Test – Honda Civic e:HEV, the finally dynamic hybrid

It has grown well, this Civic. After 50 years and 25 million units sold worldwide, the “little” Civic remains Honda’s greatest success. But rarely has such an emblematic model of a brand evolved so much over generations, eleven in total. A stunning Japanese compact on its debut in 1972, at just 3.41 meters long, the Civic has grown to… 4.65 metres. The mass, of course, has followed this inflation, going from 670 kilos to 1.5 tons. Quite a fatness that also corresponds to a change of category of the vehicle to offer you new ambitions over time.

Originally a small compact, the Civic has evolved into a sedan format, in line with customer preferences and current trends, especially in the last 2-3 generations.

“Civic is a brand in itself,” they say internally at Honda.

And more and more, given the evolution and rationalization of our range with more and more SUVs, the Civic must be a global car, a “World Car”, corresponding to the expectations of all customers. Asian, European, American, etc. “, we continue within the Japanese brand. Hence this strange format adopted for generations 10 and 11, keeping both the hatchback sedan, and also leaning towards the coupe format. Very American, actually.

The strong point: dynamism on the outside… and on the inside

This impression of dynamism is reflected in its appearance. The Civic in our version sees its features underlined by a nice white color and sporty black wheels. Inside, black leather for bucket seats and a low dashboard with a small steering wheel welcome you, with a remarkable degree of finish at this level of the range. Neat plastics, a honeycomb grille and good interior visibility with numerous glass surfaces, including a large panoramic sunroof… Even the rear seats are surprisingly welcoming and spacious.

This Civic e: HEV completes the model’s makeover with an elongated, sunken front hood, ruffled headlights, a rather cropped rear, and much less tortured shapes than the 10th generation. It even evokes the biodesign of the 90s/2000s era. But it is also a question of efficiency.

Because clearly Honda wants to impress with a Civic at the pinnacle of energy efficiency while preserving driving pleasure. Quite a challenge for manufacturers, since simple hybrid vehicles are not very pleasant to drive in terms of sensations, with a thermal part that usually comes into action with noise and abruptness, poor dynamic behavior and sometimes even a flagrant lack of acceleration. high speed. , penalizing on the highway.

If Toyota has profoundly improved its flagship hybrid drivetrain, Honda has invented an entirely new system, one that really allows you to reconnect with true dynamics. The manufacturer, if it is with Toyota one of the true initiators of this great migration towards the hybrid, had already hit the spirits with its cut CRZ of 2010, which combined hybridization (light, at the time) with a nervous engine and a change Handbook. gearbox. A really successful bet that consisted in demonstrating that hybridization should not erase driving pleasure and sensations.

Very good feel/performance balance

And for once, Honda is back with this Civic e:HEV. The e:HEV system includes not one but two electric motors, one that centralizes power and the other that serves for traction. These two motors, powered by a 72-cell battery, are mated to a 2-litre 4-cylinder thermal block and an automatic gearbox that works very differently from the continuously variable systems typically used with hybridisation. .

If you generally leave the heat engine running at continuous speeds to serve as a generator, it can be frankly more active and even “mimic” gear changes and downshifts in certain situations. Quite impressive from a feel standpoint, you immediately feel like you’re on a more dynamic machine.

And otherwise, in the most economical operating modes (Econ position), the performance does not seem to be restricted. Only more efficiency and more naturalness. Shifts are smooth and quick, all in a typical Honda chassis, with little onions, with nice, consistent steering.

And from the point of view of consumption, there is also something to be amazed at. 5 liters per 100 in the combined cycle, and a real bird’s appetite in the city, with only 4.5 liters. But during testing, yours actually put up much better numbers, because you quickly get caught up in the eco-driving game. With a precise right foot and a few taps of the “+” paddle on the steering wheel to adjust the energy recovery under braking, we even managed to go well under 4 liters per 100 kilometres.

On a mixed route (peripheral and city) of about fifteen kilometers in completely normal traffic conditions, we even managed to reach an average of 3.2 liters per 100.

The black dot: some details and a little noise

A few flaws to point out perhaps, in particular, somewhat firm seating comfort and cushioning (we’re low to the ground, not really in an SUV), fairly tight headroom once seated, deplorable rear visibility (but as in the the entire world’s current car production), a somewhat noisy environment, due to road noise and slight soundproofing. There are also some minor exterior trim details (notably black studs visible inside the wheel arches) We may also not like the overall appearance of the car, which is quite unusual. But generation after generation, the Civic has always been an amazing car with strong styling cues to become a true trademark.

But otherwise, the balance remains impressive. Its direct rival, the Toyota Corolla Hybrid, with similar features from all points of view, can be legitimately worried. Honda innovates and offers a truly amazing machine, with compelling technology and, above all, fun to use.

Dynamic qualities that will undoubtedly make thrill seekers lament the absence of sport in the case (this Civic e:HEV, however, signs an honorable 8.1 seconds at 100km/h). But leave them alone: ​​a Type-R version sitting on the excellent new chassis will indeed be imported to Europe. That yes, with a very substantial sanction (11,000 euros), and without a doubt it will be necessary to fight to request it in France. But it will be there in the first half of 2023.