2027 Honda Civic Hybrid Gains Prelude's S+ ShiftHondaIt may have started with the Prelude, but now the 2027 Honda Civic Hybrid is gaining Honda's trick S+ Shift system to make driving that little bit more exciting.Honda teased this update before, but as of Thursday, we have the official details: The 2027 Civic Hybrid in Sport Touring trim—both sedan and hatchback body styles—will have S+ Shift. The system functions just the same as it does in the Prelude: Tap the S+ Shift button in the cabin, and the car will begin to simulate a geared, shift-able transmission. You can tap the paddles to swap through "gears," while the car supplies virtual rev-matching and pumps in "enhanced engine sounds" to the cabin. (Those are the Cliffs Notes, but the long version is much more interesting; you can check out our S+ Shift deep dive here.)HondaThe only downside here is that you need to step up to the Sport Touring Hybrid to get S+ Shift. If you opt for the standard Sport Hybrid, S+ Shift is left off the table. That makes the cheapest Civic with S+ Shift $33,990 in sedan form or $35,190 in hatchback shape.HondaIn addition to the Hybrid shifting news, the 2027 Civic is gaining a new Sport-L trim. It's now the highest and most luxurious version of the non-hybrid Civics, coming in above both the LX and Sport. The whole equipment list essentially pulls from the more expensive Hybrid trims: you get leather upholstery, heated and power-adjustable front seats, dual-zone climate control, illuminated vanity mirrors, a passenger-side seatback pocket, and silver-colored interior trim. The price for the Sport-L creeps up to $29,790 for the sedan or $30,990 for the hatch.The new Sport-L trimHondaThis makes it dangerously close to the Sport Hybrid, the entry-level Hybrid model you can have for just $1200 more in either body style. That said, the Sport-L has features you can't get in the base Hybrid, so you'll need to decide whether the more powerful and efficient hybrid powertrain is worth it versus the added premium features of the -L.Honda says 2027 Civics are hitting dealerships soon, but we'll need to wait for the end of the year before the Sport-L finds its way onto lots.HondaIf You Can Only Own One Car, Make It One of TheseThese Are the Most Popular Cars by State