Test Drive: Civic CNG goes nationwide; finding fuel is tough

NEW YORK -- Honda has just begun a nationwide rollout of its natural gas Civic, aiming to sell the clean-air sedan well beyond California, where the original 1998 model first rolled out.

Formerly the Civic GX, it's now the Civic natural gas. It's the only factory-made natural gas-fueled car sold in the U.S., and you really want to like the little critter.

•It slices tailpipe emissions 20% to 90% vs. gasoline or diesel vehicles, depending on the emission in question.

•The price of the compressed natural gas (CNG) fuel averages a bit more than half that of its gallon of gasoline equivalent (GGE), natural gas trade groups say. A fuel-industry survey of July prices provided by Honda at its briefing here showed the GGE price of CNG ranging from $1.26 in Salt Lake City (where gasoline was $3.37) to $2.89 in San Diego (where gasoline was $3.80).

A buck or two a gallon, instead of three or four bucks. Hard not to like that. Plus:

•Natural gas is a U.S. fuel. The industry says that 89% of it used in the U.S. is produced here.

•Not weird or hard to learn, the CNG Civic drives about the same as a gasoline one.

Wow, gimme two, you might say. Whoa, sport. No magic bullets.

While it's good news that the Civic CNG is rolling across the land — more choices are better than fewer — there are enough drawbacks to question whether it'll ever be popular.

•High price. The CNG model, at $26,925, is $5,650 more than a gasoline Civic EX, which has the same features and equipment, Honda says. Then add $1,500 for navigation, which includes a list of public CNG stations. And figure a few thousand dollars more if you want a personal refueler that uses your home natural gas line, instead of counting on scarce public stations.

There's no federal subsidy as there is for buying an electric car, but Honda says states typically offer incentives.

The Civic natural gas model is no longer a low-end machine because Honda says its surveys show CNG buyers don't want that. They're older, richer than other Civic buyers and want their alt-fuel buggies with plenty of goodies. Civic CNG buyers' median household income is $225,000; gasoline Civic buyers' is $65,000.

•Scarce public fueling. There are only about 400 public fueling stations across the U.S. California dominates; some states have none.

Fueling is fairly familiar, except the pump hose snaps tightly onto the car's special fuel filler. That's because CNG is dispensed as a pressurized gas, not a liquid, as gasoline is.

•Lower power. Natural gas is less energy intensive than gasoline. The Civic CNG is rated 110 horsepower and 106 pounds-feet of torque, vs. 140 hp and 128 lbs.-ft. for the same engine fueled by gasoline. In demanding situations — a few passengers, hilly terrain — it seems strained.

•Harsh, noisy ride. The CNG model is almost identical to other new Civics, which means roomy and agile but a bit noisy, with suspension thumps on rough pavement. Plus, the CNG model has a stiffer rear suspension to handle weight and placement of the CNG tank. That change made the test car harsh over scarred paving rolling north out of Manhattan on the parkways.

•Limited cargo space. The bulkier CNG tank cuts trunk space to about half that of the gasoline Civic. Honda claims it'll still hold two golf bags — so tight for luggage, perfect for groceries.

Our test drive in Manhattan traffic and along rural parkways was pleasant enough, save for the ka-wham rear suspension.

It also was a reminder that despite Honda's insistence that five speeds is all an automatic transmission needs, there are times a six-speed, as most rivals offer, would have provided better acceleration or smoother shifting.

And it provided fresh aggravation at the Civic navigation system: non-intuitive, and the buttons and joystick are too small. Give it up. Use the lower-cost, built-in Garmin system that looks and works so well in Chrysler Group's cars.

Despite the blemishes, the recently redesigned Civic in all its variants is comfortable, has responsive steering and brakes and is a decent auto companion. But so are lots of small cars.

And while reducing emissions and using a cheaper U.S.-produced fuel are worthy goals, the extra upfront costs and compromises seem a formidable barrier to widespread acceptance of the Civic CNG.

Verdict: Not ready for prime time.

About the 2012 Honda Civic natural gas

•What? Compact four-door, front-drive sedan fueled by compressed natural gas (CNG) instead of gasoline. Once limited to four states, the 2012 model will be sold across the USA.

•When? On sale since Oct. 18 in 36 states, with more states to come as Honda picks, trains dealers within 20 miles of public natural gas filling stations.

•Where? Made at Greensburg, Ind.

•How much? $26,925 with shipping, $5,650 more than similar gasoline Civic EX.

•How many? A few thousand a year would be huge. Most so far: 1,750 in 2009.

•Who'll buy? Older, richer-than-normal Civic buyers who love uncommon technology, don't mind paying for it. Fuel economy and value are well down their priority list, Honda says. Civic CNG buyers' average age 52 with $225,000 median household income. Gasoline Civic buyer: 43, $65,000.

•What makes it go? Familiar 1.8-liter Civic four-cylinder rigged to burn CNG instead of gasoline. Natural gas has less energy than gasoline, so power rating drops to 110 horsepower at 6,500 rpm (from 140 hp), 106 pounds-feet of torque at 4,300 (vs. 128). Mated to five-speed automatic transmission.

•How big? Same as other Civic sedans: 177.3 inches long, 69 in. wide, 56.5 in. tall, 106.3-in. wheelbase. People space, 94.6 cubic feet. Trunk, 6 cu. ft. Turning diameter, 34.8 ft.

•How thirsty? Rated 27 miles per gallon-equivalent in town, 38 on the highway, 31 in mixed driving. (Gasoline Civic 28/39/32; hybrid, 44/44/44.) Trip computer in test car showed 36.3 mpg-equivalent (2.75 gallons of gas equivalent per 100 miles) in mix of Manhattan traffic, highway-speed hilly parkways.

Burns only CNG. Holds equivalent of eight gallons of gasoline for range of 304 miles on the highway, 216 mi. city, 248 mi. combined.

•Overall: Heroic cuts in emissions and fuel costs, but too expensive and too many compromises for most people.