Honda Civic IMA Saloon (2003-2005) running costs and reliability

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Running costs rating: 3.5 out of 53.5

Written by Parkers Published: 6 June 2019

Miles per pound (mpp)

Reliable fuel consumption data for comparison purposes is not available for this model.

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Fuel economy

A more stringent standard for fuel economy (WLTP) was introduced from September 2017, and this model was not required to undergo that test. Its fuel economy measured under the previous test system was 57 mpg. However these figures are less likely to be achievable in real world driving and so should never be compared to another car's mpg which was measured under the newer, more realistic WLTP system.

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A special 8 year/100,000 mile warranty covers the battery and the systems associated with it. The battery is maintenance-free. Consumption purely from the petrol engine is only average, even with electrical assistance, it’s only fractionally better than a good diesel.

Civic is very eco-friendly and easy on the environment. It does feature a hybrid engine, which is essentially a petrol engine linked to an electric motor, which, when you brake or coast, captures energy to charge the battery for the electric motor. That means you get power without the added fuel bills. With an average of 116 g/km CO2 across the range, its emissions are impressively low for a small family saloon.

It’s worth noting that the line-up does not feature any diesel models, which typically produce less carbon dioxide than petrol engines with similar power outputs. Eco-conscious buyers should consider the 1.3-litre hybrid, which is one of the greenest models in the range. The range is extremely frugal, averaging 57 mpg.

Linking a petrol engine to an electric engine is cutting edge stuff. Current owners report no problems and buyers of Insight (IMA’s predecessor) suffered no problems. Mechanicals seem sound.