As everyone knows by now, the next-generation 2022 Honda Civic is already available locally. On a more global scale though, Honda still hasn’t stopped ramping up the Civic hype-train. This is because it recently announced that it will be launching the 2022 Honda Civic Hybrid in Europe later this year.
The 2022 Honda Civic Hybrid
What’s interesting is, this electrified version is even more powerful than the top-spec Civic RS Turbo available in the Philippines. Specifically, the Civic Hybrid produces an impressive 181 horsepower and 315 Nm of torque out of a 2.0-liter inline-4, Atkinson Cycle engine combined with a pair of electric motors. In turn, the said motors are powered by a new 72-cell lithium-ion battery.
To put this into perspective, the Civic RS Turbo for the Philippine market can make up to 176 horsepower and 240 Nm of torque.
Going back to the electric motors, one powers the rear wheels, which means that the Civic Hybrid is an all-wheel-drive vehicle. The other motor acts as a generator for the aforementioned battery pack.
This means two things, better fuel efficiency, and all the advantages of all-wheel-drive like more traction on slippery conditions.
The Civic Hybrid makes 181 hp and 315 Nm of torque
Moreover, the advanced powertrain of this all-new electrified Civic can also seamlessly switch between full EV mode, hybrid mode, and combustion engine mode by itself as needed.
Unlike the regular fossil fuel Civic variants, the Civic Hybrid also uses a fixed-gear transmission. It shares this with other Honda models currently using the e:HEV platform. This is said to provide less energy consumption while on electric mode, and less friction and resistance due to having minimal gears.
The interior of the 2022 Honda Civic Hybrid is also a bit different compared to the regular, purely combustion-powered Civics. For one thing, it lacks a gear shift lever, and instead its center console gets push-button gear selectors. The arrangement in general is similar to the Philippine-spec Civic RS Turbo, though most of its electronic bits including the air-conditioning knobs get the addition of blue backlighting.
A peek inside the Civic Hybrid's interior
Previously, a report surfaced online stating that Honda is also gearing up to introduce the Civic Hybrid in the ASEAN region. The report mentioned that the Civic Hybrid will be making its debut in Thailand. But, nothing is official yet as of this writing. If the report is accurate, the ASEAN-spec Civic Hybrid version might come with a different output rating than the European version due to a slightly less stringent emission standard in the region.
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