2003 Honda Civic

Hybrid Sedan

CVT 4-Cyl, 1.7 Liter

Automatic

JHMES96643S027323

Clear

ELECTRIC/GAS

Your search for a High End Hybrid with super low price and high fuel economy ends here. The car is clean, it was rear ended back in Nov 2003, CarFax or AutoCheck wouldn't show that but I found this out through a Honda Dealer, since all services were done through dealer and they have a record of all maintainance performed on the vehicle. CarFax has a full record of service and inspections perform on the vehicle from initial purchase to auction. All recalls were performed successfully on this car by an authorized HONDA dealer. Apart from all Services performed in Dec 2011 - Jan 2012 a full 100,000 mile service was performed by Honda Dealer : Cabin Air Filter was replaced with OEM. Battery was replaced to OEM Specs. Transmission Fluid Changed....along with other honda service route at this milage, includes tire rotation and re-mounting New Tires installed in Late 2012. After being the first automaker to introduce a limited production gas-electric hybrid in the U.S., the 2000 Insight two-seater, Honda made good on its promise to bring to market a hybrid version of its hot-selling Civic sedan for 2003. Where the original Insight's tiny 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine and two-passenger configuration sacrificed performance and practicality for ultimate fuel economy, the Civic Hybrid was an economy champ that could also double as everyday transportation. The compact five-seat Civic boasted the same hybrid technology with a 13-horsepower electric motor backing up a small gas engine, but this time gave the civic a 85-hp 1.3-liter four-cylinder. In the 2003 model year, Honda was the top seller of gas-electric hybrids in the U.S., topping rival Toyota with its first-generation Prius. The "mild" Civic Hybrid was a simpler and less costly system than that in the Prius, operating primarily on its small gas engine and using the electric motor for added boost during acceleration or climbing grades. Additionally, the Honda IMA system shut off the engine at stoplights and when the car was stopped in traffic, restarting it seamlessly the moment the driver lifted off the brake pedal. During deceleration and under braking, a generator recharged the 144-volt battery. Unlike the Prius, the Civic Hybrid could not operate at low speeds on electric power alone for short distances. Why you want it First and foremost, it's a Honda, which means it's more fun to drive than most other small cars. This is one hybrid that drives very much like a conventional Civic with good handling, nicely weighted steering, good seats and well laid-out controls. It's also one of a very few hybrids (the two seater Honda Insight being the other) that can be equipped with a manual transmission, should you be interested. With EPA fuel-economy estimates consistently in the mid- to high 40 mpg range (using an older "adjustment" that routinely netted EPA estimates roughly 10 percent higher than 2008 and later models) the 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid was ranked among the top five fuel-stingy cars sold in America. Already a very clean-burning offering among the cars available during that period, Honda also offered a Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (SULEV) version of the Civic Hybrid in California that reduced smog-forming emissions an additional 90% beyond the then current standards. The 2003-2005 Honda Civic Hybrid was a Consumer Reports Recommended Buy. Notable features and options The 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid comes just one way, with a feature level roughly equivalent to the conventional Civic's up-level EX trim. Standards included alloy wheels, keyless entry, anti-lock brakes, aero front grille, rear spoiler, 4-speaker AM/FM/CD stereo, cruise control, automatic climate control, theft-deterrent immobilizer, adjustable steering column, reclining premium cloth-covered front bucket seats, a driver's side armrest and dead pedal, dual front and side impact airbags, and power windows (w/driver side auto down), door locks and mirrors. Hybrid specific content also added an electronic instrument display, battery charge/electric assist gauge, fuel economy computer and shift indicator. The only "option" Honda offered on the 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid was a choice of transmissions: a standard 5-speed manual gearbox with conventional clutch or a continuously variable (CVT) automatic transmission. Model milestones 2003-2005: No major changes. Engines and performance Just one engine is offered, a thrifty 85-HP 1.3-liter 4-cylinder with VTEC controlled cylinder idling that's augmented by a 13-HP permanent magnet electric motor. The idea is that the gas engine is sufficient for leisurely around-town use and cruising on the highway with the immediate low-speed torque of the electric motor available for additional acceleration when needed. The two power sources are blended pretty seamlessly. An idle stop feature shuts off the engine to conserve fuel whenever the car is stopped in traffic and then automatically restarts it when the driver lifts off the brake pedal. Both the standard five-speed manual and optional continuously variable automatic have this feature that requires no driver intervention. The Civic Hybrid is down 20-30 HP compared to a conventional Civic of the same generation, plus the added weight of the nickel metal hydride battery pack, 13-HP electric motor and related controls tacks on a couple hundred pounds. So, while bristling performance isn't the Civic Hybrid's long suit, Consumer Reports tests of a 2003 CVT model netted a 13.4 second zero to 60 mph time, about three seconds off from a conventional Civic. Fuel economy is the Civic Hybrid's claim to fame, some 30 percent better than a conventional Civic. EPA estimates of the day ranged about 48 mpg city/48 mpg highway for the CVT model and a whopping 47 mpg city/51 mpg highway for the 5-speed manual. With a 13.2-gallon fuel tank, the stick-shift Civic Hybrid theoretically had a 600+ mile cruising range. The Sale of this vehicle is AS-IS with no warranty expressed, written or implied.