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The Honda Civic has been a mainstay of the small automobile panorama for greater than 50 years.
Now, in its eleventh technology, it performs a distinct position for the Japanese model than it as soon as did, transitioning from a no-frills and reasonably priced entry mannequin into an ultra-efficient various to base-level luxurious hatchbacks.
It’s an attention-grabbing repositioning for certainly one of Honda’s keystone, volume-selling fashions, and but it appears completely logical contemplating the rising tide of compact SUVs which have taken its place because the default selection for budget-conscious Australian households.
So, the place does that depart the Civic now? Nicely, let’s discover out…
How a lot does the Honda Civic price?
The present-generation Honda Civic first launched here in 2022 with a three-variant vary that included two high-grade mainstream choices – with both turbo-petrol or hybrid powertrains – and the flagship, high-performance Type R scorching hatch.
| Mannequin | Drive-away pricing |
|---|---|
| Honda Civic e:HEV L | $49,900 |
| Honda Civic e:HEV LX | $55,900 |
Whereas the Kind R continues on unchanged, the common Civic lineup was up to date late final 12 months when Honda axed the entry variant in favour of a pair of hybrid-only variants that introduced minor visible tweaks to the entrance bumper design, new-look 18-inch alloy wheels and upgrades to the infotainment and security techniques.
Consequently, the entry level has moved additional upmarket and the vary now kicks off at $49,900 drive-away for the Honda Civic e:HEV L we’re testing right here, whereas the flagship LX instructions a $6000 premium for its further options, together with full leather-based inside trim, a panoramic sunroof, power-adjustable entrance seats and extra.
Whereas the sticker costs would possibly trigger a little bit of shock, each variants are inclusive of all on-road prices, which pitches the L nearer to range-topping rivals just like the Mazda 3 G25 Astina ($43,310 plus on-roads), Peugeot 308 GT Hybrid (from $48,990) and the Volkswagen Golf R-Line ($47,990).
To see how the Honda Civic traces up in opposition to the competitors, try our comparison tool
What’s the Honda Civic like on the within?
There’s rather a lot to love in regards to the Civic’s cabin, though it doesn’t current as flashy or notably trendy.
As an alternative, it will get the basics excellent.
The general aesthetic is quite typical, with a T-shaped relationship between the dashboard and centre console, which incorporates a decent-sized storage binnacle at its base with two USB-C shops and a 12V energy socket, two giant cupholders within the centre and a coated bin between the seats.
In reality, the one uncommon aspect in regards to the Civic’s myriad controls is the push-button gear selector with an indented button to pick reverse, and the neat joysticks that poke out of the honeycomb grille to regulate the move of air flow from the air vents.
In any other case, it’s refreshingly uncomplicated, with a block of simply accessible bodily buttons and dials within the centre for the dual-zone local weather management system, and it’s good to have a quantity knob and buttons for Residence and Again on the facet of the touchscreen.
Talking of which, the 9.0-inch color show may not be as large as many others within the class, however the menu construction is straightforward to make use of with giant sq. icons which can be clearly labelled, and the inclusion of embedded Google Maps – in addition to voice-activated Google Assistant – makes it easy and extra acquainted to search out new locations and observe directions.
The bigger 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster is brilliant and gives all of the important info in a logical format, with highway velocity and energy output in typical dials on both facet of a multi-function show within the centre, with two easy strips for gasoline and battery ranges on the outer edges.
The three-spoke steering wheel is the appropriate dimension too, affords loads of adjustment in each attain and rake to search out the optimum place, and might be heated to take the coolness out of early-morning winter commutes, which is sweet to have. Plus, the fingertip controls are logically laid out, with audio on the left and cruise management capabilities – together with one-touch entry to activate or flip off lane-keeping help and set the gap to site visitors forward – on the appropriate.
Whereas there’s no electrical adjustment to the entrance seats within the L mannequin grade, each the motive force and passenger are handled to wonderful consolation and assist with supple cushioning and agency facet bolsters, plus three-stage heating. They don’t look fancy, however they’re among the many finest within the enterprise and make it simple to spend hours behind the wheel.
For these within the again, there’s a respectable quantity of rear legroom and sufficient area to squeeze three throughout the bench for brief journeys. The sloping roofline does impression headroom for taller passengers, notably when in comparison with a SUV, however the Civic is effectively suited to small households.
