Overview
Although the exterior dimensions of the Civic appear compact,
the
interior of the Civic has earned the reputation as "the biggest
small
car in history." The Civic Hybrid has a total interior volume of
101.5-cubic-feet vehicle and a trunk capacity of about 10 cubic
feet.
Meanwhile, the interior receives a variety of special features that
give the Civic Hybrid an upscale and high-tech feel, consistent
with
the "sophisticated and refined" design theme. The Civic Hybrid
interior combines many features commonly found on the higher
end EX
models with a variety of exclusive special features. While many
high
efficiency vehicles offer the minimum in feature content to save
weight, the Civic Hybrid is anything but "minimum" on the inside.
Exclusive Hybrid Interior Features
- Digital and Analog Gauge Cluster with IMA system display, daytime/nighttime mode and vehicle system performance meters.
- Premium fabrics.
- Fabric front door armrests.
- Two-tone dash (black upper dash/tan interior).
- Finely tailored seats with open head restraints (front).
- Silver trimmed center panel around radio and climate controls.
- Chrome appearance trim around gear selector.
- Automatic Climate Control.
- IMA cooling intake opening on rear window deck.
Luxury/Safety/Security Features
- Dual Front Side Air Bags.
- Keyless Entry.
- High Power AM/FM CD player.
- Variable Intermittent Wipers.
- Cruise Control.
- Power Windows with Auto Driver Down feature.
Concepts and Goals
The interior design for the 2003 Civic Hybrid focused on creating
a
sophisticated atmosphere with a combination of luxury, modern,
and
high-tech styling attributes.
- The luxury feel is accomplished through the use of premium fabric seating surfaces along with generous comfort and convenience features.
- An ultra-modern styling theme is conveyed through the use of silver and chrome trim accents.
- The layout and functionality of the instrument panel and gauges conveys a high-tech feel.
Interior Roominess
When designing the current generation Civic, the designers and
engineers realized that drivers in this category prefer compact
exterior dimensions, yet do not want to give up interior
spaciousness. When the current Civic was introduced in 2001,
the
Civic resolved this dilemma by shrinking its outside dimensions
while
increasing the size of the interior. One way the engineers made
the
new Civic feel larger was to push the A-pillar forward. Another
was
to integrate a unique flat floor design, which creates additional
back seat foot room. All of this contributes to making the current
Civic the largest Civic interior ever produced.
Front and Rear Seat Features
Luxury-quality seats are installed in the 2003 Civic Hybrid that
feature a highly stretchable material sewn with a special
process
resulting in no distinct hair cracks in the stitching. The driver's
seat features a side armrest.
The head restraints on the front seats feature an open design for comfort and a sporty appearance - similar to Civic coupe seats. The rear seats feature the same high-quality tricot material and sewing process as the front seats. Understandably, the rear seats do not fold down (a standard feature of the conventional sedan and coupe) because the Hybrid's Intelligent Power Unit (IPU) is located between the rear seats and the trunk. The seats have a firm and secure feeling with aggressive bolsters that hold the drivers and passengers in place under cornering.
Interior Trim and Color Combinations
The Civic Hybrid features a unique two-tone interior with a
Graphite
Black upper dashboard and a beige lower dashboard. Unique
Hybrid trim
features include the fabric armrests on the front doors. This
interior trim package is standard with all available exterior colors.
Electronic Instrument Display
Since the Civic Hybrid uses a unique powertrain, the vehicle's
gauges
and readouts are unique, too. The digital and analog electronic
instrument display features the traditional set of meters along
with
comprehensive IMA readouts. When the ignition is turned off, the
panels appear blank (black). When the vehicle is turned on, the
numbers are backlit with high-tech blue and red needles against
a
black background. A dimmer switch is located just to the right of
the
odometer and the gauges automatically adjust to nighttime
mode when
the lights are turned on. One look at the instrument panel gauge
cluster and there's no disputing this car is as high-tech as they
come.
Electronic Instrument Display Features:
The electronic instrument display allows the driver to monitor
more
than 23 vehicle systems with the following instrument readouts:
- Speedometer (analog): Features large numbers.
- Tachometer (analog): Features large numbers.
- Gear Selection Indicator (CVT only): Displays selected gear - park, reverse, neutral, drive, second and low mode.
- Shift Light (MT only): Indicates the correct time to shift for maximum economy.
- Auto Stop: When the engine turns off automatically using the Idle Stop feature, this light turns on.
