Save on fun?   Does abandon always have to be equated with a fun brake? Are efficient cars automatically boring? A legitimate question if you look at the auskiste Selbstkasteiung of many hybrid vehicles. The proverbial efficiency extends there all too often, similar to a staid Klorollen crocheted cap, over the entire automobile.

From “The Power of Dreams” to “Earth Dreams Technology”

Honda demonstrates how the pursuit of greater efficiency can even be fun: A new generation of turbo engines combines the economical use of expensive fuel with a powerful demonstration of the joy of driving! The Civic 1.6 i-DTEC in practical consumption test

I already had the Honda Civic with the new 1.6 liter diesel engine for its market launch in March in one Fahrbericht presented. My headline at the time: “Small engine, big dreams”. And my conclusion was: 

In the end, I can say that the small diesel is fantastic to drive, whether that was meant by Earth Dreams?

I can not hide it, the current Civic I like extremely well. In the compact car class, this Civic is clearly beaten below value. It was now in this test to prove what the developers had promised in terms of efficiency.

The test car:

• Model Name: Honda Civic
• Equipment:  1.6 i-DTEC lifestyle
• Test car Price: 28.790€
• Mileage:  -

• displacement: 1.597 ccm³
• Design type: 4 cylinder in-line engine turbo diesel
• torque:  300 Nm - 2.000 revolutions
• Drive: 6-speed manual gearbox - front-wheel drive

The NEDC (New European Driving Cycle) is as helpful as the name suggests: Because new the driving cycle for testing fuel consumption was only for a short time. Introduced in 1996, after 17 years of NEDC, it is now almost of age and is no longer particularly new. And it has never been helpful, because the consumption values ​​were found in the laboratory - time for something new!

That's why I've been thinking about how to divide the many different driving habits, so that you get a (at least) reasonably reliable statement on the topic of fuel consumption.

Every driver has his own style. I have now tried to map three typical driving styles in one “driver type” each:

• The everyday driver without savings  (For example, commuters, mother taxis and motorists who, for example, have not yet participated in fuel saving training.)
• The eco expert with the green toe (Maximum minimization is the goal.) This starts with the route planning and is characterized by a high awareness of an economical driving style.)
• The field worker with full throttle desire (The main thing here is to travel particularly quickly over long distances. He doesn't care about the fuel consumption of his vehicle - he doesn't have to pay!)

On these three divisions and the associated test tracks, I will go into an extra post. I call this form of consumption measurement the: "three-type method".

First of all the most important performance values:

V / max:

207 km/h

0-100 km / h:

10,2 sec.

Power:

120 PS 

Fuel consumption according to NEDC and in liters per 100 kilometers:

Urban

4.1

Extra-urban

3.5

Combined

3.7

All data in liters on 100 kilometers and in the case of Civic Diesel, of course, diesel;). Important, the consumption figures refer to the "Lifestyle" equipment. Other equipment may have different "standard values".

These are considerable standard consumption values

With a combined consumption of 3.7 liters on 100 kilometers and a CO² emission of 98 g / km is the CIVIC 1.6 i-DTEC with the new Earth-Dreams Diesel in the laboratory under the standardized conditions a real savings Hans.

Conclusion on the NEDC: The Civic is economical, but not “fun-poor”

Realistic consumption values ​​according to the "three-type method":

Everyday driver, without savings

5.2

Eco expert with the green toe

3.7

Field service with full throttle desire

8.8

All figures in liters on 100 kilometers and of course diesel

And finally ...

The Civic is economical, even if the NEDC values ​​are not achieved. But that's exactly what this test is supposed to be about. What are the really realistic consumption values? What do you have to be prepared for in everyday life? With 3.7 liters per 100 kilometers in the case of the “eco-expert” driving style, this is a value that can be achieved by anyone in everyday life. The Civic makes it pleasant and easy for its driver to drive extremely economically, without having to forego “driving pleasure”.