Underway, the Prius is quieter and its more powerful electric motor (67bhp compared to the Civic’s 20bhp) is happier to provide the sole drive around town. Not that the Civic is unrefined: wind and road noise is kept to acceptable levels and, at a cruise or under light acceleration, the 1339cc petrol engine is relatively hushed. Ask for a lot of acceleration, though, and it’s boomy; louder than a Prius, and with less-impressive acceleration. In terms of drivetrain refinement, the Toyota gets the nod. But not when it comes to enjoyment. The Civic is no driver’s car, but it corners neatly, with quick and accurate, if lifeless, steering and decent agility. But this is not a fun car: it’s more entertaining than a Prius in the same way that eating liver is preferable to eating fish heads. – Autocar Online
This entry was posted
on Wednesday, April 12th, 2006 at 3:50 am and is filed under Honda, Toyota, hybrids.