Colin Wood
Colin Wood Associate Editor
5/21/24 12:00 p.m.

Although the new Civic Hybrid isn't exactly a core car in our scene, I thought it would still be worth sharing.

Quick facts:

  • Civic Hybrid will be available as both a sedan and a hatchback.
  • Combined 200 horsepower and 232 lb.-ft. of torque, making the hybrid Civic "the most powerful non-Type R Civics ever."
  • The LX and Sport trims will get a gas-only, 2.0-liter inline-four, with the hybrid setup reserved for the Sport Hybrid and Sport Touring Hybrid trims.
  • Four new color options have been added: Solar Silver Metallic, Urban Gray Pearl, Blue Lagoon Pearl (exclusive to Civic sedan) and Sand Dune Pearl (exclusive to Civic hatchback).

For those interested, here's the full press release: 

New 2025 Honda Civic Gains Powerful Hybrid Trims, Sportier Styling and Improved Tech

  • Refreshed 2025 Civic builds on award-winning 11th-generation model with more aggressive front fascia and grille, revised taillights and four new exterior colors
  • New Civic hybrid – available as a sedan or hatchback – delivers an anticipated  232 lb.-ft.5 of torque, making it the most powerful non-Type R Civic ever
  • New range-topping Sport Touring Hybrid trim features Civic’s first integration of Google built-in for seamless on-the-go connectivity
  • Powerful and efficient, the hybrid powertrain is expected to represent about 40% of all Civic sales

TORRANCE, Calif., May 21, 2024 – Building on the success of the 11th generation Civic – the 2022 North American Car of the Year – the refreshed 2025 Honda Civic  adds more style, more tech and with the available two-motor hybrid powertrain, a lot more power. Positioned at the top of the lineup and expected to receive an EPA combined fuel economy rating nearing 50 mpg[1], the new Civic hybrid, offered as either a sedan or hatchback, combines the fun-to-drive spirit of Civic with the award-winning Honda two-motor hybrid system.

The 2025 Civic will be available in four trim levels, starting with LX (sedan only) and Sport, and topped by the hybrid-powered Sport Hybrid and Sport Touring Hybrid. The new hybrid-electric models will represent about 40% of Civic sales as a key step in the Honda electrification strategy. The 2025 Civic sedan will begin arriving at Honda dealers next month, while the Civic hatchback will arrive later this summer.

            “The new Civic hybrid is a perfectly-timed addition to the Honda lineup as hybrid-electric sales continue to grow, providing Honda with an important building block toward 100% zero-emissions vehicle sales by 2040,” said Lance Woelfer, assistant vice president of Honda National Auto Sales, American Honda Motor Co., Inc. “Honda hybrid-electric models represented over one-quarter of our overall brand sales in 2023, and the fun-to-drive Civic hybrid is a fantastic new product at the gateway of our popular electrified lineup along with Accord hybrid, CR-V hybrid and the all-electric Prologue.”

Civic is Honda’s longest-running automotive nameplate and Americans have purchased more than 12 million Civics since 1973, making it one of the top three best-selling passenger cars in America over the past 51 years[2]. An unparalleled success, the 11th-generation Civic serves as the gateway to the Honda brand and America’s most popular vehicle with Gen Z buyers, first-time new car buyers as well as multicultural customers[3].

Most Powerful Non-Type R Civic Ever

With an anticipated combined 200 horsepower and an impressive 232 lb.-ft. of torque5, the new Civic hybrid-electric powered trims are the most powerful non-Type R Civics ever, providing quick, effortless acceleration while receiving outstanding EPA fuel economy ratings. Linear Shift Control further elevates the driving experience by mimicking the vehicle speed-linked rev feel typically associated with a conventional drivetrain shifting gears under acceleration. The resulting performance is even quicker than the outgoing 1.5L turbo-powered Civic.

The Honda two-motor hybrid system maximizes efficiency without compromising dynamic performance or passenger and cargo space. Optimized for the Civic and delivering a sporty driving experience, the refined Honda two-motor hybrid-electric power unit features two large and powerful electric motors.

In addition, the new Civic hybrids have four levels of regenerative-braking deceleration available through selector paddles on the steering wheel. The multiple levels provide a wide range of control during deceleration.

To further amplify Civic’s legendary fun-to-drive spirit and class-leading ride comfort, the ride and handling dynamics of Civic hybrid have been optimized with unique spring and damper tuning, and a specifically-developed tire.  Hybrid trims also enjoy the lowest NVH levels in the Civic lineup, with a robust noise reduction package that includes Active Noise Control on all hybrids, and wheel resonators on Sport Touring trims.

