Regeneration game

I had a Honda Civic hybrid loaner whilst my CR-V was being repaired at which time the road condition was snow covered. On 4 occasions as I braked on approach to junctions the car seemed to surge before braking and on one occasion as I braked prior to turning left the car seemed to accelerate whereby I could not avoid it sliding into a high kerb damaging the alloy and the control bars on the underside. I am a retired police officer and have completed advanced driving courses and in 30 years of driving I have never experienced a car reacting like this in the snow. My daughter who was with me on one of the occasions and she also commented on the cars lack of control.

Asked on 15 May 2010 by K.W., via e-mail

Answered by Honest John

Now I understand the reason for the Prius III recall. Both it and the Civic Hybrid have regenerative braking and CVT transmissions. This combination is not going to work well in snow because it sets up a resistance. It's fundamentally the opposite of the old Rover and SAAB freewheel that gave no resistance so was perfect on ice and snow.

Tags: recalls driving driving techniques snow

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