2025 Honda Civic Hybrid Review: A Road Trip Test From Toronto To Montreal

These days a lot of attention is placed on all-electric vehicles and while they have their place, some people, including myself, may not be ready to commit to a fully electric vehicle just yet. Don’t get me wrong, there are some strong arguments for all-electric vehicles but they aren’t for me. At least not yet. I recently had the opportunity to explore Montreal and the Eastern Townships in Quebec for a week with a 2025 Honda Civic Hybrid and after that time I realized that when I do switch from a gas-powered car, I’ll be choosing a hybrid vehicle. This type of car gives owners the best of both worlds as far as gas and electric power goes.

As I mentioned above, hybrid vehicles offer both gas and electric power and I think that this is why a lot of people balk at the idea of owning one. They don’t understand the technology, but we’ll talk about that a little later on. Our road trip was long, but comfortable, and almost stress-free as we did drive through Toronto and Montreal. And if you’re familiar with the traffic in both cities you know what I’m talking about. During this road trip from Toronto to Montreal and then on to the Eastern Townships I filled up twice. Yes, twice! I was utterly impressed as it was proof that the 2025 Honda Civic Hybrid is a vehicle that serves up comfort right alongside a greener footprint.

Surprising Power and Performance

Most people still write off hybrids as being boring commuter cars, but Honda proved them wrong with the 2025 Civic Hybrid. Under the hood you’ll find a two-motor hybrid system that uses a 2.0-litre Atkinson cycle engine and a lithium-ion battery pack. This combination generates 200 horsepower and 232 lb-ft of torque. This translates to a very quick 0 to 60, more than a lot of other cars out on the road today. This is basically hybrid technology giving you a sly look and saying ‘Not too shabby, right?’.

The Civic Hybrid handles beautifully and responded to every touch of the steering wheel, brake, or accelerator. While on the highway, the Civic Hybrid was quiet thanks to the Active Noise Control that it’s equipped with. You might also be asking “Is the 2025 Honda Civic Hybrid good for long road trips?” well my drive to the Eastern Townships was the proof that it handles highway miles with ease and is quite comfortable.

The True Hybrid Advantage: Convenience and Efficiency

When we got back home quite a few of my friends asked “Does the 2025 Honda Civic Hybrid need to be plugged in to recharge its batteries?”. The answer is no, and this is where the car truly shines. It’s self-charging so there’s never a need to plug it in. An actual fear of mine is that I’ll be driving a fully electric car and I’ll run out of juice on a long drive to a brand new destination. This is the main reason I can’t see myself buying a fully electric vehicle. Yes, I know it’s irrational and I know people who own fully electric vehicles but I prefer hybrid vehicles, and it’s not just because Honda Canada loaned me this car for our road trip!

So, how does it do it? It’s all about a brilliant use of technology. The car’s battery recharges itself using two simple solutions. First, the gasoline engine itself acts as a generator. It kicks in to recharge the battery when it’s not needed to power the wheels. Second, the car uses something called “regenerative braking.” Every time you brake, energy is released as heat. That energy is now captured, converted to electricity and is then used to top up the battery. It’s a very efficient system that works entirely on its own.

I’ve said it before but I think it bears repeating. Convenience, and peace of mind are paramount to car owners, including myself. It’s hard to argue with a car that cuts down on emissions while saving on gas. The numbers speak for themselves: 4.8 L/100 km city and 5.4 highway. It also boasts of a 5.0 L/100 km combined rating, it’s a major improvement over the traditional gas-powered Civic that makes the switch to a hybrid feel like a total no-brainer. I had the experience myself that proved to me that the 2025 Honda Civic Hybrid real world fuel economy lives up to the hype.

2025 Honda Civic Hybrid Features And Design

Looking at the exterior of the 2025 Honda Civic Hybrid and 2024 model and you’ll notice some pleasing differences. On the 2025 model you’d notice that the headlights have a slimmer look and the front is sleeker making it appear more modern and sportier. As an Android user I was happy to see that the Hybrid Civic came with Google built-in to the infotainment system. I was able to easily launch Google Maps and my music which made our road trip even more enjoyable. It should be noted that in Canada the Google built-in comes in the Sport Touring Hybrid.

I was very pleasantly surprised at the interior of this car. From the outside you wouldn’t think that there’s so much space in this vehicle. I’m not really someone who you’d describe as being svelte but I never felt cramped in the driver seat. The space in the trunk was just as impressive as the cabin. We tend to overpack on road trips but there was plenty of room in this car for all of our bags. I guess that’s the beauty of roadtripping over flying. The high-quality materials in the cabin made for a very pleasant drive and the Honda suite of safety features, that comes standard, gave an extra layer of confidence.

Is the 2025 Honda Civic Hybrid Worth the Price? (Pros & Cons)

There’s not a lot of things to complain about with the 2025 Honda Civic Hybrid but the thing at the top of my list is the cost of this vehicle. The hybrid model of the 2025 Honda Civic is definitely more expensive upfront than the gas model. In the long-term the savings may make up the difference but I think that for some that upfront cost may be a deal breaker.

While the above is true, when you weigh it all up, this car just makes sense. Owners are getting performance and styling without the usual number of gas station trips. We then look at the convenience factor of it self-charging, this way there’s no need to worry about having to constantly seek out a charger. It’s a solid pick for someone wanting a greener footprint but enjoys being behind the wheel.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Does the 2025 Honda Civic Hybrid need to be plugged in?

No, it does not. As I mentioned above, it self-charges by using the gas-powered engine and whenever you brake. You’ll still need to fill up at a gas station, but much less frequently.

What is the 2025 Honda Civic Hybrid real world fuel economy?

Officially it’s 5.0 L/100 km combined. My roundtrip drive took us from Toronto, to Montreal, to the Eastern Townships and back on a weeklong road trip and I only had to fill the tank twice. That was my real-world experience to prove the efficiency of this car.

Is the 2025 Honda Civic Hybrid good for long road trips?

Absolutely! My wife and I were very comfortable. Keep in mind, we had no one in the back so we were able to move the seats as far back as we wanted. The ride was also relatively quiet, and the range is excellent.

How is the 2025 Honda Civic Hybrid trunk space for luggage?

As usual we over packed but take a look at the photo below. As you can see we were able to fit a couple of suitcases, a cooler and more. Honda placed the battery for this car under the rear seats so it didn’t take away any trunk space.

Is the 2025 Honda Civic Hybrid vs gas model price difference worth it?

That’s hard for me to answer as everyone’s financial situation is different. While the hybrid does have a higher upfront cost, I think that in the long run the savings and resale value is worth it. I’m someone who holds on to a car for a long time, I still have a 2012 Honda CRV, so a hybrid vehicle definitely makes sense for me.

Final Verdict

Honda basically built this for the driver who wants better mileage but hates the idea of ‘range anxiety’, like myself. It’s the easiest way to go green because the car does all the work without having to depend on charging cables. Inside, it’s as spacious and comfortable as you’d expect from a Civic, but feels modern. It hits that sweet spot where you don’t have to sacrifice performance just to be more environmentally conscious.

Huge thanks to Honda Canada for letting me borrow this car for our road-trip. I was NOT compensated for this article and all opinions expressed are completely my own.