2026 Honda Civic Hybrid Sedan Review

Honda once offered a hybrid version of its Civic sedan, but it was pulled from the market about 10 years ago.

But it’s back, launching a few years ago to great fanfare in 2024. Both it and the gas-only version of the Civic sedan are built at Honda’s plant north of Toronto in Alliston, Ont. It’s also available as a hatchback, although that’s assembled elsewhere.

The 2026 Honda Civic Hybrid Sedan starts in Sport trim at $35,930, including a non-negotiable delivery fee of $1,830. Tested here is the pricier Sport Touring that’s $39,430 before taxes.

Styling 9 / 10

The Civic looks sleek and low-slung, but its swoopy profile doesn’t come at the expense of rear-seat headroom, which is on par with its Hyundai Elantra and Toyota Corolla competitors, both of which are also offered with hybrid power. Somewhat surprisingly, this tester’s handsome shade of Rallye Red paint is included in the price, although some pearlescent shades add $300. The interior is simple and uncluttered, ramped up by a honeycomb strip across the dash that incorporates easy-to-use joysticks to adjust the vent airflow.

Safety 8 / 10

The United States National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave the 2026 Civic Hybrid its top five-star crash-test rating. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) named it a Top Safety Pick. While it got the top “Good” for small front overlap and side crash test results, it earned the next-step-down “Acceptable” for the updated moderate front overlap test, which now assesses potential injury to a rear-seat passenger, as well as to those in front. It also got “Acceptable” for its front crash prevention system for vehicle and pedestrian detection, but “Good+” for ease-of-use of its child seat anchors.

Standard driver-assist features on all trims include emergency front braking, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist, traffic sign recognition, and the back-up camera that’s mandatory on all new vehicles, although this one offers multiple views and guidelines. The Sport Touring Hybrid exclusively adds parking sensors and low-speed braking, which will stop you if it detects you’re about to smack something when driving very slowly or parking.

Features 8 / 10

Both versions of the Civic Hybrid Sedan ride on 18-inch alloy rims. Other features across all trims include LED exterior lighting, dual-zone automatic climate control, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The top Sport Touring exclusively adds leather-trimmed upholstery, power-adjustable front seats, heated rear seats, a wireless charger, upgraded stereo, nine-inch centre touchscreen with Google Built-In, and 10.2-inch digital instrument instrument.

User-Friendliness 8 / 10

The Civic continues to use buttons and dials for the climate functions, along with a volume dial, a conventional gear selector, and those easy-to-use vent adjustment knobs. The controls on the steering wheel are intuitive, as are the icons on the infotainment screen. On the down side, the gloss-black accents below the screen can reflect sunlight like a mirror. As well, the rear-seat risers extend to the door opening past the cushions. Most people will be fine with them, but make sure older passengers or those with mobility issues can easily get in.

Practicality 8 / 10

As a compact sedan, the Civic has a small footprint for easy parking in tight spaces and small garages. Compared to its Corolla and Elantra rivals, it has the largest trunk volume at 419 L, and the Sport Touring includes an inside trunk release for easier access.

Comfort 8 / 10

The Sport Touring is the only trim with power-adjustable front seats, which I really appreciate since my husband and I differ a fair bit in height, and I prefer the electric movement to pumping a lever to move the seat up each time we switch. I would have liked the seat to go a bit higher for my not-too-tall frame, but it was only a minor issue during this test. The chairs are supportive, the cabin is quiet, and the ride is smooth and comfortable.

Power 9 / 10

The hybrid uses a 2.0L four-cylinder engine that, combined with the system’s electric motors, creates a usable total of 200 hp and 232 lb-ft of torque — the most of its direct competitors. It’s strong and very smooth when accelerating, and its automatic continuously-variable transmission (CVT) is quiet and efficient. Like the Elantra, it’s front-wheel drive (FWD); only the Corolla and its sibling Prius offers all-wheel drive (AWD) amongst hybrids this size.

Honda calls its hybrid a “two-motor” system. One is an electric propulsion motor, which drives the front wheels. The gas engine primarily powers a generator motor, which supplies electricity to the propulsion motor or the battery. In certain conditions, the engine will also connect to the front axle to drive the wheels as well, mostly during highway cruising, which the automaker says lets the Civic stay at higher speeds for longer periods. It recharges its battery using regenerative braking, capturing energy that’s otherwise wasted during deceleration, and it doesn’t get plugged in.

Driving Feel 9 / 10

The Civic is a really nice car to drive. It’s quick, it feels very nimble, the steering is very responsive, and it’s fun to drive on a curvy road, especially since it’s a car and not a taller, top-heavy crossover. The regenerative braking can be adjusted using paddles on the steering wheel, so it can slow down more — and feed more power into the battery — when you take your foot off the throttle.

Fuel Economy 9 / 10

Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) rates the Civic Hybrid at 4.7 L/100 km in the city, 5.1 on the highway, and 4.9 combined, and it takes regular-grade gas. That’s only decimals away from its rivals from Toyota and Hyundai, but the Civic has considerably more power and torque for that tiny penalty in fuel consumption.

Value 7 / 10

Sitting at the top of the Civic’s trim levels, the hybrid comes in Sport at $35,930 and $39,430 for my Sport Touring tester. By comparison, the Toyota Corolla Hybrid covers four trim levels ranging from $29,766 to $38,975 before tax. The value leader here is the Hyundai Elantra, where the hybrid powertrain is an option on the very-well-appointed Luxury trim, and it’s $37,799. The Toyota Prius may be a cross-shop for some, but it’s a hatchback and with standard AWD, and it starts at more than $40,000 (all prices including freight).

The Verdict

Those who want a hybrid and who prefer a small sedan to a crossover are in luck right now, as the competitors in this compact segment are all at the top of their games. The list is small enough that you can test-drive them all, and be sure to include the 2026 Honda Civic Hybrid Sedan. It may be the priciest of the three, but it’s also quite the performer, and could possibly be the right one for you.