Honda is competing with the Chevy Volt and Nissan Leaf with the Civic GX. It’s new appeal comes from the fact that it runs on Compressed Natural Gas (also known as CNG) and can qualify buyers for $4,000 tax credit because of the lower emissions. According to DriveClean.ca.gov, “Driving a compressed natural gas vehicle reduces smog-forming and greenhouse gas emissions as well as our dependence on foreign oil. Although the range between fills is slightly less than their gasoline counterparts, the benefits such as HOV lane access, cheaper fuel and the ability to fuel at home can outweigh this seemingly negative attribute.”
Here’s some quick facts about the model from the Edmunds Daily Blog:
The Civic GX is equipped with a 1.8-liter, i-VTEC 4-cylinder engine that produces 113 horsepower @ 6300 rpm and 109 lb-ft. of torque @ 4300 rpm, and achieves an EPA-estimated2 city/highway fuel economy of 24/36 miles per Gasoline-Gallon Equivalent (GGE). Maximum fuel-tank capacity is 8.0 GGE at 3,600 pounds per square inch. A 5-speed automatic transmission is standard.
Built on a high-rigidity, unit-body platform, the Civic is designed to deliver precise and refined handling performance with its fully independent MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear suspension designs. A sweeping roofline and a sleek windshield angle convey an advanced, one-motion profile. The interior focuses on sophisticated styling with a two-tier instrument panel, CNG-optimized fuel gauge, comfortable seating and accommodating storage areas with room for mobile phones, compact discs and more.
A wide array of standard safety technologies includes the Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body structure; side curtain airbags; driver’s and front passenger’s side airbags with a passenger-side Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS); and dual-stage, multiple-threshold driver’s and front passenger’s front airbags (SRS). Active front-seat head restraints are designed to help reduce the likelihood of neck injury in the event of a rear collision. Additional safety features include an anti-lock brake system (ABS) with electronic brake distribution and a pedestrian injury mitigation design incorporated into the front exterior of the vehicle.
Standard equipment includes 15-inch steel wheels with covers, P195/65R15 tires, air conditioning, cruise control, power windows with auto up/down driver’s window, power door locks, keyless entry, a 160-watt AM/FM Audio System with CD Player (MP3/ Windows Media Audio (WMA) enabled), auxiliary audio input jack, multi-function center console with sliding armrest and progressive blue illumination instrument panel meters.
The Civic GX is the only OEM-built, CNG-powered passenger car assembled3 in America. The Civic GX is built on the same assembly line as the gasoline-powered Civic four-door models at Honda’s Greensburg, Indiana, manufacturing facility.
As an inherently clean-burning fuel, natural gas produces 75 percent fewer smog forming pollutants (oxides of nitrogen) compared to the output of a conventional gasoline engine. Natural gas is also an abundant, domestically sourced fuel that is approximately 30 percent less expensive than gasoline when purchased at a public access refueling station.
The Civic GX is the only vehicle certified by the EPA to meet both Federal Tier 2 Bin 2 and Inherently Low Emission Vehicle (ILEV) zero evaporative emission certification standards. The Civic GX has earned recognition from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) as the “greenest vehicle of 2010″ for the seventh consecutive year.
It’s safe to say that Honda is definitely keeping up the competition with their “green” technological efforts and it will be interesting to see if this sparks a rise in popularity of CNG fueled cars in the future.
What do you think about the Honda Civic GX?
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