The Greenie's Dream Car: 2008 Honda Civic GX

Honda has a long track record of innovation when it comes to fuel economy and green technology, including being the first major maker to introduce a hybrid-electric car to the United States auto market. With the 2008 Honda Civic GX, the company is continuing their trend, and garnering some serious accolades.

Not quite a month ago, the Civic GX was among four Honda-branded vehicles to be recognized by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) as one of the "greenest vehicles of 2008," with the GX specifically taking top honors for the fifth year in a row. Yes, that's right. Despite the fact that almost no one outside the alternative fuels circle and auto industry has actually heard of the fact, the 2008 GX is the fifth such Civic. This is the tenth year for the GX. It doesn't look any different than other Civics. It still has an internal combustion engine, just using a different fuel. So the sound is the same.

From the outside, the Civic GX doesn't look all that different from a standard Honda Civic. It's a four-door sedan with seating for five and is available in only one trim that comes with a five-speed automatic transmission with overdrive. What makes it special is the engine. You won't find a gasoline engine or an electric motor under the hood of this car. Instead, it comes with a 1.8 liter, 113-horsepower engine that runs on compressed natural gas. Not only does this engine make the car incredibly quiet, but it also means it has a carbon footprint that's practically microscopic. As well, it's incredibly efficient, achieving fuel economy of 24 mpg on city streets and 36 mpg on the highway. While it only has an eight-gallon gas tank, this is offset by benefits such as tax breaks, and free parking (in Los Angeles, anyway), and the fact that a refueling station can actually be mounted in your garage.

Aside from the engine and fuel system, the front-wheel-drive Honda Civic GX is very similar to it's standard-engine LX sibling. Inside the car, features include wheel-mounted cruise control, keyless entry, and power windows, door locks, and mirrors. There's also the now-expected CD/MP3 player enhancing the standard radio, though it should be noted that the sound system has only two speakers. The back seat is a split-folding bench, and the trunk will hold six cubic feet of cargo. A cargo net and trunk organizer are optional upgrades, as are satellite radio, and backseat cup holders.

Safety features of the 2008 Civic GX begin with a four-wheel antilock breaking system, front-side and side-curtain airbags for the driver and front passenger, daytime running lights, and front disc brakes (the rear brakes are drums). An auto-dimming rearview mirror and fog lights may be added as options, but the 15-inch wheels which come wearing all-season tires, are standard.

The starting MSRP at your new car dealer for the 2008 Honda Civic GX is $24,590. The car is in limited production, and is currently available only in select markets in New York and California.

 

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