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Truly a top thing

No, there were no cash bills hidden under the seat or in the glove box of this test car. And no, Honda did not digitally transfer euros either. This is a completely journalistic announcement, based on an extensive frame of reference: the new Honda Civic e:HEV Hybrid manages to amaze. It is sincerely a top-notch thing. But why? Of course, we are going to explain that in detail in this Honda Civic e:HEV review.

Eleventh-generation Honda Civic

In 2022, the Honda Civic will celebrate its 50th anniversary. Worldwide, more than 27.5 million units of the Civic have been sold in 170 countries since the launch of the first Civic in 1972. The Honda you see here in the photos concerns the eleventh-generation Civic. The car takes big steps forward on all fronts, not only in terms of driving but also when it comes to the powertrain: Honda delivers the regular version of the Civic exclusively as a hybrid with Honda’s self-charging twin-engine e:HEV (hybrid electric vehicle) powertrain technology.

Hybrid powertrain with 184 hp

That powertrain emphasizes sportiness for a change. Charging is not necessary, as this is a conventional hybrid where an electric motor supports the gasoline engine. Honda is installing a 2.0 Hybrid eCVT powertrain. The i-MMD four-cylinder gasoline engine is good for 143 hp at 6,000 rpm and 186 Nm at 4,500 rpm. Not very impressive, but in conjunction with the electric motor it still creates a punchy system output, namely 184 hp and a whopping 315 Nm of torque. That results in a top speed of 180 km/h and a 0-100 time of 7.9 seconds. Sensationally, the Honda is faster. Especially the intermediate accelerations are very smooth.

Can the Honda Civic Hybrid drive electric?

The Honda Civic e:HEV’s lithium-ion battery has a capacity of 1.05 kWh, consists of 72 cells and weighs 36.4 kilograms. This battery stores energy generated by the gasoline engine during driving, as well as recovered energy during braking and coasting of the car. Flippers behind the wheel allow you to control the intensity of energy recovery in four stages. Anyone who drives a little smart, therefore, lets the car brake on the electric motor to recover as much energy as possible. The car can drive very short distances electrically. This happens more often in the city than on the highway because in city traffic you slow down more often.

Honda Civic Hybrid 2023 steers wonderfully! – REVIEW – AutoRAI TV

Riding modes

The Honda Civic e:HEV’s hybrid powertrain has four driving modes: Normal, Sport, Econ and Individual. Each driving mode affects the throttle response and alertness of the power unit. In Sport mode, the engine sound is emphasized through the speakers. Didn’t need to be, because of no real added value. In Individual driving mode, the driver can adjust things like steering heaviness and throttle response to his or her liking. In Normal mode, Honda chooses the optimal balance between economy and sportiness. So chances are that in practice you will almost always drive in this driving mode.

Fuel Consumption Honda Civic

By the way, Honda cites a range of 840 kilometers for the Civic e:HEV Hybrid, but that may be a bit of an exaggeration. Thick 700 kilometers should be possible with a 40-liter fuel tank. On paper, the Honda notes average fuel consumption of 4.7 to 5.0 liters per 100 kilometers, depending on version. In practice, we note an average of 5.5 l/100 km. But that includes some sportier driving, as the Honda invites you to have a good time steering.

Nijmegen Marches

This is due to a simply fantastic steering system. Very communicative, a fine heaviness, not nervous around mid-range but a nice balance between comfort and sportiness. You enjoy nice feedback and the steering wheel is also comfortable to hold. The new Honda Civic makes you feel like you just bought new shoes, but that running in is completely unnecessary. It feels good right away, as if you have walked three editions of the Nijmegen Four Days Marches with the new footwear already. There is immediate trust.

Very low seating position possible

Thanks to a driver’s seat that can be placed extremely low in the car and good adjustability of the steering column, you can find a very pleasant seating position. Feelingly, the steering wheel could be pulled just a little further toward you. Then it’s perfect. Incidentally, the seats are not very special and may lack some lateral support, but for a change, the seats are nice and long, giving your upper legs plenty of support.

Great steering

The new Honda Civic also impresses with its chassis. Firm, yet supple enough to nicely brush away short bumps in the road surface. Both on the highway and on country roads, it is a fine companion. You can place the car very well. Of a pot of steering this Honda is not averse. In fact, you almost start to wonder how well the new Civic Type R must handle, since the normal Civic already sets the bar pretty high.

