Honda unveiled the Civic Sedan e:HEV in Thailand, following the debut of the equivalent hybrid hatchback in Europe. The four-door model made its first public appearance at the 2022 Bangkok Auto Show that takes place from March 24 to April 3.
The Honda Civic Sedan e:HEV looks
practically identical to the pure-ICE versions in terms of exterior design,
retaining a single visible exhaust pipe unlike the EU-spec Civic e:HEV where it
is hidden. Therefore, the only way to distinguish it from a VTEC turbo variant
are the e:HEV badge on the tailgate and the blue background on the Honda logo.
The RS trim adds sporty details like red badging, chrome accents, black-painted
details (mirror caps, door handles, etc), a prominent rear spoiler, and a cool
set of 18-inch alloy wheels (instead of 17-inch wheels on the EL+ trim).
The hybrid Honda Civic Sedan e:HEV shown
here is in RS trim with sporty elements inside-out. The pictured model is
right-hand drive because its global premiere happened in Thailand. Inside we
find a 10.2 digital instrument cluster, a 9-inch Advanced Touch infotainment,
auto climate control, suede and synthetic leather upholstery with red stitching
for the RS, glossy black accents on the dashboard, and a stylish Honda Smart
Key Card. The rear passengers have access to air vents, two USB ports and a
rear bench with 60:40 split proving access to the boot. Equipment also includes
the Honda Sensing suite of ADAS, including the adaptive cruise control.
The e:HEV powertrain consists of a
2.0-liter four-cylinder direct-injection Atkinson-cycle engine and dual
electric motors producing a combined 181 hp and 315 Nm of torque. Power is sent to the front axle through a continuously
variable electric ratio automatic transmission (CVT for short), while the
energy is stored in a lithium-ion battery mounted under the rear seats. The
driver can select between the Econ, Normal, and Sport driving modes (losing the
Individual found on the EU-spec hatchback), with the powertrain shifting
automatically between EV, Hybrid, and Engine Drive.
In Thailand, prices of the Honda Civic
Sedan e:HEV are estimated to start from 1,150,000 baht (US$ 34,255) for the EL+
trim, and from 1,270,000 baht (US$ 37,829) for the RS. This makes them more
expensive than the Civic Sedan 1.5 VTEC Turbo which starts from 964,900 baht
(US$ 28,740) for the EL and 1,009,900 baht (US$ 30,075) for the EL+, despite having a
very similar power output. The e:HEV is already available to pre-order from
Thai dealers, with the first deliveries scheduled for June. Honda said that
it’s a global debut, meaning that the Civic Sedan e:HEV will likely be offered
in additional markets, though they didn’t elaborate.