Close to a year after the launch of the latest-generation Honda Civic in Malaysia, its hybrid version, the Honda Civic e:HEV RS is now available, fetching a price of RM 166,500. Skipping one generation, the hybrid version of the Civic is back with a 2.0-litre engine and a dual-motor electric drive system.
Bookings for the Honda Civic e:HEV RS has been open since October 2022. Among the highlights of the Civic e:HEV RS are its hybrid powertrain and its key card entry system.
With both the ‘RS’ and ‘e:HEV’ moniker, the Civic e:HEV RS sits above the turbocharged Honda Civic RS in the variant hierarchy. Differentiating the Hybrid Civic e:HEV RS and the turbocharged Civic RS are chrome trims on the headlights, window frames, and door handles.
The e:HEV RS also has a set of dual-tone 18-inch wheels as opposed to the turbo’s matte black 18-inch wheels. The Honda emblems on the e:HEV have a blue tinge and the e:HEV only has a single tailpipe as opposed to the turbo’s dual tailpipe setup.
One unseen change the Civic had to adopt for the hybrid powertrain is the integration of the Intelligent Power Unit (IPU). The IPU includes the inverter, battery, and converter, and is located in front of the rear axle and sits underneath the car floor. Weighing 36.4 kg, the integration of the IPU has lowered the Civic’s centre of gravity by 10 mm, increase rear torsional rigidity by 3%, and decrease the unsprung mass ratio by 4%.
Like the City e:HEV RS and HR-V e:HEV RS, the Honda Civic is powered by Honda’s hybrid system with dual motors, albeit with a larger 2.0-litre naturally-aspirated engine. The hybrid system has a system maximum output of 184 hp (metric) and 315 Nm which is essentially from the e-CVT unit alone (includes transmission, traction motor, and generator). The newly-developed 2.0-litre engine (Atkinson cycle, direct injection) itself makes 143 hp (metric) and 189 Nm.
Just in case you were wondering, the Civic e:HEV RS’s hybrid system makes an extra 2 hp and 75 Nm more than the turbo Civic RS. Depending on the situation, the Honda Civic e:HEV RS can be driven in either “EV Mode”, “Hybrid Mode”, or “Engine Mode” to maximise its efficiency.
Inside, the Honda Civic e:HEV RS features a 10.2-inch full digital instrument cluster, a 9-inch touchscreen head unit with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless phone charging, and dual-zone automatic climate control. All else is similar to the turbocharged RS version.
Safety-wise, the Honda Civic e:HEV RS gets the full suite of Honda Sensing. This includes Lead Car Departure Notification System (LCDN), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Low-Speed Follow (LSF), Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Lane Keep Assist System (LKAS), Road Departure Mitigation (RDM), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), and Auto High Beam (AHB).
Included in the price of the Honda Civic e:HEV RS is a five-year/unlimited mileage standard warranty and an eight-year/unlimited mileage hybrid battery warranty. Free labour service is applicable for up to five times within the first 100,000 km.
GALLERY
