Honda Civic review – a great EV alternative

Verdict – is the Honda Civic a good car?

The Honda Civic is one of the best family hatchbacks you can buy right now, and it’s certainly the best hybrid model in its class. It even beat the fantastic Toyota Corolla and Kia Ceed in a recent group test. The Civic is only available as a hybrid petrol, but you don’t need to plug in to achieve excellent fuel economy. It’s good to drive, practical and has all the modern equipment you need too. The only drawbacks here are its rear headroom and slightly firm low-speed ride, but the Civic does enough to secure our Best Hybrid award for 2024.

Honda Civic models, specs and alternatives

The Honda Civic has been a staple family car in the UK for decades and was even built here – in Swindon – for many years. However, that has come to an end but even though this latest model is no longer made in Britain it’s a brilliant family car and the best full hybrid model in its class.

There aren’t a huge number of full hybrids, where there’s no plug, as most manufacturers have invested more into plug-in hybrid tech (PHEV) for their cars. The Toyota Corolla is its main rival as a result – neither it nor the Honda need to be plugged in. The new Civic uses a 1.05kWh battery and a 2.0-litre petrol engine that, along with regenerative braking, keeps the battery charged. While the engine can drive the wheels when you need strong acceleration, most of the time it’s disengaged and only the electric motor is powering you along.

Top 10 best hybrid family cars 2024

This is because it uses a clever transmission (called eCVT) that seamlessly transitions to petrol power from full-EV mode. It’s all very smooth and easy to drive, you don’t need to do anything different to any other automatic car. The set-up provides 181bhp and acceleration from 0-62mph takes just 7.9 seconds. There is also a high-performance model called the Civic Type R, but we’re not focusing on that model in this review, just the hybrid.

While hybrids don’t have the best reputation for thrills, the Civic is good to drive, yet it’s also comfortable and can achieve over 56mpg, making it a great all-rounder. Weight-saving materials mean that the smart-looking new body shape isn’t too heavy, which helps with efficiency and handling.

The interior is a massive step on from the previous-generation Civic, which was sturdy but unintuitive, and lacking in charm or upmarket appeal. The new Civic matches – and in some areas surpasses – the Volkswagen Golf, with more intuitive controls, a clean and modern-looking design, and improved infotainment. 

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Honda offers the Civic in three trim levels: Elegance, Sport and Advance. Elegance trim is well equipped with features such as heated front seats and a nine-inch infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as well as adaptive cruise control. Going for Sport adds some dark exterior trim for a mildly racier look, plus wireless smartphone charging. Meanwhile, Advance gets a panoramic roof, heated leather steering wheel and a 10.2-inch digital driver’s display in place of the traditional dials – it’s almost strange for the latter to be solely on the highest trim these days when so many cars get digital dials as standard.

The Honda Civic is a striking alternative for those not ready to switch to an EV just yet, and it’s one of the best hybrid hatchbacks on the market. A full five-star Euro NCAP result only furthers the Civic’s appeal. Quality has improved, and as well as being cheap to run at a time of soaring bills, it’s also rather fun to drive. Read on to find out more about the Civic in each key area.

Honda Civic alternatives

Hybrid family cars

• Toyota Corolla
• Vauxhall Astra GSe
• Volkswagen Golf GTE
• Peugeot 308 Hybrid

Petrol family cars

• Ford Focus
• Kia Ceed
• Skoda Octavia

Electric family cars

• Volkswagen ID.3
• Kia Niro EV
• Renault Megane E-Tech
• Nissan Leaf