Honda Civic Parts To Improve Your MPG

The fuel efficiency of the 2012 Honda Civic is at the top of its class. While detractors have said many things about the Civic, its mpg rating has never been an issue. Still, it can be improved with a few relatively inexpensive items. Here are three aftermarket parts that will help you stretch your fuel dollar.

The least expensive item that you can possible buy to improve the mpg of your Honda Civic is a tire gauge. Sound ridiculous? Maybe, but over or under inflated tires have been proven to rob as much as 15% of a vehicle’s fuel efficiency. That can mean around five fewer miles per gallon in a typical Civic. Take into account the excessive wear on your tires and you can see how a $4 tire gauge could save you hundreds of dollars per year.

The next part is very simple as well. A new air filter allows increased air flow to the combustion chambers. By having more oxygen available, you Civic will use less fuel, the cylinders will fire more efficiently, and you can add another 5-10% fuel efficiency. These parts can cost about $10 each. There are performance filters from K&N and other companies that can be cleaned and reused for several years, saving you even more money.

Another way to improve fuel efficiency is to stabilize your Civic’s voltage system. A voltage tuning system offers several benefits including: low, mid, and high rev performance, increased horsepower, more torque, and throttle response all of which lead to better fuel economy through efficient throttle position sensing.
With an automatic transmission the 2012 Honda Civic is rated to get 28 mpg city and 39 mpg on the highway. You can add all of these parts for less than $350. Once they are in place, you could see your Civic’s mpg jump to 45 or higher on the highway. Spread those savings out over the lifetime of your car and you can see that the parts more than pay for themselves.

Is The Natural Gas Honda Civic The Only True Green Car?

One of the least known Honda Civic alternative fuel vehicles is the Compressed Natural Gas(CNG) vehicle. Environmentalists are all smiling about their hybrids and how much less fuel they use and how eco-friendly they all are for using electricity instead of gas. Well, the CNG Honda Civic is a hundred times more environmentally friendly on its worst day.

Why? The plants that produce the electricity used in a hybrid must burn oil, coal, or use a nuclear reaction to provide it. CNG comes from the ground and is easier to drill for than oil, so does not impact the Earth as much during extraction. A CNG vehicle’s carbon footprints is the size of an ant’s next to a hybrid’s. The Civic Natural Gas vehicle is the cleanest-running internal combustion engine ever certified by the Environmental Protection Agency.

What about fuel economy you may ask. How about a Honda Civic that offers 38 mpg and 240 miles between fill ups? Not bad at all. Then there is the time it takes to refuel. Minutes for a CNG Civic. How many hours for your plug-in hybrid or EV? Hours, isn’t it?
Now the other shoe falls. There is a decided lack of infrastructure for the CNG Civic. Refueling stations are rare, even more rare than commercial recharge stations for electric vehicles. A CNG refueling point costs more to install than a traditional gas station, as well. The federal government is considering offering companies incentives and funds to develop CNG infrastructure. The end goal of some investors is to see CNG points next to traditional gas pumps, just like diesel is today.
The Honda Civic CNG was introduced in 1998. Honda has sold few vehicles to the general public, but has enjoyed limited success with municipal fleets. The car was awarded the 2012 Green Car of the Year Award. Hopefully, the added attention will hep to bring the vehicle more into the mainstream.

2012 Honda Odyssey EXL vs. 2012 Toyota Sienna XLE

2012 Honda Odyssey EXL vs. 2012 Toyota Sienna XLE

Here’s why the 2012 Honda Odyssey is your customers best choice:

“While it’s pricier than other vans, reviewers say the Odyssey is worth it.  Because it offers the best combination of reliability and safety ratings, interior space and family-friendly features, we names the Odyssey 2012 Best Minivan for Families.” –USNews.com

Odyssey offers the extra assurance of two unique Honda safety features: Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS) and Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body structure.  Comparable features are NOT available on the 2012 Toyota Sienna.

Safety: Odyssey performs better in NHTSA crash tests.

·         The 2012 Odyssey earned a 5-star Overall Vehicle Score from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).  It earned a 5-star Overall Frontal Crash Safety Rating, a 5-star Overall Side Crash Safety Rating, a 5-star Side Barrier Crash Safety Rating, 5-star Overall Side Pole Crash Safety Rating, a 4-Star Overall Safety Rating (12.7% Risk of Rollover).

·         The 2012 Odyssey is Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) TOP SAFETY PICK.

·         The 2012 Toyota Sienna (FWD) earned a 4-Star Overall Vehicle Score from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).  It earned a 4-Star Overall Frontal Crash Safety Rating, a 4-Star Overall Side Crash Safety Rating, a 5-Star Overall Side Barrier Crash Safety Rating, a 5-Star Overall Pole Crash Safety Rating, a 4-Star Rollover Safety Rating (14.0% Risk of Rollover).

·         The 2012 Sienna is also an IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK.

