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By Jonathan Crouch

Honda's eleventh generation Civic family hatch embraces full-Hybrid tech. Jonathan Crouch looks at the updated version.

Ten Second Reviewword count: 55

This eleventh generation Honda Civic switched to e:HEV full-Hybrid power and adopted a lower-key look - which has been slightly sharpened in this updated form. As before, this car is slightly larger than its direct family hatch rivals and delivers everything its brand knows about petrol/electric technology. Which turns out to be quite a lot.

Backgroundword count: 102

The Honda Civic, one of the global motor industry's most enduring model lines, has moved on. These days, it's no longer built in Swindon. And with this eleventh generation, it switched away from a conventional engine, instead adopting a 2.0-litre e:HEV full-Hybrid petrol powerplant. There's been a return to the more mature styling of earlier generation Civic designs too; today this liftback 5-door hatch design has a more conservative, but still sophisticated look, particularly in this updated form. It's all created a car that really needs to be factored into your thinking if you're in the market for a full-Hybrid family hatch.

Driving Experienceword count: 375

Nothing about the powertrain's changed with this updated Civic e:HEV. Which means it remains a curious confection: an EV - but not an EV. There's certainly an engine - a 2.0-litre normally aspirated petrol unit - but its main role is to generate energy for a little 1.05kWh lithium-ion battery that drives two electric motors. Power output is rated at 184PS, with 315Nm of torque. Unlike Toyota or Hyundai full-Hybrids, this one has no gearbox between the powertrain and the wheels. Instead, the e:HEV system itself shifts seamlessly between 'EV', 'Hybrid' and 'Engine' drive phases, which aren't driver-selectable but built into the way the powertrain works. 'EV' drive propels you from start off and at low speeds and 'Hybrid' drive cuts in when extra acceleration is called for. Only at steady high speeds does 'Engine' drive kick in, but that happens only briefly because as you approach top speed and the required drive energy becomes higher again, the system switches back into the 'Hybrid' phase to re-unleash the full output of the electric motors. Honda promotes this as a 'driver's Hybrid', based around the fact that a lot of the stuff you can't see was engineered around the high performance needs of the (sadly now discontinued) 'FL5'-series generation Civic Type R hot hatch. This Hybrid Civic is of course a very different kettle of fish but it's still decently rapid, making 62mph in around eight seconds if you engage 'Sport', the most urgent of the three provided drive modes. You might want to as well because unlike other Honda e:HEV models we've tried, this one actually responds to your right foot, instead of merely considering your request with infuriating slowness, as is the case with brand's Hybrid SUVs. Thanks to a stiff chassis, a wide rear track and Honda's effective 'Agile Handling Assist' torque vectoring system, it goes round corners with surprising agility and we've appreciated Honda's tuning efforts with the quite feelsome steering rack. Of greater interest to this car's likely more mature clientele is the fact that ride quality from the passive dampers, though a touch on the firm side, is broadly excellent over all surfaces. And it's important to note is that highway refinement is also difficult to better in the segment.

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