Electric/hybrid | On the road

Honda Civic e-HEV Advance

By Bill McCarthy

The iconic Honda Civic is one of the world’s best-selling cars, with more than 27 million sold worldwide since 1974. There’s a reason for that success. This mid-life revamp of the 11th generation demonstrates why, with slick design, sophisticated hybrid technology, and SUV-like practicality. I

t makes a persuasive case for the smart, safe, and stylish family hatchback as others abandon that sector because of the rise in popularity of SUVs and crossovers, and the economic and regulatory pressures that make building small, affordable cars less profitable.

The Civic features a sharper look with redesigned grilles, new wheels, and the ‘Seabed Blue’ paint option on this test car, while all models retain the advanced Honda SENSING safety technology. Exterior changes include a redesigned front grille and front bumper spoiler, plus re-styled 18-inch alloy wheels. The front fog lights have been removed due to improved LED headlight technology.

Another key upgrade is to the safety and Honda SENSING technology, as the firm says its latest ambition is to achieve zero traffic fatalities by 2050.

Sleek design and premium interior

Honda says the Civic has a ‘human-centred interior’, which means it is comfortable and practical. Changes give it a more premium feel, and the Elegance, Sport, and Advance models driven here received specific upgrades, such as a heated steering wheel or wireless charging.

The cabin is spacious, airy, and flooded with light from larger glass areas, which comes in no small part from the panoramic sunroof on this range-topper. Across the three specs there are mostly soft-touch materials, comfortable, ergonomic seats, and practical touches like deep storage and smartphone trays.

It feels traditional and modern at the same time. There is no huge central tablet, but a nine-inch (or optional 10.2-inch) touchscreen sitting on top of the dashboard, controlling functions like smartphone connectivity, navigation, and infotainment—in this case, a premium 12-speaker Bose sound system.

This is supplemented by further driver information on the dual-dial binnacle. Controls and switches feel sturdy and logical, and the slim honeycomb-style air vent spanning the dashboard adds a distinctive touch. A couple of bottle holders are incorporated into the central console, which also controls drive selection and the parking brake.

Practicality

While crossovers dominate, the Civic holds its own with 404 litres of boot space, which increases to 1,187 litres with the seats folded. A wide tailgate makes loading easy. For the active family, neat touches like a rubber covering in the boot area keep the car clean from muddy boots and wet clothing.

On the road

The star is the 2.0-litre self-charging hybrid powertrain. With 143PS and an intelligent electric motor, it delivers lively performance (0-62mph in 8.1 seconds) with poise and refinement.

The latest auto transmisison keeps improving and is less raucous than previous iterations. Around town, the EV mode delivers quiet, efficient progress. Claimed fuel economy is 56.5 mpg. On a drive which included higher-speed motorway journeys, it was hovering around the still-impressive 51 mpg mark.

Ride and handling are also impressive, and the car feels agile and stable on corners. It is fun to drive – quick but not manic – and benefits from Honda’s ‘winding road detection system’. This ensures the vehicle is in the most appropriate drive mode to improve responsiveness and reduce unnecessary and frequent switching.

Using a drive selector, users can switch between four drive modes: ‘Normal’, ‘Sport’, ‘Eco’, and ‘Individual’.

Safety

Always innovative on safety, Honda says its latest ambition is to achieve zero traffic fatalities by 2050.

Protection starts with a reinforced body structure,11 airbags, with a new front centre airbag to separate occupants in a side impact. ISOFIX points aid child safety, while pedestrian protection includes energy-absorbing bumper components.

The latest Honda SENSING suite uses new sonar sensors and a 100-degree camera for improved object and pedestrian detection. Key systems include a Collision Mitigation Braking System, Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Keep Assist, Traffic Sign Recognition, and a Blind Spot Monitor on higher trims.

Verdict

The Honda Civic e:HEV starts at £33,795, placing it at the higher end of the mainstream family hatchback market. However, this is an excellent car, and the premium is justified by its high level of standard equipment, its full hybrid powertrain and Honda SENSING safety suite.

It offers a strong option for buyers prioritising hybrid technology, standard features, and driving comfort, though it faces strong competition from both conventional and plug-in hybrid rivals with lower entry costs.

