Review: Honda Civic e: HEV

The Honda Civic e: HEV has long been a top choice for families—provided you’re in the market for a five-door hatchback, which is now the only body style available.

It is powered by a two-motor e: HEV hybrid system, which provides good performance and excellent fuel economy.

As a full-hybrid, the Civic requires no plug-in charging and can return around 56 mpg, translating to roughly 521 miles on a full tank.

It can run briefly on electric power alone before the petrol engine kicks in, ensuring a quiet and smooth getaway. The e-CVT gearbox is seamless, handling everything from relaxed cruising to aggressive acceleration with ease.

The Civic has a storied history, first launched in 1972, and the current 11th generation debuted in 2022. In late August 2025, it received a cosmetic refresh, featuring updated interior styling and subtle exterior tweaks—without any changes to the powertrain or transmission.

The most noticeable updates include blacked-out front grilles for a sportier look and a slightly revised front bumper. Inside, it’s largely familiar, with the addition of black roof pillars and touches of chrome around the vents for added flair.

There’s nothing particularly quirky about the Civic’s interior. It’s smart and functional and easy to like.

Honda has also made some premium features, previously exclusive to the top-tier Advance trim, available on lower trims such as Elegance and Sport. These include a heated steering wheel, larger driver display, an auto-dim feature on the rear-view mirror, and wireless charging in the centre console.

All trims are generously equipped with a long list of standard features, including passive and active safety technologies like a speed limiter, collision warning, lane-keeping assist, and traffic sign recognition.

Indeed, Honda claims it is one of the most comprehensive safety systems in its class, and who are we to argue?

Parking sensors and a rear-view camera come as standard, alongside air conditioning, adaptive cruise control, and electric lumbar support for the driver.

The Advance trim adds eight-way driver adjustment and four-way passenger adjustment, as well as a heated steering wheel. All models feature heated front seats.

The multi-info display measures 7in in the lower trims, with a 10.2in upgrade on the Advance. Every trim comes with a 9in touchscreen featuring Honda Connect, navigation, smartphone mirroring, Bluetooth, and wireless charging in the upper trims.

The interface is responsive and easy to navigate, with sufficient physical buttons to maintain safety and practicality while driving.

Ride quality is comfortable, even on the 18-inch wheels of our Advance test car, and the seats are comfortable - even for extended periods of time.

One standout feature is the powerful LED headlights, which are automatic on the Advance and adjust between high and low beams as conditions dictate.

Thanks to improvements in LED technology introduced in the 2025 refresh, fog lights have been removed across all trims to further streamline the front design.

Honda Civic e: HEV

Price: £39,395

Engine: Two-litre full hybrid

Power: 181bhp

Torque: 232lb/ft

Transmission: e-CVT

Top speed: 112mph

0-62mph: 8.1 seconds

Economy: 56.5mpg

CO 2 emissions:114g/km