The 2022 Honda Civic e:HEV has been revealed | New Release - Car News Mar 2022

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16:58 Wednesday 23 Mar 2022

The 2022 Honda Civic e:HEV has been revealed exclusively sporting a hybrid powertrain composed of two electric motors backed up by a 2.0-litre engine, giving the Honda a USP against the Volkswagen Golf (only available as an expensive PHEV) and the Ford Focus.

Honda has played it safe with exterior design, removing some of the more awkward elements of the old model, while sticking with the same general shape. It might not look like it, but it is an all-new design with a bonnet that sits 25mm lower than the car it replaces and a wheelbase that has stretched by 35mm. 

The longer wheelbase should translate into more rear-seat legroom and you can expect the boot – which was already one of the biggest in class - to grow in size, too. Its lid is now made of composite materials meaning it is 20 per cent lighter than the boot lid on the old model, which should make opening and closing it easier. 

Improved interior quality should be another feature of the new Honda Civic. It has a honeycomb air vent that stretches the breadth of the cabin and better quality plastics throughout. 

Two large infotainment screens – a 10.25 inch display behind the steering wheel and a 9-inch version on the centre of the dashboard – also rid the cabin of clutter. The centre screen comes fitted with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard while the standard eight-speaker stereo can be upgraded for a 12-speaker Bose system. 

There’s no option to upgrade the engine, but when the Civic comes with a petrol engine backed up by two electric motors to produce 184PS, you won’t need to.

 It runs on electric power the majority of the time, giving the Civic surging (and silent) acceleration off the line, while the petrol engine operates as a generator only spinning the wheels directly when its extra power is needed. As a result, the Civic can return fuel economy of more than 55mpg and produces low CO2 emissions of 110g/km. 

With its silent running, effortless performance and CVT automatic gearbox, the Honda should be an ideal partner in town, but it should also be fun to drive on country roads and a stable cruiser on the motorway. Honda is promising  ‘strong, reassuring handling’.

Or you can just let the car do the driving. The new Civic comes with an improved forward facing camera that means the car can more or less drive itself on the motorway and queuing traffic. 

Will it be enough to prise you from behind the wheel of your Volkswagen Golf or Ford Focus? Only time will tell, the Civic e:HEV is expected to cost around £25,000 when it goes on sale in the autumn. 


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