2025 Honda Civic Hybrid Hatch Test Drive Review: A Fun And Fuel-Efficient Compact

The 2025 Honda Civic will get a refresh this yr to maintain it aggressive with the likes of the Toyota Corolla and Hyundai Elantra. There’s a extra aggressive grille and entrance fascia together with revised headlamps to replace the styling. It’s not a dramatic change, nevertheless it differentiates this yr’s Civic from final yr’s and enhances this compact automobile’s attraction.

The larger information is what’s beneath the hood. Along with a gasoline engine, the Civic is now out there with a fuel-efficient hybrid powertrain, which expands the model’s rising lineup of hybrid choices. It’s out there as both a sedan or a flexible hatchback in a alternative of two well-equipped trims that make this already standard compact automobile much more interesting. Here is our ideas after spending per week with the hatchback hybrid.

What’s New

It is a refresh and never an all-new era of the Civic. There are beauty modifications up entrance to present it an added dose of favor, however you’ll solely discover the variations in case you park this Civic subsequent to a 2024 mannequin. Essentially the most vital change is the addition of a hybrid engine along with the present gasoline engine.

Exterior: Sporty However Not Too A lot

The factor with attempting to make a automobile look sporty is which you can go too far. Except it’s a supercar, going overboard and making the design busy in an effort to make it look cool nearly at all times fails. The Civic reveals off an up to date look this yr that retains it trying contemporary and enjoyable with a steadiness between sporty and modern design components.

Many of the modifications are up entrance with a bolder entrance fascia and grille that give the Civic presence with out making it appear to be it’s attempting too onerous. Hybrids get distinctive touches together with a body-colored headlamp garnish and decrease spoiler up entrance. Whichever you select, the Civic has loads of persona, particularly within the hatchback with its nearly coupe-like roofline.

Inside: Extra Room Than Anticipated For a Compact

The Civic is a compact automobile, which makes it one thing that’s not essentially going to work for a household. There are greater choices on the market, the Accord being a very good instance, if you’d like one thing that can simply handle the youngsters and their stuff, however the Civic continues to be a surprisingly roomy compact automobile.

Up entrance there’s loads of room for even taller adults to get snug with good headroom and legroom. The entrance seats have heavier bolstering to maintain you in place, which is sweet except you’re on the bigger aspect. They’re additionally low, so entering into and out of the Civic might be difficult for these with mobility points. The rear seats accommodate three however are greatest for 2. Taller adults could discover headroom compromised in again because of the sloped roofline, however legroom is healthier than what is out there with the Corolla and solely barely lower than the Elantra sedan.

The hybrid trims sit on the prime of the lineup in each energy and options with the Sport together with heated entrance seats, dual-zone automated local weather management, and sport pedals normal. Transfer to the Sport Touring and also you get leather-based seats, an eight-way energy driver’s seat, and a four-way energy entrance passenger seat. It’s engaging in both guise, similar to the outside, including simply sufficient element to make it really feel enjoyable with out making it visually cluttered.

There’s additionally good house for cargo. The load ground is low so it’s simpler to stow heavy objects and the liftgate opening accommodates cumbersome cargo. The Civic affords 24.5 cubic ft behind the rear seats, which beats the Corolla simply. It additionally comes out forward of the Elantra, which is just out there as a sedan.

Infotainment: Touchscreens On The Smaller Aspect

The bottom infotainment system features a seven-inch touchscreen with an eight-speaker audio system, Apple CarPlay, Android Audio, and two USB-C charging ports up entrance. The Sport Touring upgrades to a nine-inch touchscreen with wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android, Wi-Fi hotspot connectivity, Qi wi-fi charging, Google built-in, and a 12-speaker Bose premium audio system. That’s a fairly vital improve in options that make the system really feel extra up to date and full.

