The 11th-generation Honda Civic sedan and hatch have been given a facelift with a more powerful hybrid option, more aggressive face, and some tech upgrades.
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Sales of the updated Civic sedan begin in June in the US, with the hatchback becoming available at some point in the third quarter of 2024.
It's unclear when the facelifted Civic will enter production in Japan, which is where Australia-bound models are produced.
Externally, the revised Civic stands out from the pre-facelift model with its sharply defined six-point grille, and new bumper, which has a hexagonal lower air intake and thin, vertical side strakes.
Hybrid variants have body-colour headlight garnishes and lower lip spoiler.
Much less has changed at the rear, with the sedan gaining a darker finish for its tail-light covers. Some trims also gain new alloy wheel designs.
Inside the changes are similarly hard to spot.
Hybrid models are available with a grey interior, and top-spec models now include a 9.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with built-in Google apps, including Maps for navigation, Assistant for voice recognition, the Google Play app store, and a complimentary three-year data service.
US-market Civics will also be available four new exterior colour options: Solar Silver Metallic, Urban Gray Pearl, Blue Lagoon Pearl (sedan only) and Sand Dune Pearl (hatch only).
In the US, the facelifted Civic will be available with three drivetrain options. Entry-level models have a 2.0-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine making 118kW and 187Nm, paired with a continuously variable transmission.
Higher-spec models come with a hybrid drivetrain that's new to the American Civic range. The two-motor hybrid setup, which includes a 2.0-litre petrol engine and an e-CVT, has claimed system output of 149kW and 315Nm.
That's more than the 135kW/315Nm made from the hybrid system installed in Australia-bound Civic e:HEV models, and the system seems to be lifted straight out of the larger CR-V and Accord.
Honda boasts the new hybrid system is the "most powerful non-Type R Civic ever".
The 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine that used to be more widely available throughout the North American Civic range is now relegated to the sporty Si trim, where it makes 149kW and 260Nm, and is fitted with a six-speed manual.
Although the Civic only sells in small quantities in Australia, it regularly does big numbers in the US, where it was the 16th best-selling vehicle in 2023 with 200,381 units shifted.
According to Honda, the company has sold over 12 million Civics in the USA since 1973, making it "one of the top three best-selling passenger cars in America over the past 51 years".
MORE: Everything Honda Civic
Content originally sourced from: CarExpert.com.au
