The Next-Gen Honda Civic Hybrid Prototype We Drove Proved Plenty Impressive
Honda has a new midsize platform, engine, and hybrid system coming in 2027, and early indications are that it makes an already great Civic even better.
The hybrid system in the present Honda Civic is already pretty sweet, but Honda isn't resting. The Japanese automaker is working on a new midsize platform for the Civic, CR-V, Accord, Prelude, and others as well as a fifth-generation hybrid system with a new engine. It all begins rolling out in 2027.
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We were able to get a taste of what's to come with a short drive in a camouflaged prototype featuring with the new-generation hybrid system in what looked like the next Civic.
We had four laps on a handling course at Honda’s Proving ground in Tochigi, Japan. The body was camouflaged and the interior swathed in black material to disguise the final look. But since we had to be able to put the car in gear, Honda could not hide the new gearshift mounted on the steering column.
Vehicles on this midsize platform will be almost 200 pounds lighter with a more rigid body structure engineered to reduce noise, vibration, and harshness. Some parts have been carried over, but it's basically an all-new platform. Honda revised the suspension geometry for better performance, and the Motion Management System adds new pitch control for more stability and smooth entry into a corner, and to better hold the line on a sweeping curve.
New Powertrain for Future Hybrids
The powertrain in the current Civic Hybrid is already stellar. The fifth-generation system, described as evolutionary and not revolutionary, consists of a new 2.0-liter engine with a compact transmission, high-output motor, and control unit for the front-drive layout. The next-gen battery fits under the rear seats and has capacity for 10-percent more range.
The new compact engine is expected to also use the Atkinson cycle and be comparable to the current 2.0-liter I-4 in terms of specs, but it's designed to be quieter and more efficient to contribute to the greater driving range. It has an integrated cooling system for rapid combustion for better output. This is not a turbocharged engine—turbos will be gone by 2030 for emissions reasons, an engineer told us. The new four-cylinder hybrid system will still lead the competition, he thinks.
In our short drive, acceleration was fast and smooth. The car switches seamlessly between EV, hybrid, and engine drive modes. The new hybrids get Honda S+ Shift for simulated gear shifting sensations and sounds. S+ Shift debuted in the new 2026 Honda Prelude that is on sale in Japan and will soon be in U.S. showrooms. During our drive, we could feel snappy upshifts and downshifts. They happen automatically when you accelerate or brake and are accompanied by the simulated sounds of shifting gears.
Innovative Flexible Body
The new midsize platform is intriguing in the way the body flexes during cornering; the chassis deforms somewhat, allowing the tires to keep more contact with the road for greater stability. The prototype we drove handled well but we didn't have enough seat time to discern how revolutionary this feature might be. We do know we felt confident squealing the tires and approaching the turns carrying decent speed.
Like the existing Civic and the new Prelude, the steering is excellent, with quick execution of the driver’s input. The powertrain and brake systems are integrated and controlled in coordination with steering input for smooth corner entry.
The new suspension is also supposed to reduce road noise and vibration, moving some of the attachment points to divert the direction of the noise away from the cabin. There is also more sound deadening. The cab was quiet, but we were also on pretty perfect pavement.
The next-generation models are expected to achieve top safety ratings. Additions include a new cushion airbag on the bottom of the seat under the thighs to protect the pelvis, a Honda first. Honda will also roll out its next-generation automated driving system in 2027 on EVs and hybrids. It is being tested on U.S. roads as we speak.
With so little seat time, we certainly can't give a full evaluation, but the prototype drove a lot like today's Civic Hybrid, which is high praise. Indeed, it's impressive because the Civic Hybrid is a well-honed production vehicle in its second model year while this is such an early prototype that Honda calls it a “hybrid study.” That means it still has lots of time to keep improving, so it should only get better.
Alisa Priddle joined MotorTrend in 2016 as the Detroit Editor. A Canadian, she received her Bachelor of Journalism degree from Carleton University in Ottawa, Ontario, and has been a reporter for 40 years, most of it covering the auto industry because there is no more fascinating arena to cover. It has it all: the vehicles, the people, the plants, the competition, the drama. Alisa has had a wonderfully varied work history as a reporter for four daily newspapers including the Detroit Free Press where she was auto editor, and the Detroit News where she covered the GM and Chrysler bankruptcies, as well as auto trade publication Wards, and two enthusiast magazines: Car & Driver and now MotorTrend. At MotorTrend Alisa is a judge for the MotorTrend Car, Truck, SUV and Person of the Year. She loves seeing a new model for the first time, driving it for the first time, and grilling executives for the stories behind them. In her spare time, she loves to swim, boat, sauna, and then jump into a cold lake or pile of snow.
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