the hybrid power train consists of 1.3-litre petrol engine paired with an electric motor that together develop 85kW of power (previous Civic was 69kW).

Having said this, it's a larger car and weight is up 75kg from 1190 to 1265kg _ so that offsets some of the power increase.

The engine is again teamed with a continuously variable CVT automatic transmission.

You also get a few extra goodies like climate control airconditioning, six airbags and a six stack CD player with MP3 input.

We're also happy to see the inclusion of cruise control which was missing from the previous model.