What is the mpg on a 1979 Honda Civic?
The typical fuel economy for a 1979 Honda Civic was in the mid-30s miles-per-gallon (mpg) in mixed driving, with manual transmissions generally offering better highway efficiency than automatics. Exact numbers varied by engine and gearing.
The 1979 Civic was part of Honda’s first-generation lineup and relied on a 1.3-liter CVCC engine for the U.S. market. It offered both a four-speed manual transmission and an optional three-speed automatic, with economy engineered to fit the era’s emphasis on compact efficiency and emissions control. While the official EPA estimates provide a useful baseline, real-world results could differ based on driving style, maintenance, and conditions.
EPA estimates by configuration
Below are typical EPA-era estimates for US-market Civics from that year. Note that real-world mpg varied with driving style, maintenance, and conditions.
- 1.3-liter CVCC engine, four-speed manual transmission: EPA city about 31 mpg; EPA highway about 41 mpg; combined roughly 36–37 mpg.
- 1.3-liter CVCC engine, three-speed automatic transmission: EPA city about 28 mpg; EPA highway around 38–40 mpg; combined roughly 32–34 mpg.
These figures reflect the era’s test methods and the vehicle’s design for efficiency. In practice, the manual gearbox often delivered better highway economy due to lower drivetrain losses and more favorable gearing, while city driving typically reduced overall mpg.
Real-world considerations
In everyday driving, factors such as traffic density, tire condition and size, load, climate-control use, and maintenance can significantly affect mpg. Many owners in the late 1970s reported highway trips that exceeded 40 mpg with steady, light-footed driving, while congested urban driving typically yielded lower results. It’s also worth noting that EPA tests from that period used different cycles than today’s standards, which can affect direct comparisons with modern vehicles.
Summary
The 1979 Honda Civic offered fuel economy in the mid-30s mpg on average in mixed driving, with manual configurations typically achieving higher highway efficiency than automatics. While exact numbers varied by engine and transmission, the Civic’s compact CVCC design helped establish a benchmark for efficient small cars during the era, and many drivers experienced strong highway mileage with careful, conservative driving.
How many miles per gallon does a 1978 Honda Civic get?
Honda began selling this 1169cc transversely mounted inline four for about $2,200.00. The car had a 50hp engine and was rated at 40MPG on the highway.
How many miles per gallon does a 1979 Honda Civic get?
31 MPG city and 44 MPG highway
By 1979, the EPA rated a five-speed manual transmission-equipped Civic hatchback at 31 MPG city and 44 MPG highway (33 MPG combined), which was significantly better than the fuel economy from American cars like the Ford Pinto (22 MPG combined) and Chevrolet Chevette (29 MPG combined).
Which old Honda has the best MPG?
Honda Fit (Second Generation)
Many consider the Fit's second generation (2007 to 2014) to be the best in terms of overall value. The EPA-estimated fuel economy rating for models in this period is 31 mpg — 28 mpg in city driving and 35 mpg on the highway — and its total range is 335 miles.
How much horsepower does a 1979 Honda Civic have?
The 2nd generation of Civic was released in 1979 for the 1980 year. 2 engine options were offered at that time, a 55 hp engine of 1300 cc and a 1500 cc developing 67 hp.
