Typically, the news that an automaker has just announced a new hybrid version of a compact sedan isn’t all that exciting. For example, when Honda announced the new Insight, we did write about it, but we didn’t exactly have much to say. With the Insight dead again, though, Honda needed something to replace it — the 2025 Honda Civic Hybrid. This time around, though, the Civic Hybrid has power on par with what you get from the Civic Si, which definitely makes things a lot more interesting.
The new Civic Hybrid comes as a sedan or hatchback and uses a two-motor hybrid powertrain that makes 200 horsepower and 238 pound-feet of torque. For comparison, the Honda Civic Si also makes 200 hp but is only good for 192 lb-ft of torque. Meanwhile, the old Honda Insight made 151 hp and 197 lb-ft of torque. So we’ll be getting a car that’s much more powerful than the one it replaces, as well as one that’s matched with the Civic Si on power and buries its torque rating.
Sadly, Honda has yet to announce acceleration or lap times, so there’s no telling how the power figures are going to translate into real-world driving feel, but Honda promises the Civic Hybrid will offer “quick, effortless acceleration while receiving outstanding EPA fuel economy ratings.” It also claims that “[to] further amplify Civic’s legendary fun-to-drive spirit and class-leading ride comfort, the ride and handling dynamics of Civic hybrid have been optimized with unique spring and damper tuning, and a specifically-developed tire.”
So there might actually be more Si in the Civic Hybrid than you initially imagined even though we’re not exactly holding out hope that it will be a true Civic Si killer. Instead, those performance figures seem to be aimed squarely at taking on the Toyota Prius. In base form, it only makes 194 hp and 139 lb-ft of torque, but if you spring for the Prius Prime, you get 220 hp. By offering so much more torque, it appears Honda is hoping to siphon some of those Prius sales in its direction with a sportier, quicker-feeling hybrid.
One area where Toyota may still have the advantage, though, is fuel economy. Honda hasn’t announced exact figures just yet, but it says it expects the EPA to give it a combined rating of nearly 50 mpg. That’s about in line with the 49 mpg combined that the EPA gave the all-wheel-drive Prius XLE and LTD trims, but the most efficient Prius is rated at 57 mpg combined. Then again, if you’re already averaging about 50 mpg, would you really be willing to give up about 100 lb-ft of torque to eke out an extra eight miles per gallon? We certainly wouldn’t, even if we still find the Prius more attractive.
The entire Civic lineup has also been refreshed, offering slightly updated styling that includes darker tail lights, as well as “a distinct body colored headlamp garnish.” There are also now four new colors called Solar Silver Metallic, Urban Gray Pearl, Blue Lagoon Pearl and and Sand Dune Pearl. You get Google built-in, too, so you won’t feel deprived of Google connectivity while you’re driving.
Honda has yet to reveal pricing for the Honda Civic Hybrid’s two trim levels, but we shouldn’t have to wait long for that to be announced. According to Honda, the sedan will go on sale next month, with the hatchback hitting dealers later this summer. When the 2025 Civic Hybrid begins rolling off the production line, though, Honda expects it to be pretty popular, accounting for about 40 percent of all Civic sales going forward.
