A month after previewing and opening the order books for it, Honda Malaysia has officially introduced the 2022 Honda Civic e:HEV. The hybrid, which goes on sale here as a RS-badged version, now sits as the top-of-the-line variant in the local 11th-gen Civic range.
Priced at RM166,500 (on-the-road, without insurance), the hybrid FE is RM16k more expensive than its petrol RS sibling, which currently goes for RM150,700.
In terms of dimensions, the hybrid is identical to the petrol version, measuring in at 4,678 mm long, 1,802 mm wide and 1,415 mm tall, with a 2,734 mm-long wheelbase (2,733 mm for the petrol). It does however ride a bit higher off the ground at 128 mm (126 mm, petrol), although the company points out that its centre of gravity is 10 mm lower.
The incorporation of hybrid components means that it is heavier than the Turbo, in this case by around 100 kg (the e:HEV tips the scales at 1,445 kg, compared to 1,349 kg for the petrol V), although attention was paid to reducing as much of the additional ballast as possible. Weight saving measures include the use of aluminium strands in the high-voltage cable – this reduces the weight by around 37% compared to the copper wiring used previously.
The lithium-ion battery doesn’t take up most of the additional ballast – the Intelligent Power Unit (IPU), which incorporates a new 72-cell battery (with a capacity of 1.05 kWh), only accounts for 37 kg of the total. As for the new power control unit (PCU), which is now situated under the bonnet with the rest of the powertrain, that contributes 15 kg to the added mass.
According to Tomoyuki Yamagami, the Large Project Leader (LPL) for the Civic e:HEV RS, the extra weight has been distributed evenly across the platform (50:50) to ensure that the Civic’s handling and dynamics aren’t compromised. The spring and damper rates have also been revised to preserve performance aspects.
At the heart of it all is what is deemed the most powerful version of Honda’s Intelligent Multi-Mode Drive (i-MMD) system, with an electric motor and petrol engine combo in attendance. As is the case, the petrol engine acts primarily as a generator, with the electric motor doing most of the propulsion work. However, at higher speeds, the engine can provide direct drive – via a lock-up clutch – for better efficiency.
Output from the electric motor on the Civic is 184 PS (181 hp, or 135 kW) and 315 Nm from 0-2,000 rpm, and power is sent to the front wheels via an electric continuously variable transmission (E-CVT). As with the Accord Hybrid, the e-motor is paired with a 2.0 litre naturally-aspirated Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder engine, which juices the battery.
However, the unit is new, and features direct-injection, with tweaks resulting in the unit having a thermal efficiency of 41%, one of the highest on a production vehicle. Attention has also been paid in improving noise and vibration coming off it, with the incorporation of a high rigidity crankshaft and a secondary balancer as well as insulation for the intake section helping to reduce NVH levels.
The new DI mill offers 143 PS (141 hp) at 6,000 rpm and 189 Nm of torque, output numbers that are marginally higher than that of the Thailand-spec version (141 PS and 182 Nm). According to Yamagami, the reason for this difference is simply due to fuel quality.
Performance figures for the Civic e:HEV include a 0-100 km/h time of 7.9 seconds (compared to 8.5 seconds for the petrol RS) and a fuel consumption of 4.0 litres per 100 km (versus 6.3 litres for the petrol RS).
Exterior-wise, the RS styling treatment means the hybrid looks very much like the petrol RS at first glance, with the easiest way to differentiate it from the latter being through its 18-inch twin-style five-spoke (or 10-spoke, in dual tone) units, markedly different in styling to the all-black Y-spoke rollers on the petrol RS.
Keep looking, and you’ll find small, but distinguishable, elements, such as the blue accents on the Honda logos as well as an e:HEV emblem at the rear. The hybrid also features more chrome trim, with the front grille, headlight inner bezel and window line all dressed up in the shiny stuff. From the rear, it’s easy to spot the variant from the single tailpipe finisher it wears.
Specifications-wise, the kit on the Civic e:HEV is identical to the petrol RS, and includes a black interior, rear AC vents, a 9.0-inch touchscreen Advanced Display Audio infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay support as well as Remote Engine Start.
Unique to the variant is a 10.25-inch full digital instrument display, dual-zone air-conditioning, a Qi wireless charger and a Honda smart key card, which the entire petrol range (E, V and RS) doesn’t get.
The local car will also come with Honda Sensing as standard, with the suite of driver assistance items consisting of autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, auto high beam, adaptive cruise control and a new lead car departure notification system, which alerts the driver if the car in front is moving off from a stop.
Exterior colour choices are similar to that for the petrol range, although Lunar Silver Metallic has been omitted for the hybrid, leaving buyers with four shades, these being Ignite Red Metallic, Crystal Black Pearl, Meteoroid Gray Metallic and Platinum White Pearl.
Now that the Civic e:HEV has finally been added to the line-up, the Civic range is complete (pending the Civic Type R, of course), so head on to CarBase.my to check out and compare the full range of Honda Civic 2022 specs and pricing. Read our first drive impressions of the Civic e:HEV.
2022 Honda Civic e:HEV Malaysian launch
2022 Honda Civic e:HEV product presentation in Malaysia
2022 Honda Civic e:HEV preview, Sepang International Circuit
Almost 170k for a civic…
Buy mazda 3 full spec is better than buying this overpriced poor quality Honda civic hybrid
This car is extraordinary, mind-blowing! I seriously like Honda cars, I even have a Honda logo tattoo on my muscle. So I hope our Proton will rebadged this Game-Changing Accord as the Perdana again.
