Should Honda Cars PH launch a hybrid Civic?
Do you think Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. (HCPI) should locally introduce an electrified version of its popular compact sedan entry? First announced for the Thai market in March this year, the Honda Civic e:HEV will soon officially launch in the Land of Smiles on June 15. With locally available brands already pushing for electrification, will it make sense in the Philippines?
It could actually make sense as the Honda Civic e:HEV would be able to compete directly with the Toyota Corolla Altis 1.8 V Hybrid CVT which is currently the lone hybrid model available in its segment locally, and of course, is the Honda Civic’s most direct competitor as well.
Let’s talk about performance first. Hybrid powertrains usually come with low or small output and torque figures but that is not the case with the Civic e:HEV. While the current local Civic lineup is powered by Honda’s 1.5 L four-cylinder VTEC turbo engine that produces 175 HP and 240 Nm of torque, the e:HEV has a 2.0L naturally-aspirated four-cylinder Atkinson-cycle engine that produces 184 HP and 315 Nm of torque. That makes the Civic e:HEV more powerful than the turbo version.
With many car buyers in the Philippines mostly prioritizing fuel economy, the Civic e:HEV surely won’t disappoint as Honda in Thailand claims a combined fuel consumption rating of 25 km/l.
In terms of styling and equipment, the Honda Civic RS e:HEV in Thailand is very similar to the 1.5 RS Turbo Honda SENSING variant we currently have locally. It features full LED front lighting, a rear ducktail spoiler, leather and suede combination seats, a fully-digital instrument cluster, and a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system, just to name a few.
What is noticeably different are the 18-inch two-tone alloy wheels; e:HEV badges; chrome trim on the windows, front grille, and door handles; and blue-accented Honda badging.
There is no confirmation yet from Honda Cars Philippines whether they will introduce the Civic e:HEV to our market. There is word that e:HEV models would soon make it and the Civic could be one of them. For now, we’ll just have to wait.
