2025 Honda Civic Hybrid is the most powerful non-Type R Civic ever

After eleven million Honda Civics produced, this is where we are. We’ve gone back to the 1992 VX level trim in fuel economy and forward to 2025 with a Civic Hybrid that has more power than the once-haloed Si—the Type R is still king, so do not worry. The refreshed 11th-generation Civic is now a hybrid that gets nearly 50 MPG and has 200 horsepower and 232 lb.-ft of torque. It’s both the genesis of a new type of Honda and the death of everything we once knew.

The days of the simple Civic so loved, thrashed, Hooned, and driven to death are nearly gone. In its place, we have the more complicated new Civic Hybrid and Civic Hybrid Sport. Honda anticipates 40% of their Civic sales to be Hybrid. The 2.0L gas version is still available, yet secondary to the future Honda is blazing with its hybrid offerings.

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This two-motor hybrid is the most powerful non-Type-R Civic ever produced. (Read that again if you’ve always been a big Si fan.) Not to be unapologetic, Honda is offering a Sport Hybrid with three drive modes: econ, sport, and normal. These drive modes feature pre-set performance settings for powertrain response, steering response, and a unique gauge layout—basically, the stuff you’re already familiar with in other cars with “Sport” modes.

The exterior is where the new Civic shines. It is more aggressive with a new front fascia, revised taillights, and four new paint colors. The taillights are darker and on the hybrid models, they’ve taken it one step further with body-colored headlight garnish and a lower front spoiler, ever enticing you further into Honda’s 40% electrified future.

Topping out the range will be a Sport Touring Hybrid with 12-speaker Bose audio, a 9-inch touch screen, and wireless Apple and Android. It will also feature the Google built-in with Google Assistant, Maps, and Play with a 3-year unlimited data plan. Google Assistant will allow drivers to use voice commands for a variety of activities and allow hands-free texting, set reminders, change map destinations, and other useful tasks.

A full safety suite completes the refreshed 11th generation Civic with revised airbags and “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).” In addition, they advise all Sport models will be equipped with Blind Spot with Rear Cross Traffic Alert.

So, what do you think? Is the new Civic Sport Touring Hybrid the one to have or are you going to hang onto the 2.0L conventionally powered Civic as long as you can?!

– M. T. Blake

IG @_mtblake / www.mtblake.net

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