Factfile

Honda Civic e-HEV Advance Style
Price: £38,695
Mechanical: 143PS, 1,993cc, 4cyl petrol engine and electric motor driving front wheels via automatic transmission
Max speed: 112mph
0-62mph: 8.1 seconds
Combined mpg: 56.3
Insurance group: 28
CO2 emissions: 114g/km
Warranty: 3yrs/90,000 miles

SEAL 6 DM-i Saloon and Touring

By Bill McCarthy

Stepping on the accelerator – or perhaps charging up the battery – in the UK, Chinese car maker BYD’s models are arriving thick and fast. The brand is rapidly expanding its line-up and has now introduced the SEAL 6 DM-i, a plug-in hybrid designed to offer the best of both worlds.

It provides electric driving for daily commutes and leisure with a claimed range of around 65 miles, backed by a 1.5-litre petrol engine for longer journeys.

Plug-in hybrids and full hybrids are ideal for those attracted to the idea of an EV but not ready to fully commit, often due to range anxiety.

The advantage of this plug-in is its 65-mile electric-only range, which allows drivers to avoid congestion and clean air charges, with low emissions making it cheaper to run. The petrol engine can then kick in to recharge the battery while on the move.

The car is available in two body styles: a sleek saloon and a still stylish, but more practical Touring model, which marks BYD’s first estate car in Europe. Trim levels include Boost and Comfort.

Both models offer an upmarket, stylish design that belies their price, starting at £33,990 for the Saloon and £34,990 for the Touring. Considering the standard equipment, this seems to represent a good buy for the money.

Interior and comfort

The cabin is a comfortable, tech-filled space with a minimalist setup common to modern EVs. Key features include:

A large, rotating tablet-style infotainment screen that controls major functions like connectivity, infotainment, and satellite navigation. Both accessible via Android Auto or Apple CarPlay.
Leather seats and plenty of USB ports.
A genuinely roomy interior, particularly in the rear, ensuring comfort even for larger adults on longer journeys.

Boot capacity

The estate offers excellent, if not class-leading, boot space. It provides 560 litres with the rear seats up, expanding to a maximum of 1,460 litres with them folded. The saloon remains practical for its segment, with a useful 450 litres of cargo space.

Safety and driver assistance

Standard features include multiple airbags, electronic stability control, and a robust body structure.

It also incorporates advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), typically featuring adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, autonomous emergency braking, and blind-spot monitoring to enhance driver confidence.

Powertrain and performance

BYD’s “Super Hybrid” system operates primarily on battery power. On longer journeys, the petrol engine acts mainly as a generator to recharge the battery, promising a claimed total range of over 900 miles.

When more power is needed, the system can combine the power from both the engine and the electric motor for maximum performance.

Like other hybrids, it also uses regenerative braking to capture energy and recharge the battery while slowing down.

However, it is wise to be sceptical of this maximum range figure, which is likely achieved under ideal conditions.

Real-world factors like driving style, cold weather, high speeds, and hilly terrain will reduce that number. While 900 miles seems fanciful in practice, other BYD models have proven highly economical, and the Seal appears set to follow suit.

On the road

The test drive involved urban driving through busy towns as well as longer stretches on country roads and fast dual carriageways. Both cars felt refined and comfortable, with the leather seats providing good support. It’s not the quickest EV off the mark, but achieving 60mph in around 8.5 seconds provides enough pace for most needs.

Handling proved decent, though the ride felt a little firm. There was some wind noise around the door mirrors and road noise from the tyres on poorer road surfaces, though this largely disappeared on better roads. En route, the models’ design and branding attracted considerable attention, a sign that BYD has quickly established a growing recognition in the country.

Every model comes with a six-year or 93,750 mile warranty. The vehicle supports AC charging from 15-100% in three or 2.7 hours (depending on the model), and a DC fast charge from 30-80% takes just 23 minutes. A 3.3kW Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) function is also standard.

Verdict

A technologically advanced PHEV, the SEAL 6 appears to offer a substantial electric range for a practical transition from combustion engines, in either saloon or estate form. Its real-world efficiency and long-term reliability in the UK are yet to be proven. But it looks good, feels premium and is keenly priced.

On the road

Category Archives: Electric/hybrid

Honda Civic: The family hatchback to beat