To support affordability for young buyers, Civic LX and Sport trims continue to be powered by a responsive and efficient 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine. Sport Hybrid and Sport Touring Hybrid trims benefit from Honda’s powerful yet efficient two-motor hybrid system.

Drivers can seamlessly switch between selectable drive modes to optimize the Civic driving experience for various conditions. Econ, Normal, and Sport (Sport and hybrid trims only) modes feature pre-set performance settings for powertrain response, steering assist level and gauge cluster layout. Civic Sport Touring Hybrid models also feature a new Individual mode that enables customization of the driving experience.

Enhanced Design

The exterior styling of every 2025 Honda Civic is enhanced with a new more aggressive front fascia and grille, while new darker taillights give Civic sedan a sharper look. For an even sportier look, the new more-powerful hybrid-powered trims get a distinct body colored headlamp garnish and front lower spoiler. All Sport trims continue to feature dark trim and black 18-inch wheels. A new machine-finished wheel design is exclusive to the top-of-the-line Sport Touring Hybrid.

Four bold new colors including Solar Silver Metallic, Urban Gray Pearl, Blue Lagoon Pearl (exclusive to Civic sedan) and Sand Dune Pearl (exclusive to Civic hatchback) enhance the appearance of the 2025 Civic.

Inside, the simple and clean Civic interior is also refreshed. All hybrid models are now available with a gray interior color. Sport Hybrid also comes standard with a moonroof, heated front seats and dual zone climate controls.

The Sport Touring Hybrid adds leather seating, a 12-speaker Bose premium audio system and intuitive technology, including a larger 9-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto™ compatibility and a wireless smartphone charger. All Civic models now come standard with front USB-C ports.

Google built-In

Additionally, the top-line Sport Touring Hybrid features Civic’s first integration of Google built-in. This includes apps like Google Assistant, Google Maps and more on Google Play for a helpful, personalized and connected driving experience with a complimentary 3-year unlimited data plan.

With Google Assistant, users can get things done while keeping their eyes on the road and their hands on the wheel. Talk to Google to easily call or text a friend, set reminders, or even change the temperature in the car. Users can also navigate to the next destination or look up what's nearby. For example, Google Assistant enables users to set their destination in Google Maps using just their voice, with the route map then displayed in the instrument cluster.

Drivers can control their media by asking Google to skip to the next track or rewind a podcast using their favorite media apps with just their voice. Google Play enables users to download various 3rd-party apps for music, podcasts and audiobooks, just like they would on their smartphone.

Safety for Everyone

The 11th-generation Civic is a safety leader in the compact class thanks to advanced active and passive safety technology that comes standard on every Civic. This includes Honda’s proprietary Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure designed to help protect occupants in a wide variety of frontal collisions, along with advanced supplemental restraint systems.

Civic’s driver and passenger front airbags were designed to minimize the potential for severe brain trauma associated with angled frontal collisions. The front driver’s airbag uses an innovative donut-shaped structure to cradle and cradle the head to reduce rotation.  The passenger-side front airbag uses a three-chamber design with the two outer chambers designed to achieve a similar result. All Civic models also feature pretensioning front seatbelts, and front, side, knee and side-curtain airbags.

Based on Honda’s long standing “Safety for Everyone” approach, which focuses on advancing safety for everyone sharing the road, all Civic models are equipped with the Honda Sensing® suite of safety and driver-assistive technologies, which includes Collision Mitigation Braking System™ (CMBS™) with Pedestrian Detection; Forward Collision Warning; Road Departure Mitigation (RDM) incorporating Lane Departure Warning (LDW); Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS); and Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC). All Sport models are now also equipped with Blind Spot with Rear Cross Traffic Alert.

Manufacturing

Honda has produced more than 11 million Civics in North America, including more than five million in the United States, accounting for more than a quarter of our vehicle production in the region since Honda began making cars in America in 1982. The 11th-generation Civic continues to build on that legacy with production* of the Civic Sedan in Alliston, Ontario, Canada, and Civic Hatchback at the company’s Greensburg, Indiana plant.