In reality, with 409 litres of cargo capability within the boot, it affords extra room than most different small hatchbacks and even some mid-size soft-roaders. There’s even a further – albeit shallow – underfloor storage space to safe smaller gadgets or separate moist garments or sports activities gear.
| Dimensions | Honda Civic e:HEV L |
|---|---|
| Size | 4569mm |
| Width | 1802mm |
| Peak | 1415mm |
| Wheelbase | 2735mm |
| Cargo capability | 409L |
To see how the Honda Civic traces up in opposition to the competitors, try our comparison tool
What’s underneath the bonnet?
The Honda Civic e:HEV is powered by a attention-grabbing – and extra superior – hybrid powertrain that hyperlinks a naturally aspirated four-cylinder 2.0-litre direct-injection petrol engine with two electrical motors sandwiched throughout the constantly variable computerized transmission (CVT).
| Specs | Honda Civic e:HEV L |
|---|---|
| Engine | 2.0L 4cyl petrol-electric HEV |
| Engine outputs | 105kW / 186Nm |
| System outputs | 135kW / 315Nm |
| Battery | 1.0kWh |
| Transmission | CVT |
| Drive sort | FWD |
| Weight | 1465kg |
| Gas economic system (claimed) | 4.2L/100km |
| Gas economic system (as examined) | 4.3L/100km |
| Gas tank capability | 40L |
| Gas requirement | 91-octane unleaded |
| CO2 emissions | 96g/km |
The petrol engine makes use of a lean-burning Atkinson cycle to enhance fuel-efficiency, whereas the e-CVT options each an electrical motor generator that’s primarily designed to recuperate vitality underneath deceleration to recharge the small 1.0kWh lithium ion battery mounted underneath the rear seats, and one other extra highly effective traction motor on the again of the gearbox that assists the petrol motor when driving.
Collectively, they produce a mixed most energy output of 135kW, which is hardly earth shattering. However, the efficiency you are feeling comes from its above-average peak torque determine of 315Nm, which is on faucet from virtually the second you contact the throttle pedal.
In most conditions, the powertrain acts like an everyday series-parallel hybrid with the first electrical motor used to get issues transferring away from a standstill, earlier than the petrol engine chimes in they usually work collectively. The motor/generator can even reverse its move and supply further energy underneath heavy acceleration too.
Nevertheless, not like different techniques corresponding to these in a wide range of Toyota fashions, the Honda can even decouple the petrol engine at cruising speeds and run completely on electrical energy.
Now, as a result of the battery capability is fairly small, it could’t do that for lengthy durations like a plug-in hybrid would. However it does make a major enchancment to its gasoline consumption, notably round city the place Honda claims it has common city gasoline consumption of simply 2.0L/100km, and an general common determine of 4.2L/100km.
To see how the Honda Civic traces up in opposition to the competitors, try our comparison tool
How does the Honda Civic drive?
How all of that performs out in the actual world is sort of invisible from behind the wheel.
Pictured: Honda Civic e:HEV LX
Positive, you’ll be able to hear the engine begin up when it kicks into life and much more so in the event you dig deep into the throttle for a quick getaway or when overtaking at freeway speeds.
However the transition between operating on battery energy alone and getting into full hybrid mode is completely seamless and extra refined than most.
At low speeds, and particularly when navigating tight city areas or heavy site visitors, the Civic drives like an electrical automobile more often than not, accelerating easily with a faint whir from the electrical motor.
The battery discharges fairly rapidly, but additionally recoups vitality underneath braking moderately quickly if you toggle the paddle shifters for max impact of the regenerative braking.
Out on the open highway, its outstanding how usually the engine shuts down for brief bursts of zero-emission operating, after which seamlessly wakes up once more. Not that you simply’d know in the event you weren’t wanting on the energy move meter on the digital dashboard or infotainment display.
The tip result’s Honda’s e:HEV system is likely one of the most refined and efficient of its sort, delivering an easy, no-fuss driving expertise, and the power to simply match its claimed gasoline economic system determine in a mixture of metropolis and freeway driving.
That very same sentiment might be attributed to the remainder of the Civic’s driving character. The MacPherson-strut entrance and multi-link rear suspension is properly balanced between consolation and assured cornering talents, and the electrical energy steering is constructive and constant all through the arc with out feeling overly gentle or artificially weighted.
No, it’s not as dynamic because the flagship Kind R scorching hatch, however the bones that make that automobile such an excellent observe weapon and consummate all-rounder can undoubtedly be felt even on this most simple mannequin.
