If you’re of a certain age, you probably remember when the word “hatchback” was a pejorative term for a small, no-frills, gutless car driven by either a broke student or an adult with nothing going for them. The 2025 Honda Civic Hatchback Hybrid Sport Touring isn’t the first car that shows how far the hatchback has come, but it’s a great example of how a modern one can be both practical and enjoyable.
One thing that’s no longer the same is the definition of hatchback, at least according to Honda. It calls this version of the Civic a hatchback, but given that the fifth door isn’t exactly upright, it seems more fitting to call it a liftback. The Civic lineup as a whole has changed for 2025. All models get a restyled front fascia and grille, but only sedans receive new darker taillights. Honda distinguishes the Civic hybrids with body-color headlamp trim and a front chin spoiler. The Sport Touring Hybrid rolls on a set of new, trim-specific 18-inch wheels with a machined finish.
A hybrid model with a 2.0-liter Atkinson-cycle I4 and a two-motor hybrid system – one that generates power for the lithium-ion battery pack and one that drives the wheels – is now available as a sedan or liftback hatchback. Combined, that hardware generates a total of 200 horsepower and 232 lb-ft of torque, making the hybrid the most powerful Civic without a Type R badge ever, according to Honda. A CVT sends that output to the front wheels.
There are only two hybrid trim levels for the Civic hatch: Sport and Sport Hybrid. According to the window sticker, our Sport Touring Hybrid review vehicle had a base MSRP of $32,950, which included standard equipment such leather seats with heating and power adjustments for the front row, a 12-speaker Bose audio system, built-in Google (also new for 2025), and wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, which can be accessed on the Sport Touring Hybrid’s larger nine-inch touchscreen. Our tester’s one option, the $455 Boost Blue paint, brought its as-tested price to $34,500.
Certain hatchbacks of yesteryear were dull, bland little things that were unpleasant to see and even worse to be seen in. With its handsome front end, fast roofline, and cheery, Skittle-esque blue paint, the Civic Sport Touring Hybrid was a pleasant sight in the parking lot at work or the grocery store.
The Sport Touring Hybrid was proof that you don’t have to be penalized with a cheap, boring interior for choosing a practical, fuel-efficient car. Its honeycomb dash trim and knurled HVAC dial rings showed that the interior of a small A-to-B car can look and feel special. The wireless phone charger and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were welcome conveniences that made the Civic seem more upscale.
The Civic Hatchback’s cabin was pleasant, but not perfect. It was hard to cruise comfortably and naturally with an elbow on the driver’s window sill because it was a little too high. Surprisingly, legroom in the second row was ample enough for someone my height, 5’10”, to be comfortable. The catch was that the downward slope of the roof didn’t leave enough headroom. Despite its top spot in the Civic Hatchback trim level hierarchy, the Sport Touring also didn’t have HVAC vents or USB ports on the back of the center console for second-row passengers to use.
Given the Sport Touring Hybrid’s focus on practicality and its ability to get up to 50 mpg in the city, 45 on the highway, and 48 combined, it seemed likely that it was going to be a disappointing driving experience. The exact opposite turned out to be true. Across 429 miles of mixed driving, we averaged a slightly disappointing 44 mpg. Perhaps we indulged a little too much in the Civic’s substantial power. The hardware around it was just as enjoyable. Even on bad pavement, the ride quality was composed and comfortable. Honda did a great job of dialing in the weight of the steering. Perhaps the biggest shock was the brake pedal, which was communicative and easy to modulate smoothly.
To learn more of the things the 2025 Honda Civic Hatchback Sport Touring Hybrid did well (and maybe not so well), check out my colleague Luke Lamendola’s video review below.
