When the new Honda Civic appears in the fall, the Japanese will keep their promise and will have electrified all of their models by then in Europe. After the Jazz, the HR-V, and the CR-V, the compact Civic now follows with an economical hybrid drive e-HEV. Many other manufacturers are now also using this type of partial electrification, but Honda is taking a special approach with its full hybrids and is putting a lot of effort into it.
The Civic is an important car for the Japanese. With around 20 million units sold, it has been one of the bestsellers in the Honda model range since 1972. The now eleventh generation has become really chic and no longer polarizes as much as some of the predecessors from the Civic ancestral gallery.
The Design
With its clear design language, a coupe-shaped curved roof line, and the gently sloping bonnet, the Civic 2022 is already sporty and has a lot of unique features. But the five-door has not only grown a lot in terms of appearance but also in terms of dimensions.
With a length of 4.55 meters, it stretches a good inch and almost seems to have outgrown the compact VW Golf class. The wheelbase has also grown by almost 1.6 inches, which now extends to 2.73 meters.
A space advantage that primarily benefits the passengers in the rear. The freedom of movement here is almost as generous as in the first row. There is good knee room for passengers in the back, and even for tall people, there is still enough air above the crown.
The trunk behind it is also impressive. A decent 410 liters fit into the luggage compartment when the seats are up, folded down, it is also a good 1220 liters. To save weight, the large and wide-opening tailgate is made of lightweight plastic, while the bonnet is made of even lighter aluminum.
The Interior
Incidentally, you sit noticeably lower at the front than in the previous model, where the driver and front passenger sat directly above the fuel tank. The seats are well contoured and very comfortable. The mix of materials around the cockpit, with its many foamed plastics, also appears to be of higher quality than before. The positive leap in quality can not only be felt with the Honda, but it can also be heard.
For example, the heating controls of the automatic climate control, which draw attention to themselves with every further turn with a valuable, rich clicking noise. In general, the interior is tidy.
The driver has access to a clearly structured digital instrument cluster, which can be configured in multiple ways. Instead of a classic rev counter, there is a power meter to the left of the speedometer, which serves as a performance display for the hybrid drive. The continuous ventilation nozzles in a honey comb structure in the lower cockpit area are no less striking.
On the other hand, the touchscreen for the multimedia system sits high up and is therefore within easy reach. Navigation, telephone, and air conditioning or audio functions are controlled intuitively. And since there are still enough physical switches and buttons, the operation is easy.
Smartphones can also be integrated wirelessly into the system via Apple Carplay or Android Auto. Good and just as you would expect from a modern car.
The Power
Honda uses the electric mode more often than other hybrids, and it is extremely economical. This is due to its special drive for which three motors are responsible. In the so-called "e:HEV" system, a 2.0-liter gas engine works in conjunction with two electric motors. While the 135 kW electric motor usually provides the propulsion, the combustion engine drives the second electric motor, which acts as a generator and generates the necessary electricity.
Therefore, the Civic does not need a conventional gearbox, but only a lock-up clutch, which only commissions the combustion engine, which works in the economic Atkinson cycle, with the power transmission at higher speeds. For this reason, the Civic is also particularly stingy with fuel.
After our first lap, the onboard computer registered exactly 4.7 liters on average and thus exactly met the promised WLTP factory specification. We weren't there as a traffic obstacle but swam along easily in a third mix.
In addition to the low fuel consumption, this Honda also provides a lot of driving pleasure since the drive can also be used quite dynamically when required. The harmoniously tuned chassis is also pleasing. It's fun on winding roads without being overly harsh. And should the route get worse, the Honda shines with a smooth ride comfort.
The communicative steering is also pleasing, although it requires excessively high holding forces. Apart from this small shortcoming, the well-balanced Civic offers, in addition to its generous space, a lot of driving pleasure and, of course, a more economical drive, which the Japanese owe not least to its sophisticated hybrid system.
How to Protect Your Honda Civic e-HEV
The Civic is going to be ready for sale around the fall of 2022. If you get one, you will need some protection for your new Honda, and we have just the right solution for you. It can always be hard to find protective equipment for a new model right away.
For all your protection equipment needs, we recommend the Coverking. They are the best in the business and always know what they are doing. The company digitally scans each and every vehicle available on the market with the latest technology. That makes them able to create the best custom fitting equipment possible.
Coverking is also the official protective equipment partner with most manufacturers. Check out their catalog and find out what they can do for you and your vehicle.
Resources
- https://www.honda.co.uk/cars/new/civic-hybrid/overview.html
- https://www.topgear.com/car-reviews/honda/civic-ehev
- https://www.stuff.tv/review/honda-civic-ehev-review-a-perfectly-sensible-hybrid-hatch/
- https://www.evo.co.uk/honda/civic/205156/honda-civic-ehev-sport-2022-review-pictures
- https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/car-reviews/honda/civic/civic-e:hev/
- https://www.zigwheels.my/car-news/2022-honda-civic-ehev-launched-in-china-when-will-it-come-to-malaysia
- https://hondanews.eu/eu/en/cars/media/pressreleases/371298/2022-honda-civic-ehev
- https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/honda/civic/353293/new-2022-honda-civic-ehev-hybrid-revealed-europe
- https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/honda/civic/first-drives/honda-civic-2022-uk-review
Tankut Basar
Tankut Basar is an ARA (American Rally Assoc.) Racing Driver and an FIA Bronze Category License Holder. His passion for driving began with karting like most racers. He started racing internationally at the age of 22. Tankut loves everything car-related and will keep enjoying the drive until the end.
