Honda Civic Hybrid Achieves Record Fourth Win As 2025 North American Car Of The Year

Published: Saturday, January 11, 2025, 1:03 [IST]

The Honda Civic hybrid has been awarded the 2025 North American Car of the Year, marking its fourth win. This achievement highlights the Civic's sporty design, safety features, and driving dynamics. The Civic hybrid is crucial to Honda's electrification strategy, expected to account for 40% of Civic sales this year. The award recognises excellence in innovation, design, performance, and value.

Honda's two-motor hybrid system powers the new Civic hybrid models. This system enhances efficiency while maintaining performance and space. It offers a sportier driving experience with excellent fuel economy. Variants of this system are also used in the Honda Accord and CR-V, contributing to over half of their sales. The system has been praised for its power and refinement.

Jessika Laudermilk, assistant vice president of Honda Auto Sales, expressed gratitude for the recognition by automotive journalists. "We are honored to have leading automotive journalists select the Honda Civic hybrid as the North American Car of the Year," she said. The fun-to-drive hybrid-electric models are integral to Honda's electrification plans.

The new Civic hybrid is available as a sedan or hatchback. It combines the Civic's fun-to-drive nature with Honda's award-winning two-motor hybrid-electric system. With 200 horsepower and 232 lb.-ft. of torque, it is among the most powerful non-Type R Civics ever made.

The fourth-generation Honda two-motor hybrid-electric power unit is assembled at the Honda Transmission Plant in Ohio. It pairs with a new 2.0-liter Atkinson-cycle engine from Ohio's Anna Engine Plant. Redesigned components improve production efficiency and capacity.

Honda has produced nearly 12 million Civics in North America since 1982, including over five million in the U.S., accounting for a significant portion of regional production. The 11th-generation Civic continues this legacy with production in Canada and Indiana.

Award-Winning Hybrid System

The Civic hybrid features large electric motors for quick acceleration and impressive fuel economy ratings, including a 50-mpg city rating for certain models. Unique tuning enhances ride comfort and handling dynamics, while noise reduction measures ensure cabin quietness.

The North American Car, Utility and Truck of the Year awards began in 1994 to honour excellence in various automotive aspects. Fifty journalists from U.S. and Canada judge vehicles based on innovation, design, safety features, performance, technology, driver satisfaction, and value.

Legacy of Success

The Civic nameplate is one of America's top three best-selling passenger cars over the past 52 years. Since its introduction in 1973, more than 15 million Civics have been sold in North America alone.

Honda offers a diverse lineup of vehicles through over 1,000 independent U.S. dealers. Their range includes popular models like the HR-V and CR-V SUVs alongside electrified options such as the all-electric Prologue SUV and hybrid-electric Accord.

In recent years, more than 99% of Hondas sold in the U.S were manufactured in North America using domestic and globally sourced parts.