Much thought and effort has gone into turning this humble Japanese Honda Civic hatchback into the ultimate hypermile build.
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Occasionally, I stumble onto the weirdest stuff and one of my latest finds is no exception. My hunt for interesting and unusual cars paid off as I stumbled upon a very unusual build, posted by One More Try. The Honda Civic is in its eleventh generation. For the first time, a hybrid version of the new Civic gives the Toyota Corolla a good spanking, in terms of the electrified performance offered.
But today, it's about a much older generation of the compact Japanese hatchback. In times when gas prices are fluctuating like crazy, not every car builder is chasing quarter-mile times. Here's what this build is all about.
Not your typical Civic build
This 1992 Honda Civic has taken a very different turn. You are used to seeing K-swapped, EGs with big turbos and laptops on the passenger seat, but this one is all about being as efficient as possible. At first glance, it looks like a regular 1990s Civic with some custom-mate cladding. You would be forgiven for assuming the aero body is made of questionable quality, but someone knew what they were doing.
There isn't an abundance of details around the build and what the drag-reducing body panels are made of, aside from the claimed 65 MPG. Like any sensible build, it all starts with the right car.
Choosing the right car for the build
The build is based on a 1992 Honda Civic VX – a version of the Japanese hatchback, focused on maximizing fuel economy. This version of the EG Civic was offered between 1992 and 1995 and came with an advertised fuel economy of 48/55 MPG (EPA). Some of that fuel efficiency came from the factory weight-reduction treatment, including lightweight, 13-inch alloy wheels, reduced trim molding, no A/C, lack of a full interior.
All that resulted in a curb weight of 2,178 pounds. Credit also goes to the D15Z1 engine. Unlike earlier iterations, the 1.5-liter unit featured DOHC and VTEC-E. It was rated at 92 horsepower at 5,500 RPM and 97 pound-feet at 3,000 RPM. The five-speed manual transmission was also optimized for fuel economy.
The reception is surprisingly good
You would expect the internet to be cruel to a makeshift hypermile build, but the build gets very positive feedback. Many compared it to the original Honda Insight, which played a crucial part in making future models of the brand more fuel-efficient, by incorporating some of the model's philosophy.
Michael Blacktree says: “My first impression was, it actually looks pretty good, for a hypermile build. Some thought and effort went into this.”
Ryan Bzdel says: “Looks a bit like what the Honda Insight would become.”
Jeffry A Davis says: “While I get what they are doing and why, it's still kind of funny to see as an ad. It'll have a very niche buyer who understands what the VX was and why he put those panels on.”
Allen Castillo says: “People laughing like gas is still $0.90 a gallon.”
That last one really hit me. But this build goes to show what level of ingenuity people can show when it comes to making the most out of your transportation. The creator of this Civic VX hypermile build was even thoughtful enough to make the fender extensions transparent around the taillights, so they can be visible from the side. The rear wheels are covered, the roof is extended, and it all works with a new rear diffuser.
Taking one of the simplest automotive designs of the 1990s and streamlining it even more for the sake of fuel economy deserves a reward. But I am curious what you think of this build. Do you approve of it? Maybe you have an idea on how to make it even better? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section below.
Dimitar Angelov's automotive interests made him an expert in a wide variety of vehicles. Japanese brands like Toyota are closest to his heart, although performance cars in general are his favorite segment, which is why he is constantly on the lookout for the best deals on the market. Dimitar Angelov's car passion and knack for the written word led him to complete a Master of Arts in Media and Communications, and classic car restoration. Dim is happy to get behind the wheel of any car and share his impressions. You can follow Dimitar on X, Linked-in, Instagram, and Facebook.
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