As many of you know, we have a soft spot for Honda – especially the Civic – here at Planetauto, and between the two of us, we’ve owned three of them so far! The combination of performance, innovation and looks have made this one Hondas most beloved models – with good reason.
Now, there was a time where I was devastated when the Civic became a five door – it made sense as it was great for families, but I was flummoxed by how Honda had moved away from the original premise of this fantastic hot hatch. My mind was well and truly changed once I got behind the wheel of their Type R FK8 Civic. It’s not for everyone mind – but in my eye, it’s amazing. It gives you all the feels, and it’s a five door!
Thing is, Honda has never been afraid to push the boundaries, and why not enhance their fantastic hot hatch and make it work as a family car too?
And if there’s one thing the Honda Civic has always done well, it’s cutting through the noise. While everyone else is chucking plug-in hybrids, mild hybrids and 17 trims at you, Honda’s just gone, “Here’s one really good one — take it or leave it.” And honestly? It’s refreshing.
You get one body style (five-door hatch), one engine (a clever 2.0-litre petrol hybrid) and three trims (Elegance, Sport and Advance). That’s it. Simple. But don’t mistake “simple” for “basic” — this thing’s packing 181bhp and a proper hybrid setup that glides around town silently before the petrol motor slides in with a whisper when you need to hustle. It’s smooth. And here’s the kicker — it’ll return around 60mpg if you’re sensible. Even the posher trims manage around 56mpg, which is properly decent for something that doesn’t need plugging in.
This Civic is built for real life — the school run, the commute, the “oops we bought too much at IKEA” moments. It feels light and easy to drive, and the steering’s meaty enough to give you a bit of confidence when the B-roads open up. Ride comfort’s spot-on too. The base 17-inch alloys make it smoother than a Corolla or Golf, while the 18-inch wheels on Sport and Advance tighten things up a touch without ruining the ride. The only downside? The panoramic glass roof on the Advance model looks cool but adds a bit more road roar on the motorway. It also grips well, feels planted, and that low driving position gives it a properly sporty vibe.
Honda’s interior team clearly had their Weetabix the day they designed this. Everything just works. Physical knobs for the air con (thank you, Honda), a decent 9-inch touchscreen, and proper materials where it counts. Sure, some plastics hidden lower down, but overall it feels smart and solid — more grown-up than a Golf, less fussy than a Mazda 3.
The driver’s seat is comfy and adjustable, visibility is great thanks to slim pillars, and space up front is generous. In the back, two Benjamin sized adults will be fine, though the tallest might brush the roof lining. As for the boot — 415 litres in most trims (409 in Advance because of that Bose system). It’ll swallow six carry-on suitcases.
When it comes to Tech, even the entry-level Elegance (£34,495) isn’t stingy. You get:
Heated front seats
Adaptive cruise control
17-inch alloys
Dual-zone climate
Parking sensors and reversing camera
Wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto
The Sport (£36,095) is the one to have, with:
18-inch alloys
Half-leather trim
Rear air vents
Upgraded driver display
Auto-dimming mirror
Top-spec Advance (£39,720) adds:
Bose 12-speaker sound system
Panoramic roof
Heated steering wheel
Adaptive LED headlights
Full synthetic leather interior
Honda nailed it with the Civic, as it scored five stars from Euro NCAP, with 11 airbags, AEB, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring and even a pop-up bonnet for pedestrian protection.
Honda also placed 4th out of 31 manufacturers in the 2024 What Car reliability survey — so yes, you can actually trust it.
Warranty? Three years/90,000 miles (five years for the hybrid bits).
So, what’s the Honda Civic e:HEV really about? It’s not the loudest, flashiest, or fastest car in its class — but it’s easily one of the most sorted. It’s efficient, fun enough when you’re in the mood, comfy when you’re not, and built to last. You just know it’ll still feel tight and dependable 10 years down the line.
If you want a family hatch that cuts out the nonsense and just works, the Civic’s your car.
2026 UK Pricing:
Elegance Trim: £34,495 - Great spec for the money
Sport Trim: £36,095 - The sweet spot
Advance Trim: £39,720 - All the toys (and a glass roof)
The Honda Civic e:HEV isn’t trying to reinvent the wheel — it’s just making it smoother, quieter and easier to live with. It’s the calm in the chaos of modern motoring, and sometimes that’s exactly what we all need.
Thank you all, and enjoy!
Annabelle 😊