Honda’s Next Most Important Car Might Not Be What You Think

With everyone being so SUV-crazed these days, it’s easy to think the CR-V is Honda’s most important car. But rather, it’s the Civic that remains the automaker’s bread-and-butter, not-a-crossover-SUV (the CR-V remains Honda’s most important SUV).

The current eleventh-generation Civic is approaching the end of its production cycle, with the model just turning five years old. Given that the Civic’s generational lifespan tends to last about four to six years, a new successor is just around the corner.

Here’s what we’re expecting.

Gas-electric hybrid power will rule

Honda

Honda may have recently backtracked on its electric vehicle efforts, but it’s not giving up on the prospect entirely. Instead, the brand is focusing on blending the best of both internal combustion and electrification.

That, of course, means hybridization. As we’ve seen with the current Civic, the Hybrid model has become the standard affair. Sportier variants, like the Si and the Type R, will hopefully remain gas-only.

So, for the next-gen model, Honda is reportedly doubling down on the hybrid aspect. According to recent reports, the next-gen Civic will gain completely new underpinnings.

Honda

The new chassis will make better use of Honda’s updated hybrid powertrain, with some saying the new architecture will save up to 188 pounds over the current model.

Less weight means better handling, better fuel economy and better overall efficiency. But engineers won’t be sacrificing any advancements in stiffening the chassis, which also improves response and ride quality.

Honda

The new hybrid system will also adopt tech advancements from the one used in the latest Prelude. Speculation points to up to a 30 percent gain in overall fuel efficiency and even performance.

Another piece of tech being passed down from the Prelude is Honda’s latest continuously variable transmission with “Honda S+ Shift.” The latter consists of simulated stepped gearing.

But there’s apparently more in store for the next-gen Civic.

No longer keeping it simple

As one of the world’s most definitive economy cars, the Civic has always been perceived as a simple machine for motivating the masses. But that seems to be changing even more with the next-gen model.

To fancy things up for the new model, Honda is supposedly incorporating adaptive and electronically-controlled chassis and suspension gear. Yes, the technology once reserved for high-dollar luxury cars is making its way into more plebian forms of transportation.

Honda

According to CarScoops, the next-gen Civic will not only benefit from a more rigid structure and wider axle tracks to improve handling. It’ll be equipped with Honda’s latest Motion Management System and Agile Handling Assist.

The former and latter include various adaptive suspension and chassis tech bits to minimize body motions and provide more balanced handling. It’s also to combat the Civic’s otherwise notorious front-weight bias because of its transverse-mounted front-wheel-drive setup.

What about the Si and Type R?

Honda

So far, there hasn’t been much information regarding the sportier and high-performance variants of the Civic as of yet. Understandably so, since Honda needs to launch the standard model first.

With Honda’s push towards hybridization, and rumors suggesting its optional manual transmission could be disappearing entirely, there’s a lot of skepticism regarding the Si and Type R.

Honda

Honda already upset purists with the Prelude and its use of a CVT as the only transmission option, even with its innovative “Honda S+ Shift” system.

When can we expect a new Civic? Hints point to an arrival later this year with a launch in dealers sometime in 2027.

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