The Honda Civic gained popularity over the years as the ultimate car for the boy racer. It was an excellent platform for tuning and modifications, and as such, it continued dominating the local car scene for years.
To this day, we still see Civics left and right pulling up at car meets everywhere. But one could argue that those are just the old models—if it’s not an FK8 or an FL5, it’s most likely an EF, EG, EK, or FD. Or something similar. Rarely the FCs and the FEs.
And that’s because the Civic has evolved. Tremendously. It’s left its racing roots (at least the non-Type R models) to become the more modest yet still-premium and impressive city car that Honda needs it to be. My recent test-drive unit was the culmination of the sedan’s evolution: the Honda Civic RS e:HEV.
It’s a new era for Honda’s famed nameplate. And we’re here to see if it’s truly ready for it.
ALSO READ:
Review: 2024 Honda CR-V RS e:HEV
Honda explains how its e:HEV system in the CR-V RS works
Styling
I didn’t exactly fall in love with this generation of the Civic when it first rolled out, I’m not gonna lie. Heck, even when I finally saw the FL5 for the first time, I still said I’d pick the FK8 over that. But my opinions eventually changed.
The current-generation FE’s design is classy and timeless. Unlike the previous FC, this one will age exceptionally well. The soft lines and overall less-aggressive look has kept it looking fresh today, even years after it debuted. The recent facelift gives the car a sportier look, but it still maintains its clean styling.
For this RS e:HEV trim, I’m a fan of the spoiler at the back, the almost matte-like gunmetal finish on the wheels, and the black-and-chrome finish on the door handles. I think they’re really nice touches that up the RS variant’s look a whole lot.
Interior
The cabin is basically what you’d expect from a Honda. Build quality is excellent, as you won’t hear squeaks or feel that any of the interior bits could fall off any moment. It’s also spacious enough that my much-wider-than-average 5’6” frame fits easily in the front seats or at the rear even with the driver’s seat set to my preferred position, and mind you, I drive with the seat moved a bit further back than usual. Speaking of rear seats, worth noting here is that the backrests are a bit reclined and not too upright, so it also adds a lot in terms of passenger comfort.
There’s also ample storage space inside for the basics, but that’s it. It’s not excellent, but it will do. There’s a tray housing the wireless charging pad that also doubles as a cubby for small items like your wallet or keys. There’s also some space underneath the center armrest for all sorts of stuff. Both the front and rear seats get two cup holders each, but the bottle holders on any of the doors leave a bit to be desired, as only slim water bottles can fit.
What’s impressive is the trunk. Loading heavy cargo may be tricky since you have to avoid the bumper, but there’s plenty of space for multiple large items. And if the 493 liters aren’t enough and you have no rear passengers, you can also fold down thge entire backseat to open up just a little more space.
Engine performance
The Civic RS e:HEV has a similar setup as the CR-V Hybrid, which comprises a 2.0-liter gasoline engine that produces 139hp and 182Nm of torque paired with an electric motor capable of 181hp and 315Nm. It’s one of the best hybrid systems in the market right now, and similar to all self-charging hybrids, it’s simply gas-up-and-go.
Power delivery is smooth and feels instantaneous, and there’s enough oomph whether you’re coming from a standstill or accelerating further at highway speeds. Throttle response is excellent, and it drives almost like an electric vehicle even when you floor the pedal. Sure, it’s no longer a turbocharged or easy-to-tune engine like the Civics of old, but you can still have a lot of fun driving this car. It’s no Type R, but it’s still a very enjoyable sedan that’s perfect for spirited drives.
The best part is that you get all this impressive performance still with equally impressive fuel economy. Under ‘normal’ driving conditions, with a mix of highway and city driving, I easily got 20km/L. With a heavier foot on the gas, the number only dropped to 16km/L. After more than 350km of driving, I still got around 16.5km/L, and that includes a lot of idling, driving through heavy traffic, and spirited drives on open roads.
ALSO READ:
Review: 2024 Mazda CX-5 2.5 AWD Turbo
Review: 2023 Honda City RS CVT
Ride and handling
While sheer performance isn’t the Civic’s strongest point, I believe Honda tuned the FE’s chassis as best as it can tune that of any stock sedan, and for me, this right now remains one of the best-handling cars in its segment. The Civic RS e:HEV just adds that power boost to the mix, which makes it even more fun on winding roads. Of course, it helps that it comes stock with Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tires.
Despite having large 18-inch wheels shod with low-profile rubber, the Civic RS e:HEV doesn’t compromise much on comfort for the most part. Driving it through Metro Manila’s not-so-smooth roads won’t be a problem, though I would still do my best to avoid potholes and large bumps. All that being said, it’s still a nice car to ride in, especially since Honda has yet again managed to keep noise, vibrations, and harshness low inside the cabin.
Extra features
The Civic RS e:HEV is now the top-spec variant in the range, so naturally, it comes with all the bells and whistles that the model can offer. This includes Honda Sensing features, which is still as easy-to-use and effective as ever. There’s adaptive cruise control with low-speed follow, along with lane-tracing assist. All these can still be monitored through the fully digital instrument cluster in front of the driver.
The Civic Hybrid also gets an updated infotainment system—still with a few buttons and knobs on the side—with a new interface and a beautiful Bose sound setup. The head unit has displays for energy flow as well as trip history, which keeps tabs on the last three trips made using the Trip A and B meters. This might just be my favorite feature of the touchscreen display, as it lets you properly track your fuel consumption over multiple drives.
Perhaps my only gripe here is that Honda has yet to put a much better camera at the back. Sure, there are front and rear sensors—with different-sounding beeps, mind you—but the resolution of the camera is just terrible. In the Brio, it’s fine, but we’re talking about the top-of-the-line Civic here. It’s nitpicking, but surely, Honda could’ve done better.
At least, though, Honda didn’t scrimp on other creature comforts. Dual-zone automatic climate control with dedicated A/C vents at the rear, as well as four USB-C charging ports in total are available here. There’s also power adjustment for the driver’s seat, which along with the tilt- and telescopic adjustment of the steering wheel make finding the right driving position a cinch.
Verdict
The CR-V RS e:HEV’s success in 2024 is a telling sign that Honda’s customers are ready for the brand’s hybrid cars, and I see this Civic getting the same reception from the public. Some say it’s too expensive at P1.99 million, but I say it’s a darn good bargain. Just P200,000 more than the non-hybrid RS Turbo feels like a steal—you’re getting everything that sedan has to offer, only with updated tech, more power, and much better fuel efficiency. What more can you ask for?
As for the boy racers out there, the FE’s arrival already marked the beginning of the end for that era of the Civic, and the new hybrid model was the nail in the coffin. Honda needs a car people want to buy and drive daily, not one that enthusiasts will want to put big wings or stupidly loud exhausts on. At the end of the day, the Civic RS e:HEV is a really, really good hybrid car, and that’s what matters. Besides, I’m sure Honda fanboys these days know better than to expect a racecar from anything other than a Type R-badged Civic.
SPECS: Honda Civic RS e:HEV 2025
Price: P1,990,000
Engine: 2.0-liter gasoline I4 + electric motor
Power: 181hp (electric motor)
Torque: 315Nm (electric motor)
Transmission: Continuously variable
Layout: FWD
Seating: 5
Score: 9.5/10
More photos of the Honda Civic Hybrid 2025:
