Hybrid Honda Civic checks boxes, reaps awards

This review first appeared in the March 2025 edition of the Cruisin' News, "Oregon, Nevada and California's classic auto news & marketplace."

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Sacramento, California -- Knowing the way my brain works -- although some might insist that I lack one -- I couldn't avoid the "four-H" aspect of my Honda Civic tester.

I considered it a Hot Honda Hybrid Hatchback. Yeah, strange, I know.

But a fifth H is true as true can be -- This hybrid Civic is going to make a lot of owners very Happy.

In fact, that's already happening.

My tester was the sleek 2025 Honda Civic Hybrid Sport Touring, recently named the 2025 North American Car of the Year and a finalist in Motor Trend magazine's ultra-competitive 2025 Car of the Year competition.

Pretty amazing for a car starting at less than $33,000.  How does this happen in a world of tech-loaded, ultra-luxury motor vehicles?

Simple: This Civic appeals on multiple levels, especially the levels that please car shoppers looking for a sanely priced car.

Evidence? Here's the rundown, the partial rundown:

Great quality for the sticker price.  Fit and finish on the tester was exceptional.  The same for driving dynamics.  Chassis rigidity and ride quality are nearly perfect.

The Civic Hybrid Sport Touring pairs a 2-liter, four-cylinder engine with two motors.  The result is a decidedly peppy sedan that darts into tight spaces with amazing ease.

In this particular passenger car segment, buyers have long felt that they're sacrificing performance for the money.  Not so with this Civic.  With a 200-horsepower gas-electric rating, it can stand up to all road conditions and deliver serious pop when desired.

But keep in mind, this is hybrid powertrain pop.  The tester was rated at 50 miles per gallon in the city and 45 mpg on the highway.

The interior does not feel small-car cheap.  On the contrary, leather surfaces are evident, a primo Bose audio system dishes through 12 speakers and a driver-attention monitor keeps things safe.

Speaking of which, this Civic earned a suite of max five-star crash test scores from the federal government, including a five-spot in the overall vehicle score.

Given all of this, one could make the argument that this Civic hybrid is, pound for pound, the perfect passenger car for the American motoring public.

Can't say that I have much to say in opposition to that claim.