The new Civic finally has a hybrid variant, and it's terrific
2025 Honda Civic Hybrid Sport Touring review by The Road Beat
Words and pictures: Mitchell Weitzman
"What took so long?" An honest question, because three years after the launch of the current-generation Honda Civic, we have a hybrid version at last. The new Civic is an objective home run, and not just an easy altitude-assisted blast out of Coors Field; We're talking the Ohtani of compact passenger cars in its ability to do everything and anything quite well. If you're looking to take your economy and commuting to the max, then the Civic Hybrid is an excellent way to do so at the tune of 47 MPG overall.
Hybrid cars rarely meet the window sticker expectations, and the Civic Hybrid is no different there (49 is the official estimate), but 47 MPG is the best I've seen from any car in years. The last several of new Priuses I tested each averaged between 40-42 overall with the same driving patterns. The glacial Corolla Hybrid upped that figure to 45, so for the Civic Hybrid to come out slugging at 47 is quite the achievement, throwing down the gauntlet to all competitors in this space to be the new urban sipper king.
Like other Civics of the current generation, this one pays particular duty to its cabin furnishings, representing a remarkable uptick in quality over prior iterations and past Hondas. Without veering so far as to dub it luxurious, it is in fact luxurious for a Civic, and blows the doors off any new Corolla; in fact, the only vehicle in its class that improves upon the Civic here is a higher-end Mazda3. Without any rattles, all the touchpoints feel solid and substantial, and it's decently quiet on the highway, too. Space is generous in the back seat, with adults able to comfortably inhabit the rear for longer journeys, and the trunk is enormous and can easily hold several bodies if you're in the mob. I like the simple yet modern design on the interior, and while the nine-inch center screen is small and crowded with icons, there are enough physical controls for essentials like the HVAC at least to keep things simple and easy. I also love that the unlock buttons on the inside of the door illuminate at night when you enter, so you can easily locate and unlock the rest of the door for passengers - almost all other cars remain dark until the car is actually on.
Steering has a been a hallmark strong suite of every new Civic, and the Hybrid is no different, boasting directness and confidence through the wheel. Even with its comfort-tuned suspension, this Civic exhibits great handling for a fuel efficient and affordably small sedan. Rivals like the Elantra don't have the same composure, and Corollas simply just feel like a toy in contrast with their artificial steering. With a strong front-end, you can violently throw the Civic Hybrid between curves at a shocking velocity for a car of this segment. It's no Type R, of course, but becoming a gas-sipping Hybrid has not dulled the dynamic chops of the latest Civic. While it's happy to cruise, it's still more than happy to play.
I remember riding in the original Civic Hybrid over 20 years ago, and that little sorry turd literally could not make it up highway hills, especially with a couple passengers. Times have luckily changed in this regard, as this latest edition now has an even 200-horsepower hybrid powertrain. That lags a bit behind the latest Toyota Prius for top trumps, but this unassuming Civic can dispatch 0-60 MPH in a lithe 6.5 seconds, which is not only quicker than a Prius by a half-second, but a staggering THREE seconds faster than the last Corolla Hybrid I tested. More importantly than the largely unnecessary punch, this hybrid unit provides seamless operation and transitions, with accurate and immediate responses to pedal applications that make for a very easy driving experience. However, you cannot dismiss the fact that the combustion engine is still a little four-cylinder, and thus sounds like a little four-cylinder. That is, when wound up and accelerating onto freeways or when passing, the noises made are less than desirable with its coarse and unpleasant song - no sonorous VTEC to be found here!
There's little to dislike about the new Civic Hybrid. Taking a great car as its base that was already plenty fuel efficient and turning it into a sober hybrid has upped the ante and makes for a car that requires no deliberation to decide on. As an overall and complete package, the latest Civic Hybrid is revolutionary in that does everything simply so dang well, and it even looks great. It's the best overall small sedan on sale right now, and priced under $35,000 for a fully-loaded example as such, one that's affordably friendly, too. The only real question is, where has the Civic Hybrid been the past few years?
2025 Honda Civic Hybrid Sport Touring
As-tested price: $33,300
Pros: Spacious; Efficient; Drives great
Cons: Erm, the screen is dated
Additional 2025 Honda Civic Hybrid photos
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