Driving Character: Odyssey is more fun to drive.

·         Odyssey’s sporty driving character is epitomized by its fully independent rear suspension. Sienna offers “typical” minivan fare with semi-independent torsion beam rear suspension.

·         In its review with the 2012 Honda Odyssey, USNews.com notes, “Reviewers love the 2012 Honda Odyssey for its performance calling it the best-driving minivan you can buy today. Engine power is good and handling is even a touch sporty, which is a rare thing in this class.”

Comfort: Odyssey offers more first-, second-, and third-row legroom.

·         Odyssey offers more room to switch out in all three rows of seats; including 3.3 inches more legroom in the second row and 6.14 inches more legroom in the third row.  (See Chart) This improves access to the second and third rows as well as long-trip comfort for families with older children.

Economy: Odyssey has better EPA-rated highway fuel economy.[1]

Odyssey’s Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) allows for exceptional power and fuel economy, contributing to Odyssey’s two-mpg highway fuel advantage over Sienna.  (See chart) (Note: Odyssey Touring models are equipped with a 6-speed automatic transmission for even better fuel economy)

·         By coupling Odyssey’s highway fuel economy advantage with its larger fuel tank, Honda has maximized the distance families can travel between fill-ups compared to Sienna.

Convenience: Odyssey offers a number of “family friendly” features.  For example…

·         Odyssey’s second row LATCH-capable multi-function center seat (EX trim and above) that can slide forward more than 5.5 inches to allow easier access to a small child seated in it.

·         Second-row seating comes equipped with a lateral slide lever that operates a seating position called “wide mode,” in which the outboard seats can slide 1.5 inches to each side to allow older siblings more “personal space.”

·         Storage spaces abound throughout Odyssey’s interior.

Long-term value: Odyssey retains more of its initial value during the ownership cycle.

·         ALG estimates that the 2012 Odyssey EX-L will maintain a 55% residual after 36 months and 41% after 60 months.

·         ALG estimates that the 2012 Toyota Sienna XLE FWD residuals significantly lower at 50% and 37% respectively.

Enrollment in local colleges, 2005

Item/Vehicle	2012 Honda Odyssey EX-L	2012 Toyota Sienna ZLE FWD
Floormats	Standard	Additional $325
Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS)	Standard	Nothing Comparable
Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) Body Structure	Standard	Nothing Comparable
Legroom  (First/Second/Third Rows-Inches)	40.9/40.9/42.4	40.5/37.6/36.3
EPA Fuel Economy Rating (mpg) (City/Highway/Combined)	18/27/21	18/25/21
Fuel Capacity (Gallons)	21.0	20.0
ALG Residual Value (36/60 Months)	55%/41%	50%/37%
Base Price MSRP	$35,025	$33,205
Destination Charge	$830	$810
Comparably Equipped Price	$35,855	$34,340

[1] Based on 2012 EPA mileage estimates.  Use for comparison purpose only.  Do not compare to models before 2008. Your actual mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle. 

American Honda Sales Report

American Honda today reported July 2012 U.S. sales of 116,944 units, an increase of 45.3 percent compared with July 2011 (an increase of 57.4 percent based on the daily selling rate*). The Honda Division posted July 2012 sales of 104,119 units, an increase of 46.4 percent compared with July 2011. Acura’s U.S. July sales of 12,825 units increased 36.4 percent compared with July 2011.

Honda
- Honda division posts best seventh-month year-to-date sales total since 2008

- Accord sales pace strong at 28,639 units, up more than 70 percent; Civic sales up more than 78 percent with 25,004 units sold

- CR-V sets seventh consecutive monthly sales record with a new July record (20,554 units), up more than 47 percent from July 2011

- Odyssey sales up more than 88 percent from July 2011, with 11,953 units sold in July

"As our sales momentum continues to build through the summer, Honda is experiencing its best year-to-date sales in four years," said John Mendel, American Honda executive vice president of sales. "With success growing along with inventory, it's wonderful to once again be able to meet the strong retail customer demand for our great Honda products."

Acura
- Continuing its sales success, the new RDX delivered another record sales month (2,664 units), up more than 142 percent from July 2011

- MDX remains the top selling Acura vehicle with sales of 4,288 units, up more than 24 percent from July 2011

- Gaining momentum in only its second full month of sales, the all-new ILX posted sales of 1,410 units

"With the MDX continuing its reign as the top seven-passenger luxury SUV, and the new RDX leading the compact luxury segment, Acura light trucks lead the way for the Acura brand," said Jeff Conrad, vice president of Acura sales. "With the ILX gaining its stride, Acura is sure to see robust sales increases for many months to come."

*The daily selling rate (DSR) is calculated with 24 days for July 2012 and 26 days for July 2011. Year-to-date, the DSR is calculated with 178 days for 2012 and 178 days for 2011. All other percentages in release are unadjusted; see table for adjusted DSR figures