Hybrid technology has been a gamechanger for Japanese automaker Honda. (HMC) Though the brand has released its first EV — the Prologue SUV, and is planning more EVs in the future, over one-quarter of Honda's sales in 2023 were represented by hybrid versions of the popular CR-V crossover and the Accord mid-size sedan.
Now, Honda is blessing another popular model with a powerful, new hybrid powertrain that might direct some buyers away from sportier offerings.
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2025 Honda Civic Sedan Sport Touring Hybrid
Honda
New for 2025, Honda is giving a much-needed update to the popular Civic compact car. Available in both sedan and hatchback form, the new Civic features refreshed, sportier styling and new tech features, but most importantly; a new, powerful two-motor hybrid powertrain in its upper trim models.
Honda is not alone when it comes to offering a hybrid version of a compact car. Toyota has the Corolla Hybrid, while South Korean automaker Hyundai offers the Hyundai Elantra Hybrid, but Honda can boast something different with its new hybrid: power.
While the Elantra has to make do with 139 horsepower and the Corolla with 138, Honda's new Civic Hybrid gets an engine that makes it the most powerful Civic outside of the track-ready Type R. Under the hood is a hybrid engine that cranks out a buff 200 horsepower and 238 lb-ft of torque — power that puts the efficient machine on par with the sporty, turbocharged Civic Si.
2025 Honda Civic Sedan Sport Touring Hybrid
Honda
Honda has not disclosed any acceleration, or top speed figures yet, but the automaker does state that the new Civic Hybrid will offer “quick, effortless acceleration while receiving outstanding EPA fuel economy ratings," as it aims for an "expected EPA combined fuel economy rating nearing 50 mpg."
In addition to the new engine, Honda says that it gave the new Civic "unique spring and damper tuning, and a specifically-developed tire" to enhance its driving dynamics.
Inside, the new Civic Hybrid carries over much of the same interior features and design, albeit with some new goodies for more expensive trim levels. In the fully loaded "Sport Touring" trim, the Civic comes equipped with leather seats, a 12-speaker Bose stereo system, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as Google built-in, which includes a suite of features like the Google Assistant and Google Maps.
Honda has not disclosed any pricing for the Honda Civic Hybrid’s two trim levels in both sedan and hatchback form, however Honda said that the sedan will hit dealers next month, with the hatchback to follow later this summer.
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Honda's Hybrid bigger picture:
Honda has been having a field day with hybrids, with over one-quarter of total sales in 2023 attributed to hybrid versions of the popular CRV and Accord models. Hybrid vehicles are Honda's gateway toward its very own electric future, of which it seeks to spend billions on new facilities, including a whole EV "supply chain" near its facilities in Alliston, Ontario, Canada.
But before that happens, the automaker is expecting the Civic Hybrid to be a home run with its base, projecting models with the new hybrid powertrain to account for over 40% of sales of the Civic nameplate. In its statement, Honda says that the Civic is popular with wide variety of customers, including "Gen Z buyers, first-time new car buyers as well as multicultural customers."
According to Lance Woelfer, the assistant vice president of Honda National Auto Sales for American Honda, the Civic Hybrid couldn't have come at a better time, as it seeks to boost its hybrid sales and edge closer to its long-term zero-emissions goals.
"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 Woelfer. "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."
Honda Motor Company, trading under HMC on the NYSE, closed at $33.38, down 1.38% today.
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