This week's review vehicle had me doing a double take more than once. Its profile and those wheels look so, well, European. Could this compact sedan with, in my opinion, a distinctly German exterior vibe really be a... Honda? Why yes it could be, and indeed was, because badging doesn't lie. This is in fact the new 2025 Honda Civic Hybrid Sport Touring. It's based on the award-winning 11th-generation Civic, 2022's North American Car of the Year. Along with the return of the hybrid, the 2025 lineup gets style and tech updates. By the way the Hybrid is available as both a sedan and hatchback.
Honda does the Civic Hybrid's reintroduction more than justice with its sporty looks and overall design. Blue Lagoon Pearl, new to the lineup, is probably my all-time Honda favorite color. It gives off such a premium, sophisticated vibe. For me, the Sport Touring's exclusive new 18-inch alloy wheels with Matte Shark Gray inserts are the other big story. They look amazing.
The Civic lineup gets a sportier front fascia for 2025, along with darker taillights. Hybrid trims are further distinguished by body colored headlamp garnish and a front lower spoiler. Other exterior features include gloss-black power and heated side mirrors and matte-black upper window trim.
The Civic Hybrid returns to the lineup after a roughly decade hiatus. It's equipped with a fourth-generation hybrid powertrain, that being a 2.0-liter 4 cylinder engine paired with two motors.
The system delivers 200-horsepower and 232 pound-feet of torque. This makes the new Civic Hybrids the most powerful non-Type R Civics ever. The powertrain recently won a "Wards 10 Best Engines & Propulsion Systems” award. You can remote start the engine on the key fob. A Continuously Variable Transmission (e-CVT) with paddle shifters provides four levels of regenerative braking.
As obsessed with hybrids as Honda currently is, which is understandable given their popularity, it threw everything at the top-of-the-line Sport Touring to make it the most premium in the lineup, followed by the Sport hybrid grade. Sport Touring exclusive features include leather-trimmed seats, a 9-inch touchscreen, a 10.2-inch digital display, wireless charger, heated front seats, and more.
A light gray interior greeted me, along with an 8-way power driver's seat. While not exclusive to this trim, a leather-trimmed steering wheel and gear-shift knob also add to the upscale ambiance. Sport pedals greet your feet. A large 10.2-digital color driver's display with great graphics is positioned in front of the steering wheel.
A 9-inch touchscreen with navigation voice recognition is Sport Touring-exclusive. Screen quality and mapping look great. The multimedia system itself is quick and responsive. There's a volume button to the left of the touchscreen, but for me it's too small and hard to grasp. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto along with HD Radio and a WiFi HotSpot are exclusive to this trim. (Everyone gets Alexa.) The Sport Touring is also the first Civic with Google Built-In. A 12-speaker Premium Bose sound system sounds really fantastic in here, too.
A slim center console with a sliding armrest is minimalist in design. There you'll find the leather-wrapped gear shift knob, controls for the drive modes, electronic park brake and two cupholders. New for 2025, front USB-C ports are standard.
The 60/40 rear split seat is ok on legroom but headroom suffers due to stadium seating. A cushiony drop down armrest features smaller cupholders. The trunk isn't fancy but you do get a cargo light and I found it too be plenty roomy. Under the cargo floor you find a tire inflator kit in lieu of a spare.
Other standard Hybrid Sport Touring equipment includes carpet mats, a power moonroof, and dual-zone climate.
The Civic backs up its stylish and sporty looks with engaging driving dynamics and great handling. Steering is responsive and acceleration is quick. The ride is also comfortable. Honda says it's uniquely optimized the spring and damper tuning for the hybrid models, which also benefit from a specifically-developed tire.
Sport is my favorite of four drive modes, including one that is customizable. You can adjust the exhaust sound in the multimedia system, but I have to say I didn't hear a huge difference between the normal and sport exhaust modes. Active Noise Control is standard on all hybrids. I will tell you that the Sport Touring Hybrid is quieter in the cabin than the non-hybrid Civic Si I recently drove.
While the Sport Touring hybrid is the heaviest trim in the Civic Sedan lineup, thanks to the hybrid powertrain, fuel economy is outstanding at 49 mpg combined.
I've really become a fan of Honda Sensing of late as it's become more enhanced. The technology works great. Standard Honda Sensing features include: Forward Collision Warning, Lane Departure Warning, Collision Mitigation Braking System, Road Departure Mitigation System, Lane Keeping Assist System, Adaptive Cruise Control with Low-Speed Follow,Traffic Sign Recognition System, and Traffic Jam Assist.
The Sport Touring hybrid is additionally equipped with Blind Spot information and Rear Cross Traffic Monitor, and exclusively equipped with front and rear parking sensors along with low-speed braking control.
All trims also feature a multi-view angle camera, rear seat reminder and driver attention monitor.
If you're someone who finds themselves making back and forth trips to the car to unload things at home, you may find the Power Lock Walk Away feature annoying. I know I did but I just tried to keep in mind the safety aspect of it.
What You'll Pay
There are no options and my review vehicle is priced at just under $33K.
Verdict
The 2025 Civic Hybrid makes a triumphant return to the lineup, delivering great looks along with outstanding driving dynamics, fuel economy and value. This is a great commuter car, but don't let the word commuter fool you, because it's also one that you'll have some fun in.