go5car Blog – Automotive News, Articles, Test-Drive and Tips

WRITER: DANIEL TSANG

PHOTOGRAPHER: LAUGUAN

Honda Civic Hybrid is not a powerful car, so please don’t buy a hybrid for its high horsepower or because it’s fun to drive in any of the ways a traditional all-gas all-the-time car can be.

So, I won’t touch too much in civic hybrid technical terms. On the other hand, I’ll drive it to travel since its fuel economy is so good. Honestly, I get better fuel economy than everything short of a golf cart.

555.7 km for 3 days doesn’t need to fill petrol

From the first day I collect Civic Hybrid from Honda, till the third day I return the car to them, it cost 555.7km. I am surprise that it’s so good in fuel economy if you compare with other car.

I start my journey from my house at Puchong, heading to TTDI took my photographer, and drive to Klang by taking LPD Highway. The traffic is so smooth (actually how wish I want it jam seriously as normal day for me testing its fuel consumption) and my photographer Lau is laughing, “today is a good day.”

Performance

2009 Honda Civic Hybrid featured the 110-horsepower 1.3-liter four-cylinder engine (the only option for the hybrid sedan) coupled with an electric motor that kicks in 20 more hp, and a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The Civic Hybrid is a little different from hybrids from other manufacturers in that the electric motor assists the gasoline engine when it needs it, but can’t power the vehicle on its own (as Toyota’s system can). Honda calls it Integrated Motor Assist.

I turn to KESAS Highway when we reach Summit USJ there, heading to Klang – Banting – Jenjarom – Morib Gold Coast – Sepang Gold Coast. On highway, I try my best to speed up to 140km/h, Civic Hybrid still very stabile. Lau say: “my lancer evo starting shaking the steering when you hit 120km/h, I even can’t feel the real speed now.”

Yes, it’s not fast, it isn’t a world-class handling car and it won’t break any speed records. But it’s a solid contender in the compact hybrid sedan market, an arena that is becoming increasingly crowded with vehicles worth considering.

Our test car Civic Hybrid is the facelift version for 2009 that includes styling changes to the nose and tail, and additional features like leather upholstery, giving it a slightly more upscale feel for a hybrid compact sedan. But unfortunately, it doesn’t have navigation system, if not it’s perfect for somebody who are heavy traveller.

So if the Prius design is not your cup of tea, and you can live with a compact rather than a mid-size sedan, then the Honda Civic Hybrid is worth a little respect and consideration.

Who Should Consider This Vehicle

If you’re simply looking for an ultra-efficient reliable sedan with some available luxury goodies, the 2009 Honda Civic Hybrid with leather may be a good choice for you.

Sepang Gold Coast

Morib Gold Coast is nothing special, just a less crowded sea shore. But this is not our destination, we want visit the Sepang Gold Coast actually. But the signboard of Morib Gold Coast sometimes really makes people confusing, just because of the keyword of “gold coast”.

Luckily we found a nice seafood restaurant with a nice scene in middle way to Sepang Gold Coast. We took some nice photo shoot here. Then we head to our destination.  Sepang Gold Coast is well known by its golden palm tree sea villas resort. But it is still under construction.

Finally we reach Sepang Gold Coast, here we took a lots of nice photo shooting.

The Golden Palm Tree Sea Villas & Spa (GPT) is the maiden project undertaken by Sepang Goldcoast Sdn Bhd, the master developer of Sepang Goldcoast.

GPT seeks to provide a unique holiday experience for its guests, underpinned by world-class quality services and luxuriously appointed interior designs for its villas.

The GPT complex itself is an iconic palm-shaped structure, constructed entirely over water, with its furthest end stretching almost 1.2 kilometers into the Straits of Malacca, the first of its kind in the world.

Guests have a choice of 392 internationally award winning villas, from studio, 2-room and 3-room suites. Facilities include a 1,000-pax conference hall and meeting rooms, food & beverages outlets, a gym, a spa complex, business center, swimming pool, children club and an out-of-this-world day& night bar.

The construction of the GPT is almost completed and is expected to receive its first guest in the 1st quarter of 2010.