New Honda Civic Sedan e:HEV Debuts In Thailand With Hybrid Powertrain

Honda unveiled the Civic Sedan e:HEV in Thailand, following the debut of the equivalent hybrid hatchback in Europe. The four-door model made its first public appearance at the 2022 Bangkok Auto Show that takes place from March 24 to  April 3.

The Honda Civic Sedan e:HEV looks practically identical to the pure-ICE versions in terms of exterior design, retaining a single visible exhaust pipe unlike the EU-spec Civic e:HEV where it is hidden. Therefore, the only way to distinguish it from a VTEC turbo variant are the e:HEV badge on the tailgate and the blue background on the Honda logo. The RS trim adds sporty details like red badging, chrome accents, black-painted details (mirror caps, door handles, etc), a prominent rear spoiler, and a cool set of 18-inch alloy wheels (instead of 17-inch wheels on the EL+ trim).

The hybrid Honda Civic Sedan e:HEV shown here is in RS trim with sporty elements inside-out. The pictured model is right-hand drive because its global premiere happened in Thailand. Inside we find a 10.2 digital instrument cluster, a 9-inch Advanced Touch infotainment, auto climate control, suede and synthetic leather upholstery with red stitching for the RS, glossy black accents on the dashboard, and a stylish Honda Smart Key Card. The rear passengers have access to air vents, two USB ports and a rear bench with 60:40 split proving access to the boot. Equipment also includes the Honda Sensing suite of ADAS, including the adaptive cruise control.

The e:HEV powertrain consists of a 2.0-liter four-cylinder direct-injection Atkinson-cycle engine and dual electric motors producing a combined 181 hp (135 kW / 184 PS) and 315 Nm (232.3 lb-ft) of torque. Power is sent to the front axle through a continuously variable electric ratio automatic transmission (CVT for short), while the energy is stored in a lithium-ion battery mounted under the rear seats. The driver can select between the Econ, Normal, and Sport driving modes (losing the Individual found on the EU-spec hatchback), with the powertrain shifting automatically between EV, Hybrid, and Engine Drive.

In Thailand, prices of the Honda Civic Sedan e:HEV are estimated to start from 1,150,000 baht ($34,255) for the EL+ trim, and from 1,270,000 baht ($37,829) for the RS. This makes them more expensive than the Civic Sedan 1.5 VTEC Turbo which starts from 964,900 baht ($28,740) for the EL and 1,009,900 baht ($30,075) for the EL+, despite having a very similar power output.

The e:HEV is already available to pre-order from Thai dealers, with the first deliveries scheduled for June. Honda said that it’s a global debut, meaning that the Civic Sedan e:HEV will likely be offered in additional markets, though they didn’t elaborate.

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