And it’s quiet too, with wonderful suppression of highway and wind noise getting into the cabin, aided by the audio system’s Lively Noise Management perform.
To see how the Honda Civic traces up in opposition to the competitors, try our comparison tool
What do you get?
With a price ticket that pushes to the sting of luxurious automobile territory, you’d count on rather a lot from even the entry-level Civic.
The truth is you that Honda has all of the fundamentals coated, however there aren’t any shock delights.
2025 Honda Civic e:HEV L tools highlights:
- 18-inch alloy wheels
- LED headlights
- LED tail-lights
- Fabric and leather-accented seats
- Twin-zone local weather management with rear air vents
- Heated entrance seats
- Heated steering wheel
- Keyless entry with push-button begin
- Energy home windows
- 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster
- 9.0-inch infotainment touchscreen
- Wi-fi Apple CarPlay
- Wired Android Auto
- Google Maps, Google Assistant, Google Play
- 12-speaker Bose audio system
Civic e:HEV LX provides:
- Wi-fi cellphone charging
- Leather-based-appointed seats
- Energy-adjustable entrance seats
- Panoramic sunroof
- Ambient inside lighting (entrance)
To see how the Honda Civic traces up in opposition to the competitors, try our comparison tool
Is the Honda Civic secure?
The up to date Honda Civic retains the utmost five-star ANCAP ranking it attracted when it was first launched in 2022, however now options revisions to enhance its complete suite of superior security techniques.
| Class | Honda Civic e:HEV |
|---|---|
| Grownup occupant safety | 89 per cent |
| Little one occupant safety | 89 per cent |
| Susceptible highway consumer safety | 82 per cent |
| Security help | 83 per cent |
Commonplace security equipent consists of:
- 11 airbags
- Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
- Ahead collision warning
- Adaptive cruise management with low-speed observe
- Site visitors Jam Help
- Lane departure warning
- Lane holding help
- Site visitors signal recognition
- Blind spot warning
- Rear cross site visitors alert
- Entrance and rear parking sensors
- Clever velocity limiter
Equally to the way it drives, Honda has clearly spent appreciable effort and time on refining the activation of its security techniques.
The place most of those new capabilities are annoying, intrusive or over zealous in rival automobiles – particularly the extra reasonably priced new entrants – the Civic feels as if they solely assist when wanted, as they need to. And, even then, they’re smoother and fewer alarming than most, like a mild guiding hand quite than a binary brute.
A part of that may attributed to new digicam software program within the up to date Civic, which now additionally options Honda Join – a smartphone app that permits homeowners to remotely begin the engine, activate the local weather management and discover the situation of the car, in addition to computerized collision detection, which instantly contacts the Honda Assist Centre within the occasion of an impression and may help emergency companies response.
To see how the Honda Civic traces up in opposition to the competitors, try our comparison tool
How a lot does the Honda Civic price to run?
Honda gives a normal five-year guarantee with limitless kilometres and free roadside help throughout its whole passenger car vary for personal patrons.
| Servicing and Guarantee | Honda Civic e:HEV L |
|---|---|
| Guarantee | 5 years or limitless kilometres |
| Roadside help | 5 years or limitless kilometres |
| Service intervals | 12 months or 10,000km |
| Capped-price servicing | 5 years or 50,000km |
| Complete capped-price service price | $995 |
Nevertheless, if the car is maintained throughout the authorised Honda Service community and it meets sure standards on the finish of the preliminary guarantee interval, homeowners might be supplied with a further three years of protection and roadside help, extending the length to eight years.
Honda additionally subsidises the primary 5 annual visits to the service centre at simply $199 every. However the minimal mileage is barely 10,000km between every service, which is lower than some rivals.
To see how the Honda Civic e:HEV L traces up in opposition to the competitors, try our comparability software
CarExpert’s Tackle the Honda Civic
Placing worth apart for one second, the Honda Civic e:HEV L is an distinctive instance of a contemporary small automobile.
It’s spacious, comfy, quiet, extremely environment friendly, effectively constructed, secure as homes, and really good to drive. For all of the automobile issues it does, it’s proper up there with the most effective within the enterprise. It isn’t very thrilling, however it’s very, excellent.
On prime of that, it’s reasonably priced to run and, with Honda’s fame for reliability, seems like it’s going to final a lifetime, which virtually justifies its premium price ticket.
In case you can leap over that hurdle, then the Civic delivers the place it issues.
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MORE: Everything Honda Civic