2025 Honda Civic Adds Hybrid, Hatchback, Google, and More Power
The practical and sporty Civic gets a new hybrid version to compete against the Prius, Corolla Hybrid, and Elantra Hybrid
Honda updated the Civic for 2025 and is also bringing back the Civic Hybrid after a 10-year absence. With claimed fuel economy in the high 40s, the Civic Hybrid isn’t just the most efficient Civic you can buy—it’s now the most powerful and luxurious, aside from the ultra-sporty Civic Type R.
For 2025, the top two Civic trim levels—Sport Hybrid and Sport Touring Hybrid—are only available with Honda’s hybrid drivetrain, which pairs two electric motors with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder gas engine. The Civic’s optional turbo engine is gone for 2025, as is the six-speed manual transmission that was once available on some hatchback models. The less-equipped LX and Sport trims will only be available with a 2.0-liter gas engine, and there’s no LX hatchback.
- 2025 Honda Civic Hybrid: Outside Inside What Drives It Active Safety and Driver Assistance
The rest of the changes to the Civic lineup are relatively minor—the front and rear ends have gotten a slight makeover, there’s a new optional Google-based infotainment system, and new colors are also available. But the lack of drastic change isn’t a bad thing, as we’re big fans of the current Civic’s straightforward practicality.
Photo: Honda Photo: Honda
CR’s Take
The big news is that Honda is bringing back the Civic Hybrid. It fills the place of the lackluster Insight, which went away in 2022. Fuel economy isn’t quite as good as the Insight’s, which led the compact hybrid class at the time, but our exclusive mpg testing will show whether Honda’s estimate of “nearing 50 mpg” could beat the Corolla Hybrid’s 47 mpg EPA estimate. If the Civic’s hybrid setup operates anything like the superb Accord Hybrid, the Civic Hybrid should be a pleasure to drive. The Accord Hybrid has plenty of oomph, with very few concessions made for efficiency. In a smaller, lighter car, this powertrain has much promise.
We’re thankful Honda didn’t change much about the Civic’s interior, which we think is a shining example of elegant simplicity that other automakers should follow. It will, however, be interesting to check out the optional Google-powered infotainment system on the Sport Touring Hybrid, as we haven’t had great past experiences with Google systems from Polestar and GM.
Outside
Only Civic superfans will be able to spot the difference between 2024 and 2025 models. It’s still the same Civic, just with a slightly updated grille and taillights, and new paint and trim options. Both hatchback and sedan versions will continue to be available.
Photo: Honda Photo: Honda
Inside
Aside from some trim and fabric choices, the Civic’s interior appears unchanged for 2025. It retains straightforward knobs and buttons for climate and entertainment, and there’s still a traditional gear selector. Honeycomb-style vents once again span most of the dashboard. Honda says the Hybrid trims will be the quietest of the group.
For 2025, the Sport Hybrid gets a moonroof, heated front seats, and dual-zone climate control. The Sport Hybrid Touring adds leather seats, a premium sound system, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and a larger 9-inch touchscreen with built-in Google software, including Google Assistant and Google Maps. We haven’t seen the smaller touchscreen, but the Sport Hybrid Touring appears to only have a volume knob and no tuning knob.
We had some issues with Google’s built-in software on the Chevrolet Blazer EV and Polestar 2 we tested, so we’ll be interested to spend some time with the Civic to see if Honda did a better job integrating it.
Photo: Honda Photo: Honda
What Drives It
Honda hasn’t shared too many details about the Civic’s two available engine choices, but here’s what we do know: There’s no more turbo and no more manual transmission (except on the Type R and likely on the Si). The hybrid’s dual-motor hybrid system is good for 200 horsepower. On paper, that’s the same as the current Civic Si, although it’ll likely feel very different due to the blend of gas and electric power.
Honda expects fuel economy “nearing 50 mpg.” We don’t know how much power the non-hybrid LX and Sport trims’ 2.0-liter gas engine is good for or their estimated fuel economy, but we expect every non-hybrid Civic to get a continuously variable transmission (CVT).
The hybrid system is similar to the one found in the Accord Hybrid, which we think is one of the best out there thanks to its responsiveness and power. In a smaller car, it could be a real pleasure to drive. Hybrid drivers will also be able to select from among four levels of regenerative braking using steering wheel paddles. Every hybrid Civic will have a form of eCVT that we’ve found to do a good job mimicking a traditional automatic transmission in other Honda vehicles.
Active Safety and Driver Assistance
As with the 2024 models, all Civics get standard automatic emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian detection, lane departure warning (LDW), lane keeping assistance (LKA), and adaptive cruise control (ACC). The Sport, Sport Hybrid, and Sport Touring Hybrid models get blind spot warning (BSW) with rear cross traffic warning (RCTW).
