Honda’s new Civic hybrid hatch is expensive but enticing, so we’re running a long-term test to find out whether it’s really worth it
- Why would I consider buying a Honda Civic e:HEV hybrid?
- How much does the Honda Civic e:HEV hybrid cost?
- Does the Honda Civic e:HEV hybrid have a higher level of features?
- How safe is the Honda Civic e:HEV hybrid?
- What technology does the Honda Civic e:HEV hybrid feature?
- What powers the Honda Civic e:HEV hybrid?
- How fuel efficient is the Honda Civic e:HEV hybrid?
- Is the Honda Civic e:HEV hybrid reliable?
- What is the Honda Civic e:HEV hybrid like to drive?
- What is the Honda Civic e:HEV hybrid like inside?
- Should I buy a Honda Civic e:HEV hybrid?
We love cars that are enjoyable to drive, economical, practical, safe, clever and stylish. And who doesn’t? You can’t always have it all, but in the case of the new-generation Honda Civic e:HEV LX hybrid, the Japanese brand is trying hard. Maybe too hard, in fact, because if there’s something not to your liking – or the $55,000 asking price is simply too high – there’s no alternative model grade, no option other than to walk away. You have to put your trust in Honda that the return of hybrid power to Civic is worth such a big investment, and while it looks very good on the surface, we’re running a long-term test over an extended period, across a broad range of city and country driving conditions, to answer that question once and for all.
Why would I consider buying a Honda Civic e:HEV hybrid?
In Australia’s super-competitive auto landscape, Honda has moved away from being one of the top-selling brands and is now concentrating on cars with a premium edge.
It trades on elegance and sophistication, adopting a take-it-or-leave-it attitude where there’s only a high specification and a price to match, with no haggling and few, if any, items of equipment relegated to the options list.
As such, the latest-generation 2023 Honda Civic has narrowed its focus to only three models differentiated by powertrain and focus – normal internal combustion (VTi-LX), petrol-electric hybrid (e:HEV LX) and manic performance (Type R) – rather than multiple grades and trim levels that attract a broader spread of buyers with varying budgets.
Here, the initial outlay is high but you will be rewarded with a generous spread of features and undeniable excellence in other areas such as engineering and build quality.
We’ve already driven each of the three new Civic models at their respective national launch, following up with more in-depth testing of the VTi-LX at carsales’ Car of the Year 2022 – where it was roundly praised – and the Civic Type R in a comparison with the Toyota GR Corolla, where the new Honda hot hatch was a clear winner.
We’ve also run a separate review of the VTi-LX based on a week-long loan, but have now turned our attention back to the e:HEV hybrid for a longer-term examination over several weeks.
It’s this sort of test that shines a brutal white LED light on not only the latest Civic but Honda’s new identity in Australia.
You’ve got to buy into both, putting faith in the company’s direction, paying handsomely for the privilege and hoping it turns out to be a worthwhile investment in the long run.
How much does the Honda Civic e:HEV hybrid cost?
We’ll get to those long runs as we update this long-term review in the coming weeks, but let’s first take a look at where the 2023 Honda Civic e:HEV LX is positioned and why you’d want to make an investment of $55,000 drive-away in the first place.
That’s a big number for a small hatchback, however there are no other costs in getting the car on the road – including rubbery dealer delivery fees – and no major options, just a bunch of common accessories.
Keep in mind that you’re also buying into a premium specification, a pretty darn good hybrid powertrain and a brand reputation for quality in areas such as fit, finish and refinement – all of which we’ll be analysing carefully.
Ditto for the value we’d place on the overall driving experience.
The turbo-petrol Civic VTi-LX is more $7800 more affordable than the e:HEV at $47,200 drive-away, the white-hot Civic Type R in another league altogether at $72,600 d/a.
Rivals include the Toyota Corolla Hybrid, the Cupra Leon VZe and Peugeot 308 GT plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) and, perhaps, EVs such as Cupra Born, BYD Dolphin, MG4 and the bigger Tesla Model 3.
The e:HEV is covered by Honda’s five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty and has six-year rust perforation cover. There’s also five years’ worth of complimentary map updates and a Honda Connect subscription running for the same period, the latter tapping into Honda’s new telematics system that provides remote connectivity services.
The three exterior paint colour options are included in the drive-away price – the striking Premium Crystal Blue metallic of our review car, an equivalent metallic red and Platinum White pearlescent.
As far as accessories go, an ‘essentials pack’ for $819 bundles in the most popular items: mudguards, weather shields, carpet mats, heavy-duty cargo area tray and rear bumper and boot lip protectors – all worth $1020 if you buy them individually, according to Honda.
Service intervals are every 12 months or a relatively short 10,000km (whichever comes first). ‘Low Price Services’ are still in place for $199 over the first five workshop visits, but conditions apply and costs will soon mount if you love driving and breaking free of city limits, like we do.
Does the Honda Civic e:HEV hybrid have a higher level of features?
The circa-$8000 higher asking price for the 2023 Honda Civic e:HEV LX compared to the VTi-LX is realised in a variety of ways beyond simply the hybrid powertrain.
