With a heritage of more than half a century, there is lots that can be said about the Honda Civic.
No navel gazing here, though.
Far from dreamy reminiscences about its-once popular product, the maker says the company is looking strictly to the future with the updated model as a bridge to total electrification of its vehicles.
The entry-level petrol engine has been given the shove, with the new Civic e:HEV L hybrid filling the position, while the e:HEV LX variant is still available. Performance buyers have not been left behind, with the Civic Type R turbo, sans hybrid assistance, still ‘on the grid’.
The e:HEV system combines a naturally-aspirated 2.0-litre petrol engine mated with two electric motors, one that drives the front wheels and the second acting as a generator to charge the high-voltage battery.
Advanced in-car technology updates – including Honda Sensing and next generation Honda Connect with Google built-in – have been added across the range. Prices start at $49,900, plus on-road costs, for the entry-level e:HEV L and top out at $55,900 for the e:HEV LX. As with all Hondas, these prices are non-negotiable.
Every Civic comes standard with a five-year unlimited kilometre warranty, five-year Premium Roadside Assist, five $199 services and three-year Honda Connect subscription.
STYLING
Back in the day the Civic – as a two-door fast-back sedan and later as a three-door hatchback – was to become one of the all-time best-selling automobiles in the world, with more than 28 million units sold since 1972.
While the MY25 version looks like a sedan in profile, the Civic is a lift-back with a low-profile roof line that makes it look less like an upright hatch. Enhanced sportiness is the theme here, with a redesigned front bumper and body-coloured headlamp garnishes combining to present a more powerful front. New 18-inch alloy wheels suggest advanced athleticism.
INTERIOR
Space inside is abundant. Headroom up front is good and heated seats and dual-zone climate control are joined by a heated steering wheel. Storage is not so good, with a pair of cupholders and a small wireless charge tray. A lidded console offers more storage, and front doors have bottle holders.
The leg room out back is generous, and seats include a fold-down armrest, a pair of USB-C ports and air vents.
Boot space of 409 litres with rear seat backs up rear seatbacks up is accessed by a manual liftback which can be awkward to operate. A space under the floor is enough to hide small items, while missing are a full-size or space-saver spare. The Civic hybrid comes with a tyre repair kit.
INFOTAINMENT
The 9.0-inch infotainment screen now adds Google built-in services. allowing access to Google Assistant, navigation via Google Maps, link to compatible smart home devices and add apps from the Google Play store.
Honda Connect services also provide a link between smartphone and the car, remotely adjusting the climate control air-con, lock or unlock the car, check the vehicle location, and receive car status checks. A three-year subscription is included.
Wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto, AM/FM/DAB radio, or Bluetooth are on tap, while a 12-speaker Bose audio system punches above its weight with sound reproduction across all genres.
ENGINES/TRANSMISSIONS
Powering the Civic e:HEV pair is a 2-litre direct injection petrol engine plus a two-motor hybrid system putting out 135kW of power and 315Nm of torque, engineered for ‘engaging levels’ of performance, response and feedback.
SAFETY
The Civic comes with new and advanced active and passive safety technology, including Honda Sensing, driver assistance made possible by better front camera software, while Honda’s Advanced Compatibility Engineering body structure is designed to better protect occupants and pedestrians in an accident.
New-generation Honda Connect features a new user-friendly Connected App interface, improved response time and other new features.
All models come with 11 airbags (with rear-seat side and centre airbags previously not part of the hybrid equipment list).
DRIVING
Get in, press the start/stop button and leave the rest to the Civic. The powertrain prioritises electric running, with the ICE chipping in from cold starts, or when battery charge is running low.
The E-CVT automatic is very un-CVT, with smooth running like an EV at low speeds, using the petrol engine to drive the wheels at higher speeds. The regenerative braking that feeds power back to the battery when coasting can be adjusted via steering wheel paddles.
The Civic e:HEV features more than one selectable drive mode letting the driver choose throttle response and fuel efficiency according to preference or driving conditions. On offer are Normal or Econ, which reduce throttle and transmission sensitivity as well as air-conditioning to help optimise fuel use and Sport which enhances throttle response, steering feel and engine sound.
Finally, Individual mode enables the driver to select preferred settings including engine responsiveness, steering feel and gauges.
While all this was going on the test Civic recorded average fuel consumption of 4,6 litres per 100 kilometres during a week of family-style motoring. Honda claims a combined urban/highway cycle figure of 4.2 litres per 100 kilometres. Recommended fuel is regular 91-octane unleaded petrol.
SUMMARY
According to Honda the new Civic is the harbinger of sustainable-energy driving, with the sporty Prelude the next cab off the petrol/electric rank being launched next year before coming Down Under in 2026. Something to look forward to.
RATINGS
Looks: 8/10
Performance: 8/10
Safety: 6/10
Thirst: 5/10
Practicality: 7/10
Comfort: 6/10
Tech: 7/10
Value: 6/10
