2025 Honda Civic Sport Touring Hybrid Review: Fun Meets Efficiency

Fast Facts

🏎️ Power: 200 hp and 232 lb-ft from a 2.0L + dual-motor hybrid system

🛣️ Fuel Economy: 48–49 mpg combined (EPA) depending on body style

💰 Pricing: Starts at ~$34,300 including destination (Sport Touring Hatch)

📦 Cargo: 24.5 cu ft behind rear seats; sedan offers 14.8 cu ft

🛡️ Safety: IIHS Top Safety Pick+ with standard Honda Sensing driver aids

🎵 Tech: 9" touchscreen, 10.2" digital cluster, Google built-in, 12-speaker Bose

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2025 Honda Civic Sport Touring Hybrid Review

The Honda Civic is now in its eleventh generation and remains one of the automaker's most popular models. And for good reason, recent Civics have impressive tech and safety features, and the Civic Hybrid returns an impressive 49 mpg on the highway in sedan format and 48 mpg as a hatchback.  

After a week with the 2025 Honda Civic Sport Touring Hybrid hatchback, I came away genuinely impressed by this car's split personality. Its refined hybrid system gave the car surprisingly strong acceleration, and it’s more agile than I expected, even with the extra weight from the hybrid battery. This lively attitude doesn't sacrifice fuel economy, either. There is one catch: it's a bit more expensive than most competitors. But the price jump may be worth it. Here's our take on the new Civic Sport Touring Hybrid edition.

Honda Proves Hybrids Can Be Fun

The Honda Civic Sport Touring Hybrid features a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine paired with two electric motors. The combined output lands at 200 horsepower and 232 pound-feet of torque, which reaches the front wheels through a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). While it won't pin you to your seat, those electric motors give it surprisingly lively acceleration that feels stronger than its gas-only sibling.  

CVT transmissions sometimes feel disconnected in other models, but it felt like a surprisingly refined addition in the Civic. Honda clearly put a lot of effort into making the regenerative braking system feel as natural and cohesive as any gas-only competitor.  

Smooth Ride Meets Agile Handling

The Civic Sport Touring Hybrid's quick acceleration and engaging driving experience are real achievements. Gone are the days when hybrids were thought of as boring, emotionless appliances that focused exclusively on fuel economy. The Honda does a good job of maintaining both a strong driving experience and a focus on efficiency.  

Some hybrids feel like there’s a lot going on underneath, with sounds and other sensations as the gas and electric powertrain components work together, but that’s not the case here. Honda says the gas engine rarely provides power directly to the wheels, and the resulting smoothness can’t be overstated. Even when the gas engine drove the wheels at higher speeds, there was little indication that the car was doing anything differently as the transition took place.  

Want to compare hybrid efficiency before buying? Check out our breakdown: Hybrid Cars: Everything You Need to Know

There was a slight weight increase moving from the regular Civic to the Civic Hybrid, but the car’s suspension system did a good job of holding the extra heft in check. The standard Civic weighs 2,935 lbs while the hybrid version weighs 3,208 lbs. The ride quality felt generally smooth, and the car maintained a surprising level of agility in the corners. It’s not a focused performance model like some of the more expensive Civic variants, but the combination of engaging handling and responsive brakes gave it a legitimately engaging driving experience.  

Upscale Interior and Improved Tech

The Civic Hybrid seats five people on standard cloth upholstery, but my top-trimmed Sport Touring model had leather upholstery with heated front seats. Unlike some hatchback competitors, including the Toyota Corolla, the Civic Hybrid has a usable amount of back seat space, and adults can ride comfortably on longer trips. The front seats were generously spacious, with good bolstering and support, a high level of adjustability, and comfortable padding.

I tested the hatchback variant, which matches the gas model’s 24.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats. The Hybrid sedan only offers 14.8 cubic feet, making the hatchback a must for anyone who carries more than the bare minimum in their car. The rear cargo hatch is wide, and the car’s low ride height made it easy to load. With the seats folded flat, the Civic Hybrid swallowed much larger items than I expected, like my overweight dog.  

A 7.0-inch touchscreen and 7.0-inch digital gauge cluster come standard, but my test car came with the available 9.0-inch touchscreen and 10.2-inch gauge cluster. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, along with wireless charging, HD radio, SiriusXM, navigation, and a 12-speaker Bose stereo. The upgraded infotainment system also comes with Google Built-in, which has Maps, Google Assistant, and some Play Store features.  

Honda’s newest infotainment system is light years ahead of previous versions. It was responsive and easy to navigate, and Google built-in had a load of useful features. The new displays looked great, too, with higher-resolution graphics and easy-to-read menus.  

Top Safety Scores and Generous Driver Aids

The 2025 Honda Civic Hatchback earned a Top Safety Pick+ designation from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the organization’s top honor. It comes generously equipped with advanced driver-assistance features, and all alerts and settings work as expected. Honda’s adaptive cruise control is easy to engage and use, and distance adjustments were quick to use with the steering wheel controls.

Worth Every Penny

The standard Civic Hybrid starts with an MSRP of $31,690, which includes a $1,195 destination fee. The Sport Touring Hybrid model costs $34,690, and Honda doesn’t offer a ton of added-cost options to drive the price up further.

While pricier than the Toyota Corolla hatchback, the Civic is the only one of the two to pair its hatchback body style with a hybrid powertrain; a trade-off that justifies the price difference. It also stacks up well as a hybrid alternative to the $32,000 Civic Si. The Si's 200-horsepower turbo-four delivers less torque than the hybrid but comes with a six-speed manual transmission that hardcore driving enthusiasts will enjoy.

For those who want both engaging driving dynamics and impressive fuel economy, the Civic Sport Touring Hybrid really delivers, and proves that hybrids aren't boring.

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