TEST DRIVE: Inhabitat Takes the New Honda Civic Hybrid for a Fall Color Tour

We recently had the chance to take the new <a title="Honda Civic Hybrid" href="http://automobiles.honda.com/civic-hybrid/" target="_blank">Honda Civic Hybrid</a> for a fall color tour through Michigan's brilliant October scenery. After driving a number of <a title="TEST DRIVE: Inhabitat tests the real-world mileage of the Honda Insight Hybrid, Laura K. Cowan" href="http://inhabitat.com/test-drive-inhabitat-tests-the-real-world-mileage-of-the-2012-honda-insight-hybrid/" target="_blank">Honda hybrids</a> and only achieving mileage slightly above the non-hybrid versions of the cars, we were honestly a little skeptical that this new Civic was anything more than a tip of the hat to hybrid technology. But we packed our gear and took off through the countryside to see how the Civic Hybrid performed in the country as well as in the city. Some hybrids such as the <a title="TEST DRIVE: Inhabitat Takes the Plug-in Toyota Prius for an Extended Test Drive" href="http://inhabitat.com/test-drive-inhabitat-takes-the-plug-in-prius-for-an-extended-drive/" target="_blank">Toyota Prius</a> are designed for start-stop city driving, while others like the <a title="TEST DRIVE: Inhabitat Lives with the Chevy Volt for a Week, Laura Cowan" href="http://inhabitat.com/test-drive-inhabitat-lives-with-the-chevy-volt-for-a-week/" target="_blank">Chevy Volt</a> do much better over long distances at speed. Where does the Civic Hybrid fit in on the hybrid spectrum?

The first thing we noticed while driving the Civic Hybrid is that unlike the Chevy Volt's low-rolling resistance tires, this car's tires grip the road perfectly well.

From the outside, it looks like any other Honda. We wished for some futuristic design element to hint at the green tech under the hood, but alas this is Honda we're talking about. Nothing outlandish here.

The good news is that since Honda has known how to build a hybrid for a long time, the system is neatly integrated into the car without causing you to lose trunk or rear seat space to any clunky batteries.

The Civic Hybrid has a more upmarket feel than its Insight sibling. Doors are better insulated and the interior materials are higher quality.

The only hint that this is a hybrid comes from the aerodynamic shape of the grill and headlights.

Did we mention the Civic Hybrid is more upmarket than most other hybrids of its class? These are heated mirrors.

There's a hint, though to the casual observer "ECON" doesn't mean much.

Lots of cargo space, plenty of foot room, and a cushy interior even prompted our toddler test rider to proclaim the Civic "a nice cah."

Plenty of room for groceries or luggage, whereas in a Tesla Roadster you have enough cargo space for a small purse behind the battery.

We prefer subtle badging to giant decals denoting vehicles as hybrids. This single small badge is classic Honda subtlety.

Under the hood you find various and sundry engine and battery parts to make this traditional hybrid run smoothly.

... except at stop lights. Cruise to a stop and the Civic Hybrid seems to brake for you before abruptly letting go at 2 miles per hour.

Unlike braking, acceleration is smooth, albeit underpowered when reined in by the ECON nanny button.

These doors are decked out in plastic, but the fit and finish of the materials speaks to good craftsmanship.

The only issue in the cockpit is that the digital displays are so bright at night you feel like you're driving a spaceship. Great for pretend play, not so much for seeing the road.

This standard Honda gear lever is nothing special, but in true Honda style it is comfortable in your hand and shifts smoothly.

There's that nanny button. Just leave it alone and no one will get hurt.

The interior buttons and features of the Civic Hybrid reminded us of an upmarket Acura more than a standard Honda. Here we have phone connectivity, a toggle for the display screen, cruise control, and audio controls all in buttery soft touch button style.

Here is a standard Honda trunk release and gas cap button, though smooth to operate and mercifully larger than its tiny ancestor in Hondas of a decade ago.

The speedometer features green and blue runway lights that help you learn which driving habits are fuel-efficient and which should be reined in. The colors weren't different enough from each other to draw our attention, however.

Tachometers, which measure engine revs, will soon be novelties for the history books. This traditional one measures the amount your engine is straining to overcome the limits placed on it by the ECON button.

The digital display is quite useful, with average fuel economy, total vehicle range, and other vehicle information.

We were perplexed by the "Eco Score" that popped up to rate our driving every time we shut off the car. With mileage that beat the EPA estimated expectations, why were we continually rated below a one out of three score for economic driving? Hypermiling didn't even help improve our grade.

If you have driven many cars with navigation you will appreciate that this is a good system. Simple, functional, and won't make you swear. Trust us, that's about as good as it gets right now.

Audio functions can be viewed separately from the navigation system. Information about radio stations and artists displays both here and on the digital display on the dash.

As usual, the navigation system makes you swear not to hold it accountable for anything it tells you to do while driving.

The toggle button on the bottom right of the screen makes it easy to scroll over the map before you take the nav system at its word that it knows how to get you to your destination.

We're beginning to love digital HVAC controls, which independently allow you to select temperature and fan speed. They're easy to control and fairly precise. Next up, humidity control.

The center console also features a USB plug and power outlet handily concealed in the armrest, so this space stays uncluttered by gadgets.

Overall we were very pleased by our week in the Civic Hybrid. We can't promise we would have been so thrilled with it in the winter, when the mileage would likely drop below the engined Civic alternative.

If you like conservative, comfortable style with moderate hybrid benefits, the Civic Hybrid will make you a happy camper. It is the perfect car for a fall color tour.