Associates at Honda Power Unit Operations facilities in Ohio – including the Anna Engine Plant and Ohio Transmission Plant – build both the two-motor hybrid-electric power unit and 2.0-liter Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder engine for the Accord, CR-V and Civic hybrids. 
* using domestic and globally-sourced parts

About Honda 

Honda offers a full line of clean, safe, fun and connected vehicles sold through more than 1,000 independent U.S. Honda dealers. The award-winning Honda lineup includes the Civic and Accord, along with the HR-V, CR-V, Passport and Pilot sport utility vehicles, the Ridgeline pickup and the Odyssey minivan. Honda's electrified vehicle lineup includes the new Prologue SUV, the company’s first volume battery-electric vehicle, Accord hybrid, CR-V hybrid and Civic hybrid.

Honda has been producing automobiles in America for over 40 years and currently operates 18 major manufacturing facilities in North America. In 2023, more than 99% of all Honda vehicles sold in the U.S. were made in North America, with about two-thirds made in America, using domestic and globally sourced parts.

Flynlow
Flynlow Dork
5/21/24 12:04 p.m.

Blue lagoon pearl and those wheels on an Si would be awesome.  Maybe they can add that to the reshuffle list for next year.

 

pheller
pheller UltimaDork
5/21/24 12:14 p.m.

It's just so ugly. 

I wonder what the price difference between the Civic Hybrid Sport and the Prius is, because I'd pick the Prius all day long unless its a  $10k difference. 

pointofdeparture
pointofdeparture GRM+ Memberand UltimaDork
5/21/24 12:57 p.m.

The bad news in all this for us folks is that there is no longer a manual transmission offered on the Civic Hatchback outside of the Type-R and the 1.5T engine option is dead.

Better go get yourself a 2024 while you can if you wanted a stick Civic Hatch without dropping the cash on a Type-R...

DirtyBird222
DirtyBird222 PowerDork
5/21/24 1:14 p.m.
Colin Wood said:

Although the new Civic Hybrid isn't exactly a core car in our scene, I thought it would still be worth sharing.

Quick facts:

  • Civic Hybrid will be available as both a sedan and a hatchback.
  • Combined 200 horsepower and 232 lb.-ft. of torque, making the hybrid Civic "the most powerful non-Type R Civics ever."
  • The LX and Sport trims will get a gas-only, 2.0-liter inline-four, with the hybrid setup reserved for the Sport Hybrid and Sport Touring Hybrid trims.
  • Four new color options have been added: Solar Silver Metallic, Urban Gray Pearl, Blue Lagoon Pearl (exclusive to Civic sedan) and Sand Dune Pearl (exclusive to Civic hatchback).

 

The 205+hp Civic Si variants of the past would like a word. Also these are connected to a CVT so not valid. 

Also regarding the core car to "our scene" - y'all have been pedaling EVs like it's your job so a hybrid is relevant to the recent trajectory here. 

RyanGreener (Forum Supporter)
RyanGreener (Forum Supporter) HalfDork
5/21/24 2:12 p.m.

Interesting. The Hybrid Civic will have better fuel economy, more torque and possibly have less NVH than the Si and will likely cost the same amount...unless the Si gets a power boost.

I got a new Accord Hybrid a few months ago.  I have nothing bad to say about it, it's a 100% awesome car.  The same drivetrain in a Civic will be great.

Regarding the CVT... at around-town speeds, it's basically a full EV.  The electric motors can pull current from the batteries or the gas motor, or both when needed.  The only time the gas motor is connected directly to the wheels is when cruising at highway speeds.  So basically it drives a lot more like a Tesla than a Nissan Murano.

TheTallOne17
TheTallOne17 Reader
5/21/24 3:28 p.m.

In reply to DirtyBird222 :

Yeah the fact Colin has a live thread for a plug in hybrid going right now is amusing 

STM317
STM317 PowerDork
5/22/24 8:22 a.m.
pheller said:

It's just so ugly. 

I wonder what the price difference between the Civic Hybrid Sport and the Prius is, because I'd pick the Prius all day long unless its a  $10k difference. 

I'd think the Corolla hybrid ($24k starting) or Elantra hybrid ($26k starting) would be this Civic's more natural competition.

Tony Sestito
Tony Sestito UltimaDork
5/22/24 8:39 a.m.

I like the way the new Civic looks. Especially the hatch. 

I was considering one of these for an eventual replacement for my Kia, thinking that a hybrid would be a much better partner for my awful commute. Hidden in the press release is something annoying though: They are going away from CarPlay/Android Auto to a Google OS-based infotainment unit. You get 3 years of free service, and after that you have to pay a monthly charge to use it. I am 100% against having to pay a subscription to use a feature of the car, and I will call out that BS anytime I see it.

maschinenbau
maschinenbau GRM+ Memberand PowerDork
5/22/24 9:08 a.m.
Tony Sestito said:

 They are going away from CarPlay/Android Auto to a Google OS-based infotainment unit. You get 3 years of free service, and after that you have to pay a monthly charge to use it.

