Honda Civic e:HEV (2022 - )

The Honda Civic is celebrating its 50th birthday this year and the Japanese carmaker has launched a new 11th generation version to mark the occasion in style.

The five-door hatchback is available in hybrid format only called e:HEV with all pure petrol and diesel versions removed from the line-up. Customers can choose from three well-equipped trim levels called Elegance, Sport and Advance.

All models are powered by a new 2.0-litre petrol engine and two electric motors with full-time hybrid assistance. It is more powerful than the outgoing 1.5-litre petrol unit, cleaner than the 1.6-litre diesel option and more efficient than the 1.0-litre petrol unit. So, it seems it is win, win all round with this new Civic.

The MK 11 Honda Civic e:HEV is 31mm longer, 20mm lower and has a wheelbase that has grown by 35mm compared to its predecessor. That translates into a sportier appearance with more dynamic lines.

The front is sharper looking with a mesh pattern in the upper grille and sweeping Matrix headlights. It has a more exaggerated sloping roofline, tinted windows and 18 or 19-inch alloys depending on trim.

The interior is modern and clutter-free but remains driver focused with physical controls for the air con settings. Our high-end Advance model featured a clear infotainment screen on top of the dash, along with a 12-speaker Bose sound system, glass panoramic roof, plus heated seats and steering wheel to fend off the winter chill.

There’s smartphone connectivity via Apple CarPlay or Android Auto along with wireless charging, a DAB radio, sat nav, Bluetooth and a 10.2-inch driver display screen offering all the vital data. 

The synthetic leather seats were power-adjustable and very comfy and all the tech is very easy to operate on the fly with a convenient finger rest for the touchscreen. The horizontal mesh stretching the width of the dash looks amazing and conceals the air vents.

We tested the Honda Civic e:HEV in range-topping Advance trim. With just one 2.0-litre hybrid powertrain, it could sprint from 0-62mph in 8.1 seconds and topped out at 112mph.
The acceleration out the starting blocks is sharp and similar to a pure EV with instant torque and this car is nicely balanced on the open road tackling tighter bends with confidence.
It’s a cruiser at 70mph on motorways, although there was a little road surface noise. But that’s where the Bose sound system comes into its own.
The steering is well weighted and there are drive modes called Eco, Normal, Sport and Individual to alter the handling. To be honest, Comfort is the best and most refined setting as switching to Sport just seems to get much louder.
The car automatically selects between EV, Hybrid, Engine and Regenerative modes for the best performance and efficiency. And a revised chassis results in improved ride quality.
Steering wheel paddles can be used to alter the strength of the regenerative braking, but these default back to the lowest setting as soon as you touch the accelerator again. This means there is no chance of single pedal driving in busier stop, start traffic.

Getting a comfortable driving position inside the new Civic is easy with powered front seats and full steering wheel adjustment. Regular Civic fans will notice it is lower to get in and out of, but that’s a fair sacrifice to make for the more athletic styling.
There is room in the back for a couple of adults to sit comfortably, although taller passengers may notice their hair brushing the headlining. It is ideal for three youngsters though and they have USB-C ports to plug in devices on the move.
The new car stretches 4,551mm in length, is 1,802mm wide and 1,408mm tall with a practically-sized boot that can be accessed via a wide tailgate. It can swallow 409 litres of goodies, a limit that is increased to 1,187 litres with the 60:40 split-folding rear seats dropped flat.
Elsewhere, there is a glovebox, front and rear cup holders (the rear central armrest does drop with quite a force so watch those children’s fingers), door bins, a central cubby box, sunglasses compartment and seat back pockets.
The all-round driver visibility is good but not great. That’s because the B-pillar is positioned quite a way back and obscures the over-the-shoulder visibility a little.

The Honda Civic line-up costs £29,595 for the Elegance, £30,595 for Sport and £32,995 for Advance, as tested. It’s worth mentioning that all models are kitted out with Honda’s impressive Sensing suite of safety systems and driver assistance aids.
When it comes to the day-to-day running costs, the petrol-hybrid engine can deliver a combined 56.5mpg (under WLTP testing) with carbon emissions of 114g/km.
This CO2 output would result in a first year Vehicle Excise Duty fee of £170 dropping to the standard hybrid charge of £155 after 12 months.
The Benefit in Kind tax rating for any business drivers is 27 per cent and Honda is offering some attractive finance deals with payments starting from as low as £360 per month. 
The Honda Civic e:HEV Advance sits in insurance group 28.

If you examine every department, the new Honda Civic 11th generation has improved. It looks far more appealing with a stronger physical presence. The interior has moved from bland to modern/chic. The technology is no longer clunky and the driving dynamics will appeal to a wider audience. Can’t wait to see what generation 12 brings.