SO you wanna buy a Hybrid. I have put together a guide for the civic Hybrid, this guide is actually for the 03 Hybrid, however on 04/05 civic Hybrid are exactly the same only with a different look.
 

(Hyrbid Automatic)

(Hybrid Manual 5 Speed)

When comparing a 03 civic to a Hybrid there are very small differances these cars are almost identical on the outside, the differenance of  Hybrid it has a different type of alloy wheels and has a trunk spoiler that fits close to the vehicle.

Inside the vehicle space wise this vehicle is just like any other civic, major differances are the digital dash and automatic climate control which comes standard on Hybids and its center consol which is a tad different then the normal Civic. The factory sound system is the quality of the EX/SI Civics it sounds very nice and clear, and if you like a little base it can do it easily.

On to the Engine and Tranny, this is by far the most coolest thing I have seen,  The Hybrid starts completly different then any other vehicle, no cranking noise jut a simple twist and release and HMMMM I didn't hear anything..but the Tac reads its on , to really hear the engine you have to lift the hood, Hybrid is extremely quiet

The Civic Hybrid Engine generates up to 13.9 HP & when combined with the gas engine it gives of 93HP, The IMA gives good torque with 116lb.-ft. @ 1500 RPM. The regular Civic is 110lb.-ft. - 4500RPM which is comparible.
While the Hybrid cannot compare power with the EX model it can with the LX, it generates enough power to step on the gas and speeds up quickly. And the Manual can really boogie.

(Automatic)                                    (5 Speed) 

It Doesn't Shift???
No it does not, its got a cool tranny, It is different then any normal tranny out there, The Hybrid Transmission is called a CVT or Continually Variable Transmission. There are no gears instead The CVT has 2 cones and a steel belt. The engine spins one of the cones and the drive shaft spins the other. The steel belt connects the two and moves position on the cones when the car speeds up or slows down.  Very hard to explain how it works but it just does.

On the dash it lights up and is really neat looking to the left on this panel you have: Left gas gauge, Right Battery Gauge, Top Right ASST gauge (glows blue), Top Left, Top Right CHRG (glows green) The 5 Speed also has a shift up and down indicator.

 

(Automatic)                                  (5 Speed)
The ASST Kicks in when accelerating, you might see a block of battery go but then while you coast down a hill or by depressing the brakes to slow down you see Green glowing that glowing light is the CHRG its charging the batterys, It does not take more then a couple stops to fully recharge its batteries,

Why you ask. The Civic Hybrid is equipped with Regenerative braking, the CIvic has front Discs and rear drum brakes which are the same as most cars but...during braking the green Charge light maxes out as the batteries are charging, The electic motor turns the forward kinetic energy into spinning energy for the motor. The spinning generates electicity and stores it in the batteries. If you have to stop quick both the IMA brakes and the real bakes stop the car.

The main thing that freaked me out driving this car was when I pulled to a stop the first few times. The car was really toooo quiet. I turned of the radio  looked around and saw the little green light blinking ( AUTO STOP) I and was wondering why is the engine off. When the light turned back to green I was about to panic on reflex I lifted my foot from the brake and waaalaaaa it started up again and I was moving like normal.

The Hyrbid does this to save fuel and helps pollution, and it in no way makes the car sluggish on take off, now I hardly notice it. If the car notices frequent stops and you do not get above 10MPH (stop & go traffic) the the Auto Stop does not engage, if the AC is not on ECON the Auto stop also will not engage. The battery level must be 50%, also for the auto stop to engage.

Overall The Civic Hybrid is a cool little car, I am a Civic owner have owned many,  I also sell vehicles for a living, I was not quite sure of the Hybrid; could it compare to the other Civics?; Hybrid beats my other Civics at gas mileage easy they get about 32-35MPG while the Hybrid will give me easy 42MPG on the HWY it gets even better showing in 51.2 on my commute home, of course I have not had a chance to take it out of state yet.
So after all is said and done I am impressed with the Civic Hybrid and will keep a look out for more when I am buying my cars.
Can't wait because I really am enjoying these Hybrids.