- Miscellaneous Indicator Lights: Oil pressure, low fuel, SRS, EPS, IMA, parking brake and battery.
- Odometer with Dual Trip Meters (digital): Displays vehicle mileage and has two trip meters, marked A and B. Mileage display controlled by pushing the Select/Reset button located under the speedometer
- Fuel Economy Estimator - (digital) Shows numerical estimate of miles per gallon for either trip A or trip B mileage.
- Instantaneous Fuel Economy Meter: Bar graph meter (with numbers) shows an estimate of real time fuel economy.
- IMA Charge/Assist Meters (LCD): Indicates when the IMA battery is being charged or when it is providing electrical power assist.
- IMA Battery Charge Level (LCD): Indicates how much power the battery has stored.
- Fuel Gauge (LCD).
- Engine Temperature (LCD).
Automatic Climate Control
The 2003 Civic Hybrid comes standard with a high-efficiency
automatic
climate control system that delivers year-round comfort and
ease-of-use. Operated by three large easy-to-use dials and
three
buttons on the dash, this integrated system delivers good
cool-down
performance. The system has an "Automatic" mode that varies
fan
power, air distribution mode and automatically controls the
temperature inside the vehicle according to sensor readings
inside
and outside the vehicle.
Ventilation System
The Economy Mode is integrated into the IMA system so that
running
the air conditioner has a reduced effect on fuel mileage
compared to
conventional systems. When economy mode is selected, the
Idle Stop
feature is allowed to turn the engine off when the car comes to a
full stop. When Economy Mode is not selected, the engine
remains
running during full stops so that the A/C compressor is
operational
and occupants continue to receive cold air. Economy Mode is the
best
fuel savings choice when air conditioning is desired. Use the
other
operation modes for blistering hot days in stop-and-go traffic and
for the first few minutes of drive time after getting into a hot,
parked car. The 2003 Civic Hybrid includes an integrated dust
and
pollen air filter for the heating/ventilation/air conditioning
system. It is located behind the glovebox for easy servicing.
Audio System
The Civic Hybrid comes with a standard high-powered audio
system (30
watts x 4 channels) and has an AM / FM / CD unit in the dash.
This
high quality4-speaker audio system (the same one that is
standard
equipment on Civic EX sedans) has been specifically designed
to
enhance the acoustic environment of the Civic, giving it deep
bass
and crisp treble. The radio has a theft protection feature that
requires a special code to be entered if battery power is
interrupted. Owners are given this code to store in a secret
location. (See body section for information about the unique roof
antenna).
Comfort and Convenience Features, Interior Storage and
Beverage
Holders
There are two beverage holders in front, which can
accommodate up to
two 20-ounce plastic bottles. There is a pocket below the radio
that
can accommodate three CD cases. There's a convenient lower
pocket in
the center console that is ideal for carrying sunglasses.
Cruise Control
The 2003 Civic Hybrid is equipped with cruise control on both the
CVT
and manual transmission models. Controls for the cruise
control are
located on the steering wheel for convenience and safety.
Power Windows
Every 2003 Civic Hybrid features power windows with an auto
down
driver's window. The driver can deactivate the other window
switches
throughout the car with a central switch located on the driver's
door
armrest.
Variable Intermittent Wipers
The 2003 Civic Hybrid comes standard with variable intermittent
wipers, a feature that has been unique to the EX trim level until
now.
Keyless Remote Entry System
The 2003 Civic Hybrid comes standard with a keyless remote
entry
system. The transmitter features unique codes with
non-replication
technology, which incorporates a "copy protection system"
making it
virtually impossible for thieves to "clone" the keyless entry code.
Every time the owner presses the keyless entry system, it locks
or
unlocks the doors, then changes to a new, random code. There
is one
button for locking the doors and another button for unlocking the
doors.
Trunk
The Civic Hybrid's trunk volume is about 10 cubic feet. Due to the
location of the Integrated Motor Assist's Intelligent Power Unit
(IPU), the Civic Hybrid has a slightly smaller trunk volume than
the
Civic LX Sedan.
Even though the total volume of the trunk has a slightly lower total capacity than the conventional Civic sedan, high levels of functionality remain intact with the capacity to hold four golf bags, or a baby stroller or four 26-inch Pullman suitcases (same as the Accord).
Flat Floor
The interior has a flat floor, eliminating the typical tunnel that
runs the length of the interior. This is most noticeable in the back
seat where the flat floor design provides considerably more foot
room
-- particularly for middle passengers.