Hol up. That's the real news release here if true.

 

Colin Wood
Colin Wood Associate Editor
5/22/24 9:13 a.m.

In reply to Tony Sestito :

Good eye. Exactly why I like to include the press release.

Additionally, the top-line Sport Touring Hybrid features Civic’s first integration of Google built-in. This includes apps like Google Assistant, Google Maps and more on Google Play for a helpful, personalized and connected driving experience with a complimentary 3-year unlimited data plan.

As it reads, it looks like it's limited to just the top-tier hybrid trim–for now, at least.

I'm also strongly against subscriptions for in-car features. I might be a little old-fashioned, but I paid for the whole car, why can't I use the whole car?

maschinenbau
maschinenbau GRM+ Memberand PowerDork
5/22/24 9:23 a.m.

From Honda's site, it sounds like you can still use regular Android Auto and/or CarPlay without a Google Built-in data connection. The Google system is really just a way to keep navigation and other systems running without complete reliance on your smartphone. Basically they subcontracted out the whole infotainment system to Google, which honestly isn't a bad idea for most carmakers since they are usually terrible.

https://automobiles.honda.com/google-built-in#panel-heading-7

Captdownshift (Forum Supporter)
Captdownshift (Forum Supporter) GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
5/22/24 9:39 a.m.

Sport touring hybrid hatch for me, please.

Captdownshift (Forum Supporter)
Captdownshift (Forum Supporter) GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
5/22/24 9:46 a.m.

Also, with regards to vehicles and data, you're already tethering your phone via Bluetooth, just turn on the hotspot feature to use your current mobile data plan, no worries. (Google allows this with their platform) 

Colin Wood said:

In reply to Tony Sestito :

Good eye. Exactly why I like to include the press release.

Additionally, the top-line Sport Touring Hybrid features Civic’s first integration of Google built-in. This includes apps like Google Assistant, Google Maps and more on Google Play for a helpful, personalized and connected driving experience with a complimentary 3-year unlimited data plan.

As it reads, it looks like it's limited to just the top-tier hybrid trim–for now, at least.

I'm also strongly against subscriptions for in-car features. I might be a little old-fashioned, but I paid for the whole car, why can't I use the whole car?

If it's like the system in my 2024 Accord Touring Hybrid (which it probably is), the car has Google features natively but also supports CarPlay and Android Auto.  The Google features are nice when they work, which is rarely.  They tend to work for about a week then have connectivity issues which require a hard reset, which means you have to reprogram all of your other settings (doors, seats, climate control, etc).   I just gave up after a few weeks.  On the other hand, the CarPlay is awesome.  The infotainment system is very well laid out and has zero lag or bugs when using with CarPlay.  The Bose audio system is also very good.

I would imagine that the bugs with the Google stuff will be sorted out with firmware updates over time.

On a positive note, my Accord has the best interior design of any car I've ever owned, and the Civic is nearly identical.  It's also notable that the Accord only weighs 3500lbs, and feels reasonably quick with the Hybrid drivetrain.  I would imagine that the Civic will be even lighter and feel even more sporty.

On the Accord Facebook page, there was a guy that posted about autocrossing his Accord Hybrid last weekend.  He basically threw some RE-71's on the stock wheels and sent it.  These were the standings that he posted (he's at the top):

I have a feeling that this guy can wheel, but still- he came out pretty well vs. some very fast cars.  I haven't done anything sporting in my Accord (yet) but I don't have a hard time believing this; the suspension is very very good.  This new Civic Hybrid may be a weapon with its lighter weight and shorter wheelbase.

pheller
pheller UltimaDork
5/22/24 11:47 a.m.

What we really want is a hybrid 6-spd MIIIIIAAAATTTTA

pointofdeparture
pointofdeparture GRM+ Memberand UltimaDork
5/22/24 12:36 p.m.

In reply to pheller :

Honestly, what all this has me thinking is three things:

  1. auto be damned, with the torque these things put down, they will probably be rather quick on an auto-x course with proper tires
  2. this is almost definitely the drivetrain they're going to throw in the upcoming Prelude reboot
  3. maybe a 5% chance (if that) of this happening, but if they had the stones to offer a 6-speed Prelude in a Si trim...

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