Honda Civic Hybrid

[Ruwan Senarathna]

Guys,

I am looking for buying Honda CIVIC HYBRID(FD3). Any guys, who had experience with this car please share your thoughts.

Thanks

[Californikan]

I would advise against getting an FD3 Civic hybrid because of an issue with the hybrid battery that affects some vehicles. Honda claims that less than 1% of Civic Hybrids have the issue and it only affects YOM 2005-2008 cars, but still, if your car has the issue you'll have terrible fuel economy and will have to replace the hybrid battery to properly fix the issue.


Basically with some Civic Hybrids after relatively low kms of use, the hybrid battery begins holding less and less of a charge. As a result the fuel economy goes down to the point that it's almost the same fuel economy of a regularCivic. Some owners have had to get their battery replaced.

Honda issued a battery software update in 2010 that FD3 Civic Hybrid owners could have done to their vehicles to stop this problem. Although the software update did work and did protect the battery, it dramatically lowered fuel economy. So either way, owners of affected cars will have fuel economy similar to a regular Civic (unless they replace the hybrid battery). A Civic Hybrid with everything in order should get around double the fuel economy of a normal Civic.

Here is a news story about the whole thing >>>http://www.dailytech...rticle19357.htm

I would advise you to go for a Prius. They are rock solid reliable and are by far the most popular hybrid in SL so parts and servicing will be easier. If you want a Honda hybrid go for the Insight. If you absolutely must have a CivicHybrid go for a Civic Hybrid that was manufactured towards the end of 2009 or better still, a YOM 2010 or 2011 model because Honda made running manufacturing changes to the Civic's hybrid battery and software in 2009.