The Honda Civic RS e:HEV E-CVT
The new Honda Civic Hybrid is a reminder of just how well Honda understands the fundamentals of building a car. There’s no unnecessary flash here, just a focus on getting the basics right. The Civic RS e:HEV E-CVT pairs a 2-liter engine with a hybrid system and an eCVT transmission, and the result is a car that feels cohesive and thoughtfully engineered. It’s quick, comfortable, and crucially, it feels like a proper car rather than a soulless appliance.
One of the things I appreciate most is the tactile nature of the controls. Honda has kept physical buttons for the air conditioning, proper vent controls, and real knobs for the audio system. These are small details, but they matter. The driver’s seat is electric, while the passenger seat is manual, which is perfectly acceptable at this level. Rear seat space is generous, and the overall feel is more reminiscent of older Accords than previous Civics. It’s a clear step up in terms of comfort and refinement.
In a week of driving, mostly in heavy city traffic, I averaged about 14 kilometers per liter. On a longer drive to Clark and back, that improved to 18 kilometers per liter. Realistically, you can expect 14 to 15 in mixed conditions, especially if you use the Econ mode but drive in a normal, unhurried way. The hybrid system encourages more efficient driving without feeling restrictive or artificial.
The E-CVT transmission actually deserves the attention it gets in the car name because it is a key part of the system. it isn’t your normal CVT with the accompanying questions of longevity and issues of rubber-banding. It allows improved efficiency, higher durability, and an infinite number of gear ratios rather than the belts and chains of a standard system. in my opinion, Honda would do well to communicate this better because it is a key component, but then our whole point here is that they make excellent cars without all the flash with others sometimes feel they need.
We often think of the Civic Type R as the pinnacle of the lineup, a car that delivers excitement and value in equal measure. But driving the Civic RS e:HEV is a reminder that the real strength of the Civic lies in its underlying platform. Decades of experience have given Honda the ability to create cars with genuine character and a sense of identity. It’s not just about outright power; it’s about how everything works together to create a satisfying, holistic driving experience.
The RS e:HEV E-CVT delivers on that front. It’s calm and composed, yet still responsive and quick when you need it to be. If anything, I’d like to see a version with seats that are a bit less aggressively sporty, because the car already delivers a premium, almost luxurious ride. Honda has managed to elevate the Civic into something that feels genuinely special, without losing sight of what made it great in the first place.