Caya lah that 50:50 weight distribution simply genius. All Msians goin for PH onda this time around
My dream car.
Then you get kena once you frustrated on poor quality parts on this car
True,very true.
I just sold my Accord not too long.
Mileage 120,000km only..the steering rack,alternator konk,gear box kaput,engine keeps leaking black oil after 2 repairs..
U go workshop more often than see doctor.
Just maintain my good old camry…normal oil servicing regularly etc..thats all.
This is another proven testimony by H user, admitting H’s engine is absolute garbage. Please use CamPro-based engine for maximum power.
Aim higher, friend.
1.8na version please, rm120k with leather seat. No sensing asistant/remote start..etc unnecessarries needed.
Then sales still remain low,
Competitor even below rm120k can sell better spec.
Booked
For a 170k car……1s slower than cx5 turbo
lmao at this price i don’t want to hear people complain about how expensive the Mazda 3 is
At Japan, Mazda3 only starts from ¥2,288,000 / RM74.5k
Cheaper than Proton X50.
ala still no bose speaker like other market :(
In Malaysia, you can only get bose if you willing to pay RM 200k.
Honda MUST collaborate with Betamek. Their speaker line is comparable with top brands like Harman, Bose, JBL, etc.
The fuel consumption as listed in Honda website is 4L/100km and its acceleration is 7.9s to 100km/h compared to the turbo of 8.3-8.5s.
Now bring this engine over to Accord also. Now Toyota should be afraid as their Toyota Dynamic Force engine is no longer the sole option for Malaysian market for > 40% thermal efficiency.
where is the battery located? Is it under the passenger seat?
“The electric motor on the Civic is rated at 184 PS” – this is a mistake.
2.0EV, nice.
Enjoy easy driving and fuel efficiency while being environmentally friendly.
LaneWatch again, sad.
– Only works on one side
– Requires driver to take their eyes off the road and/or side mirror
– Introduces extra cognitive load because need to look at the camera image and determine if someone’s in your blind spot, compared to BSM which is an on/off LED
– Doesn’t work well in low-light situations or bad weather, or when there are water droplets on the camera
– Honda in other markets are already reverting their implementation to BSM LED, why are we still getting the shaft here?
if honda malaysia revert to those technology like other market instead lanewatch doesnt it will be costly despite our currency weak
Doesn’t matter. No one buys this outdated safety with high price with cheap quality
Missing 360camera, Power of dream.
Can explain a bit how the engine with 140+ hp can charge the 180+ hp motor?
I can’t really understand.
Will it be some short period that the motor is under very low power and ECU limited its peak output, due to waiting the engine to charge the battery?
180 is max power, you’ll be driving at 200kmh pretty soon if you keep pumping up 180 the whole time.
180 is max, you’ll be driving at 200kmh pretty soon if you are pumping out max power (floored) the whole time.
charge battery. not charge motor.
So cheap ar? Sell it at 200k la, the sales will still be fantastic.
Be a man and buy a second hand Conti don’t waste your money on something that will have a face lift after a couple of years.
Insane pricing. Leave the 2.0l DI engine alone 141 hp at 6,000 rpm and 189 Nm of torque not enough power?? why made it so complicated..put electric motor 181 hp and 315 Nm from 0-2,000 rpm for what?? Extra piece fish..
Honda 2.0DI N.A. engine may not pass the latest European carbon emission regulation.
Electrified as hybrid, it can.
There is also missing downsized 1.5turbo for the EU market.
Maybe failed to meet latest Green Rule?
Close to 170k lulz …I rather top up sikit get new Camry
I wonder why so much negative comments posted. The price is justified because of the technology offered. The iMMD is more innovative than Toyota’s hybrid found in Corolla Cross. It operates nearly like an EV (city drive) without the true EV cost. Besides, the smaller economies of scale (Malaysians prefer turbo than eHEV) makes it difficult for HMSB to make it both market & profit feasible. Its our own fault attitude ourselves, we prefer stylish/grandish fuel guzzling recond SUVs/MPVs for similar price. If majority of Malaysians prefer hybrids, in sure the price will drop.
In the end, by 2050 when our room temperature hits 34 or 35 Celcius or frequent flooding. due to climate change (the world could not bother on the 1.5C increase limit of the Paris agreement), we only have ourselves to blame.
The price being justified for the manufacturer doesn’t necessarily mean it’s justified for consumers. From an objective standpoint, consumers would be paying more but getting lower resale value, arguably lower reliability (if we go with a simple logic more parts -> more chances of failure, without even delving into hybrid powertrains), and not much of an improvement over the petrol mid-range trim (not even RS trim).
Sure, the tradeoff may make sense to some folks, and it’s totally the government’s fault that we’re in this situation with impossibly-priced cars, but I think your comment is a bit unfair when you’re only looking at things from the manufacturer’s side.
How much is the batt replacement cost? anybody know? the 2nd value of most hybrid usually dropped a lot bcoz of the anticipation on batt replacement cost. cant off set the fuel efficiency savings
6000 – 8000 for honda you can find the bengkel near kajang and depends on your budget and what type of battery you want acid , lithium and im not so sure.