It seems like just a few months ago that I was one of the first folks in the country to get behind the wheel of the all-new Honda Civic on Highway One near Half Moon Bay, California.
Actually, it was three years ago, and at Honda, that means it's time for a refresh of the Civic, a car so well-designed, so well-sorted, it's hard to imagine what they could do to improve it.
Whether or not the new, more aggressive nose counts as an improvement will likely be a topic of discussion. I think it works better in person than in photographs.
The tail lamps are also a darker shade, and there are four new paint shades (including ours, Urban Gray Pearl, which is an extra-cost option).
The biggest news for the 2025 Honda Civic is under the hood. Gasoline-powered Civics get a new two-liter Atkinson Cycle four-cylinder engine with 150 horsepower and a continuously variable transmission. That's eight fewer horsepower than last year, but Honda claims it is more refined. I'll let you know when I drive it. The EPA says it is good for one more mile per gallon than last year's engine...32 mpg city/41 mpg highway.
Why did I say "gasoline-powered Civics"?
Because, for the first time in a decade, there's a Honda Civic Hybrid. And it offers power and fuel economy. With 200 horsepower and 232 lb-ft of torque, the 2025 Honda Civic Hybrid is the most powerful Civic ever that isn't a Civic Type R.
That torque number is key to that claim---the previous-generation Civic Si also had 200 horsepower---but only 192 lb-ft of torque. And that torque makes a difference. The 2025 Civic Hybrid weighs 288 pounds more than a '24 Civic Si, but Car and Driver says it's quicker to 60 by 4/10ths of a second (6.2 vs. 6.6).
The engineers didn't stop there. The Civic Hybrid gets unique spring and damper tuning and a specially-developed tire. All Civic Hybrids get active noise control and top-of-the-line Sport Touring models get wheel resonators. Honda says the hybrids have the lowest noise, vibration and harshness levels in the entire Civic lineup.
The EPA fuel economy estimate for the 2025 Honda Civic Hybrid is 50 mpg city/47 highway.
Frankly, it's hard to see who'd choose the gasoline-powered Civic with 50 fewer horsepower that only gets 32 mpg in the city and 41 on the highway, according to the EPA. Yeah, there's a $4,500 price difference between the base gasoline Civic LX and the entry-level Civic Hybrid Sport, but that gets watered down by gasoline savings over the period of ownership.
Because it's a refresh and the not a redesign, the trunk and rear seat measurements remain the same---14.8 cubic feet for the trunk, 37.1 inches of rear headroom and 37.4 inches of rear legroom. The hybrid battery and associated electronics are concealed beneath the rear seat.
There's a subtle refresh in the cabin, too---Honda has made its Honda Sensing active-safety suite standard on all Civics, and increased visibility for bikes and motorcycles with pedestrian detection.
Civic Hybrids in three of the seven available exterior colors (Meteorite Gray Metallic, Blue Lagoon Pearl and Platinum White Pearl) also have a choice of a gray interior in addition to the standard black.
Honda wisely left the interior of the Civic (one of my favorites) alone, other than updating the USB ports to the smaller, faster USB-C. Top-of-the-line Civic Hybrid Sport Touring models like our tester are also equipped with Google built-in, which includes apps like Google Assistant, Google Maps and more on Google Play for a helpful, personalized and connected driving experience with a complimentary 3-year unlimited data plan.
The base price of the 2025 Honda Civic Hybrid Sport Touring is $31,750. With destination charge, it's $32,845.
That comes with a long list of standard features in addition to what I've already mentioned---electric parking brake with automatic brake hold, push button start, a security sysem, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, hill start assist, remote engine start, cruise control, one-touch turn indicators, a tilt/telescoping steering column, automatic-dimming rearview mirror, variable intermittent windshield wipers, a nine-inch color touchscreen, 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster, a Bose premium sound system with 12 speakers and subwoofer, Bluetooth HandsFreeLink and Bluetooth Streaming Audio, HondaLink, Wireless Apple CarPlay and Wireless Android Auto, HD Radio, navigation with voice recognition and real-time traffic, a wireless phone charger, leather-trimmed seats, driver's seat with eight-way power adjustment (four-way power adjustment for the passenger seat), dual-zone automatic climate system, power windows and locks, center console with sliding armrest and storage compartment, sliding sunvisors, map lights, floor mats, cargo area light, illuminates steering wheel-mounted controls, rear seat center armrest with cupholders, sport pedals, a black headliner, passenger-side seatback pocket, sunglass holder, LED auto on/of headlights, daytime running lights, brake, side marker and taillights, one-touch power moonroof with tilt feature, power heated side mirrors with black covers and integrated LED turn signals, an acoustic windshield, smart entry with walk-away locking and a capless fuel filler.
Our test car had just one extra-cost option, the Urban Gray Pearl paint ($455), so the bottom line on the window sticker reads $33,300.
At that price, with that powerplant, that fuel economy and that list of standard features, the 2025 Honda Civic Hybrid Sport Touring is likely to join its siblings the CR-V Hybrid and the Accord Hybrid on smart drivers' short lists.
