FIRST-DRIVE REVIEW: Honda Civic e:HEV -- So much better than the 1.5 turbo!

In the olden days, hybrid cars were meant purely for better fuel economy.

Many owners put up with the soggy driving dynamics and the "econobox" equipment levels to maximize every drop of fuel. But nowadays, hybrids are becoming the top-of-the-line variants for many cars.

Toyota Motor Philippines followed this approach for the Corolla Altis, Corolla Cross, and RAV4 hybrids. And even Honda Cars Thailand is getting into the act, replacing the 1.5-liter turbo engine in the top-spec 2022 Civic RS with a hybrid powertrain.

Given that Honda Cars Philippines Inc. plans to launch a hybrid model in 2023, this electrified Civic could be something we see on our roads very soon.

But can a hybrid engine really work in a sporty variant? Our friends at sister publication WapCar Malaysia tested the Civic e:HEV RS to find out.

So much faster

Our colleague Cam took the Civic e:HEV RS on a 1,000-km drive from Kuala Lumpur to Johol, including detours and mountain roads.

He discovered that the hybrid powertrain significantly outperformed the old turbo engine. That’s because the 2.0-liter, twin-cam, 16-valve inline-4 gasoline-hybrid engine has a combined output of 184 PS and 315 Nm of torque.

For comparison, the Malaysian-spec RS Turbo had a turbocharged 1.5-liter, twin-cam, 16-valve inline-4 gasoline engine with 178 PS and 240 Nm of torque.

The e-HEV’s electric motor can run the Civic RS as a fully electric vehicle, albeit temporarily.

“When you need more power, the engine will roar to life instantly in response to your right foot's input,” Cam said. “The result is an enjoyable driving experience that's quiet and smooth when you want it to be and energetic and playful when you're in the mood.”

He also noted how user-friendly the Civic e:HEV RS was, offering a silent cruising experience or a smooth wave of torque thanks to the large-displacement, non-turbo engine.

Superb fuel economy

So, the Civic RS is faster as a hybrid while providing excellent fuel consumption.

Cam was able to get 25 km/l in normal driving conditions, a figure in line with Honda Cars Malaysia’s estimates.

“This two-motor full-hybrid system is designed for smooth and efficient performance, replacing the traditional gearbox with a planetary gearset,” he said. “One motor charges the battery, while the larger traction motor-generator starts, drives, and charges the battery.”

Relaxed long-distance cruiser

Another big plus of the Civic e:HEV RS is its Honda SENSING active safety suite.

This includes adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and low-speed following (LSF) in Malaysia. The last feature can bring the Civic to a complete stop without even touching the brake pedal.

“With the wide-angle Honda Sensing camera, the LSF function tracks the lane precisely, even detecting vehicle movements on the adjacent lanes,” he said. 

“In traffic jams, the Low-Speed Follow (LSF) feature brings the car to a complete stop smoothly and accelerates when the car ahead pulls away, requiring only a simple click with the thumb to get the Civic moving again, without needing accelerator pedal action,” he added.

AutoFun Philippines was also able to experience the effectiveness of Honda SENSING in our long-term test of the Honda HR-V Turbo.

Despite being easy to drive on long distances, Cam noted that Honda needed to work on the front seats. 

“The Civic's seats lack padding, even in the RS spec’s suede-leather material,” he said. “This material actually worsens ride comfort as it has less padding than the full leather V variant's seats.”

After just 1.5 hours of driving, poor Cam’s lower back was aching, and the discomfort only worsened over time. 

Sends the Altis into the weeds

The terrible seats notwithstanding, Cam found that the Civic e:HEV RS was superior to the Toyota Corolla Altis Hybrid (which we have also tested) in pretty much every aspect.

The Altis is smaller and much less powerful than the Civic, while only achieving almost identical fuel-consumption figures.

“If you're looking for a C-segment sedan, you'll have to choose between the Civic's impressive features and the Corolla Altis's superior ride comfort,” he said. “Remember that Honda is not good at everything, but for everything else, there's the Civic.”

Do you think Honda Cars Philippines Inc. should bring in the 2023 Honda Civic e:HEV first?

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