Is it really as economical as promised?

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With the Civic e:HEV, Honda takes a different approach from its competitors. Even the body of the compact class model is somewhat different: it is not a VW Golf-style hatchback, but rather a stretched sedan. And the hybrid drive has little to do with that of other brands. Unlike traditional full hybrids such as the Toyota Yaris Cross, where the petrol engine is the primary driver and the additional electric motor only has a supporting effect, the Honda Civic e:HEV works in the opposite way.

At a moderate pace in the city, for example, the Honda is mainly electric, with a 184 hp electric motor powered by a small battery. If more power is required, the system switches to hybrid mode: the drive is by electric motor, but the petrol engine supplies electricity via a second, smaller electric motor that works as a generator in addition to the battery. The two-liter petrol engine directly drives only the front wheels at constant highway speeds. If even more power is required, the electric motor provides additional support as a booster.

Highway trips are very important.

What looks complicated on paper works surprisingly well in practice after the first 1500 test kilometers. And it is actually effective. Despite an uneconomical driving style, our initial consumption was 5.2 liters. It dropped to an average of four and a half liters on stages with only a small amount of highways.

What amazes us above all else: The economy of the Civic e:HEV is not bought with heavy performance. On the contrary: the five-door, reminiscent of a Tesla with its hatchback body, moves really agile, accelerates to 100 km/h in 8.1 seconds, steers very precisely and springs hard, but is never bumpy. Some competitors in the compact class do not do this very well.

We are now wondering whether this drive concept will continue to operate efficiently and without faults. And if so, why don’t other manufacturers use it as well? It’s unlikely to be because of the price. With a wide range of standard equipment and options, our long-term test car costs the usual 41,790 francs.

Source: Blick