Even the most important display screen is just nine-inches, which is a bit small. Infotainment screens proceed to develop with bigger automobiles having huge 14-inch screens that dominate the dashboard. The Civic isn’t large enough to handle that, however a bigger display screen can be a bonus. Regardless of that disadvantage, the system is straightforward to make use of and the addition of Google built-in makes it easy for anybody to function the system with voice instructions.

Powertrain: The Hybrid Is The One To Get

The Civic is out there with two engines, together with a brand new hybrid. There’s a carryover 2.0-liter 4-cylinder gasoline engine with 150 horsepower and 133 lb-ft of torque on base trims. The hybrid model of that engine provides two electrical motors and delivers a marked efficiency enchancment with 200 horsepower and 232 lb-ft of torque. Each are paired to a constantly variable automated transmission with front-wheel drive solely. For those who’re desirous about robust efficiency, then the hybrid is the one which must be on the prime of your listing.

Spectacular Gas Financial system

One of many advantages of proudly owning a compact automobile is gas effectivity. They’re usually quite a bit much less thirsty than SUVs and the Civic holds true to that notion, whatever the engine you select. The gasoline engine will get an EPA-estimated 30/38/34 metropolis/freeway/mixed. That’s good, however the hybrid will get 50/45/48 mpg, making it a good higher choice. This is available in a bit decrease than each the Toyota Corolla hybrid and Hyundai Elantra hybrid.

Drive Impressions: Proving Hybrids Can Be Enjoyable

There was a time not that way back when hybrids had been a sacrifice. Positive, you bought higher gas financial system, however they had been depressing to drive with whining CVTs and poorly modulated energy supply. These days are lengthy gone, and the hybrid is now the one to get in case you’re trying on the Civic. It has such a clean trip with nice acceleration. You’ll utterly overlook you are even driving a hybrid till you cruise by the gasoline station as an alternative of needing to cease to refill the tank.

The most important disadvantage to the Civic is that it is solely front-wheel drive, which is not preferrred for these in snowy climates. We occurred to get a few of the white stuff and determined to take it out for a spin simply to see the way it did and had been impressed. It stored its composure even when the roads had been sloppy and was straightforward to handle at freeway speeds and on aspect streets. Throw a set of winter tires on the Civic, and we would be completely advantageous utilizing this as a every day driver in all however the worst winter storms.

Trip and Dealing with: Responsive However Simple-Going

The Civic has glorious highway manners with a suspension system that hides all however the worst highway imperfections. Solely the most important of winter’s potholes are a problem with pebbled highway surfaces and damaged pavement principally smoothed out to offer a uniform trip. Throughout freeway driving, steering is considerably gentle although communicative, so you’ll really feel what’s occurring beneath the wheels, nevertheless it’s not intrusive.

Passengers will discover it straightforward to take a seat again and loosen up with the quiet cabin permitting for dialog or highway journey naps. Take the Civic on extra leisurely drives and it handles superbly on winding roads. This is not a sports activities automobile, however relatively balances consolation with dealing with driving fanatics will take pleasure in.

Pricing and Verdict: Paying A Premium

The Civic is a massively standard compact automobile that’s in its eleventh era for a purpose. It has good reliability, nice options, and now a alternative of gasoline or hybrid engines. Styling is engaging with simply sufficient to maintain it from being a uninteresting compact with out going too far to make it appear to be a sports activities automobile. It is fairly merely a superb choice for these in search of a compact, particularly in case you go along with the hatchback for the power to hold extra cargo.

There are solely two trims of the hybrid, beginning with the Sport at $29,950 not together with $1,095 vacation spot payment. The Sport Touring jumps to $32,950 for its added options. Here is the place the Civic will get to be a little bit of a tough proposition. The bottom Corolla hybrid begins at solely $23,625 and tops out at $27,465 not together with $1,135 vacation spot. That prime value additionally contains all-wheel drive. Nonetheless, the Civic is a compelling choice with extra room for individuals and cargo, nice styling, and a responsive trip.