In fact, it’s almost as if Honda has moved to avoid criticism levelled at the VTi-LX by adding not only some big-ticket items but making a host of detail spec changes to improve the value equation of the e:HEV LX.
There’s the first application of the Honda Connect telematics system mentioned above, a Smart KeyCard, active noise control, panoramic sunroof, 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster, leather-appointed seats (as opposed to a leatherette/suede combo), power lumbar support for both the driver and front passenger seat, a new Individual driving mode and heating for the steering wheel that’s been on in our test car for several weeks in the depths of Victoria’s winter.
We should mention here that the front seat warmers have also been on – and stay on, in a sense, given that when you return to the car and start the ignition they’re back toasting again, whether you want them on (or if you have a passenger) or not.
Smaller, but welcome, equipment additions brought with the e:HEV LX over VTi-LX include a second rear USB port, auto up/down rear power windows (in addition to front), a 12V outlet in the cargo area, driver’s seatback pocket, a second coat hook and a slide extension on the front sun visors.
Important safety features have also been added, which we’ll explain below.
You can see the full rundown of Civic e:HEV equipment here, comparing alongside the VTi-LX features list here.
In essence, it’s a nice, long list but missing the odd feature here and there that we might have expected from such a new-age, premium-spec contender – a head-up display, ventilated and massaging front seats, driver’s position memory, electric tailgate and so on.
How safe is the Honda Civic e:HEV hybrid?
The extra safety features found on the 2023 Civic e:HEV LX that aren’t included on the VTi-LX – and should be, of course – are a centre front airbag, rear side airbags, traffic sign recognition and an intelligent speed limiter linked to the active cruise control system.
Front and rear parking sensors are now included, assisting the reversing camera (which covers three angles), but there’s no 360-degree surround-view camera system.
You also get bigger brakes that help compensate for the extra weight of the hybrid system on the Civic e:HEV, which has a 1497kg kerb weight (+128kg).
These additions fill out the standard safety package that also includes frontal, knee, side and head airbag protection for the driver and front passenger, and head protection for outboard rear occupants. All up, a reassuring 11 airbags are fitted around the cabin.
Advanced driver assist systems (ADAS) also extend to forward collision warning, a collision braking mitigation system, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, traffic jam assist, road departure mitigation, blind spot information, driver attention monitoring and automatic high beam.
As ever, the functionality of these systems is a key area of focus that we’ll discuss in later updates as we rack up the miles in the e:HEV.
There’s still no ANCAP safety rating for the new Honda Civic in Australia, but it has earned a maximum five-star result from the comparable European NCAP regime.
What technology does the Honda Civic e:HEV hybrid feature?
The headline new tech feature on the 2023 Honda Civic e:HEV LX is right in front of the driver: a 10.2-inch fully digital instrument display that presents a broad array of information and is configurable, with easy adjustment via tactile steering wheel controls.
This combines with a high-mounted 9.0-inch central touch-screen connecting with (wireless) Apple CarPlay, (wired) Android Auto, Bluetooth, DAB digital radio, AM/FM bands and native satellite navigation with over-the-air map and system updates (free for the first five years).
A wireless charging pad is provided, next to two USB ports and a 12V outlet. Another two USB slots are found in the rear seat area and a second 12V outlet in the cargo hold.
A Bose premium sound system is piped through 12 speakers including subwoofer, with volume adjusted based on vehicle speed (aka Bose Dynamic Speed Compensation).
The Honda Connect telematics system debuting with the e:HEV allows owners to connect with the car remotely to control door locks, climate (pre-heating/cooling) and lights (helping locate at night), as well as to monitor battery voltage and access information like trip history, fuel range, etc.
It includes automatic collision detection, sending an alert to Honda’s customer service centre if an airbag is deployed, and an emergency call button. You’ll also be notified when malfunctions are detected, if the car appears to have been stolen (geofence alert) or is being driven faster than your pre-set limit (speed alert), but if it’s a family member we guess it’ll be up to you to sort things out…
What powers the Honda Civic e:HEV hybrid?
There’s hasn’t been a Civic hybrid available in Honda showrooms since 2015 (when it was priced at $33,990 plus on-road costs), so the 2023 Honda Civic e:HEV marks a welcome return for petrol-electric power in the small car – albeit with a much higher $55K price tag.
And there is certainly more power on offer than the previous 82kW/172Nm 1.5-litre powertrain, nearly twice as much in fact, with the e:HEV producing 135kW/315Nm – a combination of its 105kW/186Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder direct-injection petrol engine, two electric motors and a small 1kWh lithium-ion battery.
Peak power is produced from 5000-6000rpm, torque from 0-2000rpm.
The e:HEV drives the front wheels in conjunction with an electric continuously variable transmission (dubbed eCVT), which has a drive-by-wire mechanism that allows for a clean button-controlled selector on the centre console rather than a bigger lever as found in the VTi-LX.
The hybrid system is clever one, automatically shifting between full-electric, hybrid and pure engine drive at a range of speeds and driving conditions. It will often run as EV around the city, but doesn’t simply give up on providing electric assist at higher speeds.
