Honda Civic 2007 review

With nearly 4000km on the clock, the hybrid has turned in two 700km plus results from a single tank of fuel.

We were getting a bit worried because it is rated at 4.6 litres/100km and we haven't been getting anywhere near that. Still, it is early days yet because the car wasn't even run in when we took delivery.

Honda tells us that Hybrid owners with 15-20,000km on the clock have been regularly getting the stickered fuel figure.

Until recently we were averaging about 6.6 litres/100km from the 50-litre tank (fuel used against kilometres travelled). Since then, we have chalked up a personal best of 754km, with plenty of fuel still to go in the tank.

This, of course, is still a long way short of the 1086km theoretically possible, but we live in hope.

After 754km we still had 5.7 litres of fuel left and after 700km there was still 7.4 litres in the tank. So, at a rate of about 5.8 litres/100km we still had just under 100km to travel which would have taken our total to about 850km.

It means the fuel gauge is either pessimistic or some of the remaining fuel could be permanently inaccessible to the fuel pump. Either way next time we hope to crack 800km and we'll be packing a can of fuel just in case.

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

At the same time it is a larger car and weight is up 75kg from 1190 to 1265kg.

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

Unlike its main competitor Toyota Prius, the Civic Hybrid is barely distinguishable from a standard Civic.

Only the badge on the back and pancake-like, flat pack alloy wheels give the show away. The wheels are fitted with special low rolling resistance tyres. Performance from the hybrid power train is unexciting but more than adequate.

There can be a lag between pushing the throttle and the car responding, which can sometimes make life a little exciting.

Inside, the Hybrid has plenty of room for four adults to travel in comfort, with climate control airconditioning, six airbags and a six-stack CD player with MP3 input part of the equipment.

At $32,990 it is now most expensive model in the range. But it is still significantly less than the Prius at $37,400.