EPA Classification
The Civic Hybrid is classified by the EPA as a Compact Car - the
same
as the conventional sedan.
IMA Cooling Vent
The Intelligent Power Unit (IPU) resides in the trunk. It contains
the Integrated Motor Assist electronics and batteries, which do
create low levels of heat. In order to cool the system, a vent has
been placed in the interior under the rear window to draw in air
from
the cabin and circulate it through the IPU and into the trunk.
Safety and Security
The 2003 Civic Hybrid is among the safest cars on the road.
Anticipated National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
(NHTSA)
scores should meet five-star standards for frontal crash
performance.
In addition, the anticipated Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
(IIHS) tests are expected to result in "Good" scores - the best
possible - for offset frontal impacts.
Dual Pre-Tensioners on the Front Seatbelts
As part of the effort to achieve the five-star safety target, the
2001 Civic was the first compact car in the world to feature dual
seat belt pre-tensioners on both front seat belts. Typically, a
pre-tensioner has been used to pull the shoulder belt tightly in
the
event of a collision. In addition to the shoulder belt pre-tensioner,
an inner buckle lap belt pre-tensioner is used on both front
seats.
Accordingly, in an accident, both the shoulder portion and the lap
portion of the belt are pulled tightly, firmly securing the occupant
in the seat.
SRS - Advanced Technology Airbags
The 2003 Civic Hybrid is equipped with a driver's and front
passenger's airbag Supplemental Restraint System (SRS). This
system
has three sensors - including a front sensor, buckle switches to
tell
if front seat occupants have their seat belts buckled, and a
dual-stage inflator to match the airbag deployment speed with
seatbelt use and the severity of the crash.
Dual-Stage Driver and Passenger Front Airbag System
In the event of a moderate to severe frontal collision, the SRS
system in the 2003 Civic Hybrid can determine the inflation rate
depending on the severity of the collision and front seat occupant
seat belt use. When the front seat occupants are wearing their
seat
belts during slower speed collisions, the inflator system is
triggered in sequence, resulting in slower overall airbag
deployment
with less initial force. In other more severe collisions, both
inflators operate simultaneously for full, immediate inflation, to
correspond with the greater impact force.
Side Airbags (Standard Equipment)
The 2003 Civic Hybrid comes with driver's and front passenger's
side
airbags as standard equipment. The side airbags are triggered
in
response to the signals sent by the three sensors.
The front passenger's seat is equipped with an innovative occupant position detection system designed to disable side airbag deployment and prevent injury to a child (or a small-statured adult) if they lean into the side airbag deployment path. A series of seven sensors in the passenger seatback monitors the size and position of the occupant to determine if it is safe to deploy the airbag. If the child is leaning into the deployment path of the side airbag, the sensors will prevent the side airbag from inflating. When the child returns to an upright seating position, the side airbag will reactivate so it can deploy and help protect the occupant in a moderate to severe side impact collision. An indicator light on the dash alerts the driver that the front passenger is out of position.
LATCH System
All Civic models feature the new LATCH (for Lower Anchor and
Tethers
for CHildren) system so parents may use LATCH-compatible
seats. This
system combines tether anchor points on the rear window
package shelf
with anchor points located at the seat back/seat bottom contact
point
for secure mounting of child safety seats.
Flush Mounted Tether Anchors
More and more child safety seats are designed to be used with a
tether strap. In the past, the tether anchors were bolted on to
previous Civics and many other models. On the 2003 Civic
Hybrid,
these anchors are flush mounted and hidden away. If tether
anchors
are needed, they are available by flipping up the covers.
Theft Deterrent Measures
Various measures provide theft resistance for the Civic Hybrid
(identical to other Civic models).
- The inside door lock knobs are pushed in when the door is locked.
- A plastic cover around the lock area deflects "Slim Jim" type mechanisms from being used to force a door lock.
- The outer door handle, which includes the key cylinder, is securely attached to the door, which makes it harder to tamper with.
- All 2001 Civic models incorporate a built-in immobilizer system for enhanced theft prevention. The immobilizer system is integrated with the vehicle control unit - if someone tries to use an unauthorized key, the system automatically shuts down the electrical system. In some states, this qualifies the 2001 Civic for an insurance discount.
Emergency Trunk Opener
For added peace of mind, every Civic sold in the United States features an emergency trunk opener that allows the trunk to be opened from the inside.