Honda recently introduced the 2022 Civic Hatchback as the second body style in the eleventh generation’s lineup. Hidden in the global market news release is confirmation that the two other Civic variants will arrive in 2022, one of which is the potent Civic Type R. The big surprise, however, is that Honda confirmed that the Civic Hybrid is bound for other regions of the world. Will the Honda Civic Hybrid make it to North America? We think it will.
If you’re looking closely at Honda’s announcements, you’ll notice that Honda hasn’t said much about its Prius-fighting Insight sedan. Essentially, a Honda Civic Hybrid with a different name, the Insight is closely related to the tenth generation Civic. With the announcement that a Civic Hybrid is coming to other global markets, we suspect this may be the end of the road for the Insight name. This move appears to be a similar one to what Honda did for the eighth generation Civic, offer a full range of models including an electrified one to fend off the Toyota Corolla Hybrid and Hyundai Elantra Hybrid.
In the news release, Honda says that it will utilize its two-motor hybrid system on the Civic Hybrid. We’re suspecting it’s the same 1.5-liter four-cylinder coupled to two electric motors and a lithium-ion battery. Unlike most hybrid systems, Honda ditches the traditional transmission in favor of a direct drive setup. This is the same one currently used in the Insight and global market Fit. In the former, it makes a combined output of 151 hp and 197 lb-ft of torque.
Honda may also be using this hybrid powertrain on the upcoming HR-V/Vezel Hybrid that will be sold outside North America. As for the Civic, we think it’ll get a massaged version of the Insight’s powertrain, meaning it’ll be more powerful than its competitors. The Corolla Hybrid’s 1.8-liter-based system makes 121 hp combined while the Elantra Hybrid’s more conventional design generates 139 hp and 195 lb-ft and includes a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
As for the body styles, we won’t be surprised if Honda offered the Civic Hybrid in both sedan and hatchback configurations. With both flavors now being manufactured in North America, there’s no reason why Honda can’t offer an electrified powertrain on them. Additionally, the current-generation Honda Insight is already being built here, meaning it shouldn’t cost the company that much to add the Civic Hybrid to its Ontario or Indiana assembly plants.
The confirmation of the Honda Civic Hybrid comes after the Japanese automaker confirmed that it will discontinue its Clarity line of electrified sedans. By August of this year, the Honda Clarity PHEV and Clarity Fuel Cell will end production; however, you’ll still be able to lease the latter through 2022 if you live in a state where it is sold like California and Oregon. In that same announcement, Honda also revealed that it’s expanding the availability of its two-motor hybrid system to more models before its first dedicated battery-electric vehicle arrives in 2024. The Civic will be the latest to get the system and we won’t be surprised if the North American market HR-V also got it. At the moment, the CR-V, Accord, and Insight are using Honda’s two-motor hybrid system in North America.
