2009 Honda Civic GX

For the fifth consecutive year the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) has named the natural gas-fueled Honda Civic GX the “greenest vehicle of the year.” The Civic GX, which Honda says has the cleanest internal combustion engine on the market, is not well known even among auto enthusiasts. This is largely because it is available to consumers only in New York, Utah and California, though businesses in any part of the country can buy Civic GXs for their fleets. Except for the fact that it runs on natural gas—and not gasoline—the 2009 Honda Civic GX sedan is little different than the four-door Civic LX.

What IS Natural Gas?

Natural gas comes out of the ground as, well, a gas. Sometimes natural gas is found along with liquid petroleum, while other times it’s in deposits by itself. After it’s refined, natural gas is mainly methane. It’s possible to produce methane gas from decaying organic matter or coal, but both cost more than conventional natural gas.


To be stored in an amount needed to produce useful cruising range, natural gas must be compressed to about 3600 pounds per square inch. That’s about 120 times the pressure in your tires. It’s also why it’s commonly referred to as CNG for “compressed natural gas.”


Natural gas has several major benefits as a fuel for Americans. First, natural gas is accepted as the cleanest-burning fossil fuel: Honda says the Civic GX burns some 90 percent cleaner than an equivalent gasoline-fueled vehicle. Also, natural gas produces 75 percent fewer NOx pollutants (oxides of nitrogen) compared to a gasoline engine. Next, North America has abundant reserves of natural gas: If more cars burned natural gas we would reduce our dependence on foreign oil. Those driving the Civic GX will notice little difference from a regular Civic. Until, that is, the vehicle needs refueling.

2009 Honda Civic GX: Almost A Regular Civic

The Civic GX is based on the Civic LX Sedan. The main difference: Instead of a gas tank, the GX has cylinders to store pressurized natural gas. Since the Civic GX is given an exemption from carpool lane restrictions in some areas, new “Natural Gas Vehicle” decals on the rear doors will inform authorities that you’re not breaking the law. Other exterior changes include a new front bumper cover and a revised grille. Inside, new cloth seat materials and patterns are available, and a new, three-spoke steering wheel is standard.

2009 Honda Civic GX: Under The Hood

The Civic GX is fitted with a 113-horsepower 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine. Despite its higher 12.5:1 compression ratio, this is considerably off the 140 horsepower produced by the gasoline-fueled 1.8-liter in the Civic LX.


The engine comes only with a five-speed automatic transmission. On the government’s highway driving cycle, the Civic GX gets the equivalent of a gasoline-powered car that earns a 36 miles per gallon rating. The Civic GX’s cylinders can’t hold the same energy as a gasoline tank, so its cruising range is less than 250 miles, almost 100 less than a gasoline-fueled Civic. Its short range and limited number of public refueling stations means the Civic GX is poorly suited for road trips. And don’t expect the roadside assistance service to bring a load of natural gas.