Best wide tires and towing weight

Honda supplies the Civic Hybrid with 215/50 R17 tires as standard, but the Sport and Advance have rubber in size 235/40 ZR18. So relatively wide tires. You notice this especially during steering, because the amount of grip is enormous, even with damp road surfaces. The weight of the C-segment five-door hatchback is 1,443 kilograms for the Elegance and rises to 1,500 kilograms for the Advance. Given the hybrid system, that’s still pretty okay. Fortunately, Honda adequately masks this weight through proper suspension tuning. For completeness, every Honda Civic e:HEV Hybrid has a braked towing weight of 750 kilograms with a maximum drawbar load of 75 kilograms.

How spacious is this car?

So what about the space on board? The 4,551 mm long, 1,802 mm wide and 1,408 mm high Honda Civic has a wheelbase of 2,734 mm. That wheelbase gives you plenty of room in the back. Even as an adult, you can sit there for a while just fine. The rear seat is divisible in a 60/40 ratio. The luggage space of the eleventh-generation Honda Civic is 410 liters, but those who fold down the rear seatback have 1,220 liters at their disposal. Enough for weekly shopping or and with some creative layout also a family car vacation.

Interior Honda Civic 2023

Honda did not forget about the Civic’s interior. In fact, this is the finest Civic interior yet. Beautiful and original in design and also ergonomically sound. Fine: physical buttons for climate control, even the rotary knobs give a high-quality click with every movement. It feels premium. Starting with version Sport, you also have a wireless phone charger.

Honda Connect infotainment system

The 9-inch Honda Connect infotainment system with Android Auto and wireless Apple CarPlay is standard. The system starts up quickly, responds smoothly to touches and, with a little practice, is also quick to operate. Available for the first time in a Civic is a 10.2-inch fully digital instrument panel that offers a range of customizable displays. This Honda is without a doubt a car of today.

Versions Honda Civic Hybrid

There are three trims to choose from: Elegance (standard), Sport and the Advance. The Elegance starts at 35,680 euros, the Sport costs 37,390 euros and the Advance has a price tag of 41,055 euros. This makes the Honda by no means the cheapest, but even from the Elegance on, this Japanese is already very rich in the stuff. All safety options also come standard, including Honda Connect with navigation.

Elegance

For completeness, we also briefly mention the equipment for each version. The Elegance features 17-inch alloy wheels, front and rear parking sensors and a rearview camera, a 7-inch multi-information display, eight speakers and Honda Sensing. Under the latter, Honda bundles safety technologies such as a lane assistant, traffic jam assistant and adaptive cruise control.

Sports

The price for the Sport version has additional half-leather upholstery for the seats, sport pedals, LED fog lights and mirrors in gloss black to contrast with the black matte finish around the windows and 18-inch black alloy wheels.

Advance

The top version is called Advance. This variant has a Bose centerpoint audio system with 12 speakers. The Advance trim also has a panoramic sunroof, Adaptive Driving Beam (ADB) headlights and an upgraded 10.2-inch multi-information display. Other features include 18-inch alloy wheels, leather-trimmed seats and a heated steering wheel.

Colors

Honda will deliver the new Civic in five colors, namely Platinum White Pearl, Crystal Black Pearl, Sonic Grey Pearl, Premium Crystal Red Metallic or Premium Crystal Blue Metallic. The blue is also really bright blue, as it should be. After all, the new Civic may be seen. Compared to the previous generation, it looks more subdued, but is anything but boring. There is simply a very dynamic-looking C-segmenter here.

Conclusion review Honda Civic Hybrid

Well, the message was already clear at the beginning of this Honda Civic e:HEV Hybrid review: this is genuinely a very well-driving and well-thought-out car. Not cheap, but richly equipped. In the C-segment definitely one of the better driving if not the best driving car. If so, the new Honda Civic Type R has yet to appear in early 2023. That one gets 330 hp and 420 Nm, an even sharper suspension and improved steering. Honda is already throwing bullseye with this hybrid Civic. It is possible that the new Civic Type R will involve One Hundred and Eighty celebrations. We are going to enjoy experiencing that.