2025 Honda Civic Hybrid Sport Touring Sedan: Five Quick Thoughts
The 2025 Honda Civic’s mid-cycle refresh brings a whole new model to the table —a sporty hybrid— that now anchors the top end of the compact car’s lineup. Honda took a decade off from Civic hybrids and their return is a smart move that’s forehead-smackingly obvious. I tested the 2025 Honda Civic Hybrid Sport Touring Hybrid Sedan for a week. It’s easy on the eyes, sips fuel to the tune of up to 50 mpg and it’s quicker than the Civic Si. Here’s what I think.
1) Small Cars Can Be Great
Driving a small car like the Civic is a rewarding experience. The steering has a little weight, the chassis is tight but not abusive, and the driver’s position offers excellent visibility. The Civic sits comfortably low to the road. Not punishing (usually), but low enough that it underlines why driving a car with some sporting DNA is more fun than driving a compact crossover.
This is an enthusiast's position with which most consumers disagree. The CR-V outsold the Civic nearly two-to-one in October. The CR-V has outsold the Civic by more than 120,000 units this year, though the Civic remains Honda’s second-best-selling model.
2) Civic Interiors Have Come a Long Way
I like the interior quite a bit. My test car has gray leather seats with attractive black plastics and soft-touch materials with some lighter stitching. The layout is a mix of digital interfaces and handy knobs and buttons. The nine-inch iPad-like touchscreen anchors the cabin in the middle of the dash.
It’s set above a mesh overlay that bisects the panel and dresses things up. The center console is deep and usable, with a wireless phone charger in front of the shifter. For a Civic, the trunk is good-sized, and I tossed groceries, golf clubs, and other necessities of family life back there with plenty of room to spare.
3) The Understated Design is Spot-On
This Civic came in Blue Lagoon Pearl, a deep, brooding shade that stands in contrast to the Civic’s sometimes bright tuner vibe. Honda did a nice job of jazzing up the 2025 redesign, particularly with the new grille and fascia. With 18-inch wheels and a creased beltline, it almost has an Audi vibe.
4) The Case For Hybrids
The EPA rates the Civic Hybrid at 50 mpg in the city, 47 highway, and 49 combined. The two-motor hybrid setup teams with an Atkinson inline four-cylinder to produce a total output of 200 hp and 232 lb-ft of torque. All of that torque low in the band means the Civic Hybrid hits 60 mph in 6.2 seconds, quicker than the Si model, according to the buff books, and it feels that way in real-world driving.
5) The Downside of a Small Car
If you’re thinking small, the Civic is an excellent choice, especially for enthusiasts who want to actually drive their cars with energy. But, the Civic is still pretty small. It’s low to the ground. I hit a bump that would have been imperceptible in most crossovers and felt my teeth rattle. The backseat is a little tight for a car seat, though still offers reasonable space. None of this is a critique of the Civic.
Rather, compact crossovers, like Honda’s excellent CR-V, are far more functional and not much more money. Still, the Civic is a solid value that’s matured in design and efficiency. The question is: do you want a small car?
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Greg Migliore is AutoGuide's Editorial Director. He has covered the auto industry for two decades, most recently as editor-in-chief of Autoblog. He's also been an editor at Automobile and Autoweek. He's a graduate of Eastern Michigan University, Michigan State University and the Yale Publishing course. Greg is a member of the North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year Awards jury.
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We went w/ RAV4 (vs CR-V) hybrid because it has spare tire & didn't recommend premium gas.
Hatchbacks, or better station wagons, are much more practical than sedans. They're popular in other countries. Guess we may be getting there too as we're calling Subaru Crosstrek a crossover, hardly distinguishable from a station wagon.
That mesh overlay cheapens the dash. I drove an Accord with that same mesh. Several controls just stick out through holes cut in the mesh. Should have gone with a nice finished dash piece.