Honda is building a hybrid version of it's Civic, which has been available in Japan since December 2001, and will be offered in Europe and North America in spring 2002, as a 2003 model.

As a four-door, five seat sedan, the hybrid Civic's format will have wider market appeal than the 2-seater Insight. This will give Honda customers three distinct hybrid models to choose from - the 5-speed Insight, the CVT automatic Insight, and the CVT automatic hybrid Civic.

However, it is a mistake to call the hybrid Civic a four-door Insight. While the Civic will get the IMA hybrid technology that was proven in the Insight, it won't get the Insight's advanced body construction and aerodynamics. As such, Honda is expecting fuel efficiency to "only" be around 50 MPG. The Civic also won't be as "clean" as the Insight, with higher carbon dioxide emissions, and when compared with the CVT Insight, also worse HC/CO/NOx emissions. However, the hybrid Civic will be somewhat more "green" than the conventional Civic.

Interrestingly, as a steel-bodied, five-seat hybrid sedan, the IMA Civic will give Honda a car that will compete much more directly with Toyota's Prius than the Insight does. After the introduction of the IMA Civic, U.S. Honda expects to sell "at least 12,000 hybrid Civics a year, in addition to 5,000 hybrid Insights."

Detailed information on Insight vs. Hybrid Civic powertrains
Hybrid Civic Reviews
More Pictures

	Honda Insight	Honda Civic Hybrid
Emissions & Efficiency
EPA Overall Green Vehicle Rating	(Among Subcompacts)	-
Energy Efficiency (city/hwy mileage)	61 / 70 mpg (5 spd) 57 / 56 mpg (CVT)	Honda's estimated avg: 50 mpg
HC, CO & NOx Emissions (As measured by xxLEV Standards)	ULEV (5 spd) SULEV (CVT)	ULEV
EPA Smog-Forming Emissions Test (lbs / 15,000mi)	7.9 - 11 (5 spd) Less than 1.0 (CVT)	7.9 - 11 (Estimate)
Greenhouse Gas Emissions (Not measured by xxLEV)	3.1 t/yr (5 spd) 3.4 t/yr (CVT)	~ 3.9 t/yr
Range	~690 mi	~660 mi
Performance
Acceleration, 0-60mph	10.5 sec.	-
Features
Format	3 door, 2 seat coupe	4 door, 5 seat sedan
Transmission	5 speed manual or CVT Automatic	5 speed manual or CVT Automatic
Technology
Propulsion	Charge-sustaining gas/electric hybrid	Charge-sustaining gas/electric hybrid
Body Construction	Aluminum alloy monocoque	Conventional steel body
Aerodynamic Drag	0.25 cd	-
Price (U.S. Dollars)	$19,080 - 5 spd, no A/C $20,280 - 5 spd, A/C $21,280 - CVT	U.S. - less than $20,000 Japan - 2,090,000 Yen (about 90,000 les than Prius)