That improves acceleration and response, such as when executing a quick overtake or pressing on, while keeping a lid on consumption too.
The e:HEV can accelerate from 0-100km/h in a claimed 7.8 seconds, based on the lightest model sold in Europe at 1517kg; the Aussie-market hybrid (for which there is no official performance claim) is slightly lighter at 1497kg, despite the high spec. Top speed is listed at 180km/h.
If you’re weighing up the e:HEV LX against the VTi-LX, the non-electrified Civic uses a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder churning out 131kW at 6000rpm and 240Nm from 1700-4500rpm. It tips the scales at 1369kg and runs from 0-100km/h in a claimed 7.5sec.
How fuel efficient is the Honda Civic e:HEV hybrid?
Economy is a key selling point of the 2023 Honda Civic e:HEV and one we’ll be monitoring closely over our long-term test.
The official claims, based on lab (rather than road) testing, put the combined-cycle consumption figure at 4.2L/100km. This drops to 3.2L/100km on the urban cycle but climbs to 4.9L/100km on the extra-urban (highway) cycle.
That low city mileage comes from the Civic hybrid’s ability to run in EV mode for extended periods, while driving on the highway at a constant speed will see the system rely exclusively on the petrol engine drive.
Our first 500km has returned 5.1L/100km, with mostly open-road driving and only short stints in the city.
The fuel tank in the e:HEV holds 40 litres, compared to 47L in the turbo-petrol VTi-LX, although you’re naturally consuming more with the pure combustion engine (6.3L/100km combined, 8.0L urban, 5.4L extra-urban).
Is the Honda Civic e:HEV hybrid reliable?
Some early teething problems with the 2023 Honda Civic e:HEV LX has seen it called back to dealerships for an electronic control unit (ECU) software update, free of charge.
A recall notice was issued in May 2023 after it was found that the ECU can be reset when the Civic hybrid switches to electric drive.
This will erase stored vehicle fault codes and turn off the ‘check engine’ warning light if it’s activated, which isn’t good if there’s a problem – for you as the driver, but also for Honda service personnel if the failure codes are erased and the issue can’t be accurately diagnosed.
One of Honda’s genuine accessory options on the new Civic – tinting applied to the front door windows – has also prompted a recall from the regulatory authorities for being too dark and reducing visibility.
What is the Honda Civic e:HEV hybrid like to drive?
We’ll go into more detail in future updates on what it’s like to live with the 2023 Honda Civic e:HEV LX over an extended period, battling city traffic and taking long tours, but early drive impressions support our positive review from the hybrid’s launch in December last year.
Key specs for this hybrid version of the 11th-generation Honda Civic include the use of a MacPherson strut front and a multi-link rear suspension, dual-pinion ‘motion adaptive’ electric power steering and 293/282mm front/rear disc brakes (+11/22mm on e:HEV compared to VTi-LX). The turning circle is 11.4m.
There are four drive modes in the e:HEV – Eco, Normal, Sport and Individual, the latter unique to the hybrid and allowing the driver to choose from the first three for powertrain characteristics, and between Normal and Sport for steering feel and instrumental panel display.
What is the Honda Civic e:HEV hybrid like inside?
A high equipment list usually translates to an appealing cabin environment, but the beauty of a long-term test is what you’re left with when the wow factor wears off.
As we’ve mentioned already, the 2023 Civic e:HEV LX has some niggling equipment omissions and excessive seat heating that will melt your tub of ice-cream if you plonk it on the front passenger’s seat without reaching over to turn the system off.
We’ll dive into everyday functionality and practicality with our updates, but can report that the build quality is excellent and the cabin pretty classy overall.
It’s not super-roomy, but a cosseting space for four adult occupants (not having tried to fit three across the rear bench) that have drawn no complaints so far.
The hybrid drive system reduces boot space, leaving 409 litres with the rear seats upright compared to 449L in the turbo-petrol Civic VTi-LX. Honda says that’s all to do with underfloor storage, with 5L in the e:HEV compared to 45L in the VTi-LX (leaving 404L above the floor on both), while capacity extends to 814L for both models with the 60/40-split rear seats folded.
That’s based on loading up to the window line; Honda reckons there’s 1187L available if you want to cram stuff in up to the roof with the seats down.
There is no room allocated for a spare wheel in either the hybrid or the non-hybrid. Just a tyre repair kit (compressor and sealant).
Should I buy a Honda Civic e:HEV hybrid?
On the face of it, the 2023 Honda Civic e:HEV LX is an enticing proposition if you’re in the market for a stylish, sporty, comfortable, economical premium small car.
But we’re not delivering the verdict just yet.
We have many more miles to travel, passengers to load in, numbers to crunch and time to reflect on whether the new Civic hybrid is really worth it.
2023 Honda Civic e:HEV LX at a glance:
Price: $55,000 (drive-away)
Available: Now
Powertrain: 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol-electric
Combined output: 135kW/315Nm
Transmission: Continuously variable automatic
Fuel: 4.2L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 96g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star (Euro NCAP 2022)
Keyword: Honda Civic e:HEV LX Hybrid 2023 Long-Term Review