2016 Honda Civic MPG higher than many owners thought

In Monday’s announcement from American Honda Motors, Executive Vice President John Mendel confirmed engine choice and fuel efficiency for Honda’s 10th generation Civic. Will a turbocharged Civic give Mazda and Subaru a run for the money, and how about the fuel economy?

The bad news for “Green Car” advocates is that Honda’s temporarily dumping the vast majority of its alternatively fueled and electric motivated lineup. Joining North America’s original gasoline/electric hybrid to the annals of Honda history is the Civic Natural Gas, Civic gasoline/electric hybrid and Fit EV.

Die-hard Civic performance fans are O.K. with it

As reported by Torque News in the fall of 2014, Honda fit EV will not return to market for 2016, nor will the undersold Civic NG or entry-level 1 motor hybrid Civic. According to Mendel, Honda is opting to expand the use of 2 and 3 motor hybrid technologies, and will return in force, model year 2018, with a specific model plug in, EV and a wider range of hybrid options throughout the lineup. And then there's the announcement of Honda's 2016 turbocharged Civic

For 2016 Honda turns up the burners on Hydrogen Fuel Cell technology

With 40 + highway MPG coming from gasoline, fewer buyers are opting for hybrid technology. That’s been a problem for Honda and Toyota in 2015, following short-term historically low gasoline pump pricing. While Honda voices its commitment to expanding “green” automotive technologies throughout the lineup, I’ve seen very of that commitment expressed through EV and across-the-lineup hybrid drive technologies.

Super low emission Earth Dreams ™ Turbocharged engine and transmission technology

Honda currently claims the greatest number of segment setting internal combustion driven cars and light trucks in the industry. And, has attained this accolade largely without the balance afforded through alternatively fueled and motivated vehicles.

Looking to the 2015 Honda Civic lineup, we find an aging industry icon sporting decent comfort features, standard active and passive safety options, yet sitting on the edge of performance viability. For 2016 the 10th generation Civic will come standard equipped with a manufactured in America turbocharged 1-VTEC 4 cylinder engine, a step in the right direction.

Honda tells us that the next generation Honda turbo will not only cross the 40 mpg barrier, but will generate higher horsepower, greater mid-range torque, and lower emission levels than the current 1.8 liter 4 cylinder now standard in all but the Civic Si variant.

Honda aficionados anticipate 180 horsepower + coming from the mild 10th generation offerings with 250 horsepower or greater generated by the turbocharged Si coupe and sedan.

Final thoughts

In reading between the lines, I believe that American Honda Motors is simply shifting gears as to hybrid and EV production, as the market temporary embraces low priced gasoline fueled internal combustion engine driven vehicles.

Honda and the automotive industry as a whole realizes that it’s only a matter of time before the rising cost of gasoline, and “Green” public sentiment takes the market in a hybrid, EV direction. Honda, always the leader in safety and low emissions technology, will stand ready to answer that call in the fall of 2018; just in time for the next $5 per gallon price-spike. For Honda, culling the Civic lineup, all comes down to sound business practice.