2025 Honda Civic facelift launched in Malaysia – better specs, sharper looks; RM134k-RM168k, 1.5L RS less

Following the start of order taking in December last year, Honda Malaysia has now officially launched the 11th-generation (FE) Honda Civic facelift today. The variant line-up remains unchanged from the pre-facelift model and includes three petrol options (1.5L E, 1.5L V and 1.5L RS) along with a sole hybrid in the form of the 2.0L e:HEV RS.

Pricing starts at RM133,900 on-the-road without insurance for the base E, which is RM2,000 more than before. The V stays the same at RM144,900, while the petrol RS is cheaper by RM2,000 at RM149,900. The hybrid RS keeps the RM167,900 price tag as before.

In terms of styling changes, the new Civic gets a redesigned front bumper with a more protruding lower section and slender air curtains in place of the previous fog lamp sections. The main grille is also larger than before to get rid of the pre-facelift’s distinctive “forehead,” paired with a honeycomb mesh that is also applied to the lower intake. The new front end sees 3 mm being added to overall length to now span 4,681 mm, while the width (1,802 mm), height (1,415 mm) and wheelbase (2,735 mm) stay the same.

As for the rear, it remains pretty much identical to the pre-facelift model, save for the smoked taillights. Moving inside, the interior maintains the same dashboard design, free-standing infotainment touchscreen, honeycomb mesh over the air outlets, steering wheel design and centre console layout.

Also familiar are the powertrains, with petrol variants continuing to be powered by Honda’s VTEC Turbo engine. The 1.5 litre inline-four mill serves up 182 PS (180 hp or 134 kW) at 6,000 rpm and 240 Nm of torque from 1,700 to 4,500 rpm, with drive going to the front wheels via a continuously variable transmission (CVT) with seven virtual speeds.

Meanwhile, the Intelligent Multi-Mode Drive (i-MMD) system in the hybrid variant features a 2.0 litre naturally-aspirated inline-four petrol engine running on the Atkinson cycle to make 143 PS (141 hp or 105 kW) at 6,000 rpm and 184 Nm from 5,000 to 6,000 rpm.

The engine in the hybrid system acts primarily as a generator for a 1.05-kWh lithium-ion battery, which is used to juice an electric motor rated at 184 PS (181 hp or 135 kW) from 5,000 to 6,000 rpm and 315 Nm from 0 to 2,000 rpm.

The electric motor drives the front wheels via an electronic continuously variable transmission (E-CVT) and does most of the propulsion work, although the engine can also provide direct drive via a lock-up clutch at higher speeds when it is more efficient.

Performance-wise, the petrol-only variants will take anywhere between 8.3 to 8.5 seconds to get from 0-100 km/h, with all three having a top speed of 200 km/h. The 2.0L e:HEV is the quickest in the century sprint at 7.9 seconds, although its top speed is down to 180 km/h. The hybrid boasts the best fuel consumption of the lot at 4 l/100 km, while it is 6.3 l/100 km for the 1.5L RS and 6.0 l/km for both the 1.5L E and V.

On the matter of equipment, the Civic sees some significant changes, the first of which is an upgraded 9-inch Advanced Display Audio that is now standard across the range. The new infotainment system also comes with Google built-in (a first among Japanese brands here), providing users with access to several Google services such as the Play Store, Maps and Assistant.

Wireless Android Auto support has also been added to complement the previously available wireless Apple CarPlay, while other features that come with every Civic variant are the Honda Connect telematics system as well as solar and security window film tint from Ecotint.

As for the rest of the kit list, we’ll start with the 1.5L E that comes standard with automatic LED headlamps, LED daytime running lights, rain-sensing wipers, (previously only from the petrol RS onwards), 16-inch wheels (with 215/55 profile tyres), remote engine start, walk away auto lock, keyless entry and start, passive cruise control, Normal and Econ drive modes and a seven-inch digital instrument display (accompanied by an analogue speedometer).

The list continues with single-zone automatic air-conditioning with rear vents, a leather steering wheel, fabric seat upholstery, a 60:40 split-folding rear bench seats and four speakers.

Stepping up to the 1.5L V adds things like 17-inch wheels (with 215/50 profile tyres), paddle shifters, an additional Sport mode, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, leather seat upholstery, an eight-way powered driver seat and four more speakers for a total of eight.

After the 1.5L V is the 1.5L RS, which is marked out from lesser variants by cues such as black-painted side mirrors and shark fin antenna, a boot lid spoiler, chrome tailpipe finishers, black door handles, combination leather and suede seat upholstery with red stitching, alloy pedals, a black headliner, footwell lighting and ambient lighting strips integrated into the gloss black door trims.

Aside from the sporty aesthetic touches, the petrol-only RS improves upon the 1.5L V by gaining a wireless charging pad, an additional Individual drive mode as well as larger 18-inch wheels (with 235/40 profile tyres) in a matte black finish.

At the top of the range, the 2.0L e:HEV RS carries over the 1.5L RS’ looks, but with blue accents for the Honda logo, black half chrome door handles and a different, seven-spoke wheel design in an 18-inch size and matte grey finish.

Improvements over the non-hybrid RS include a fully digital 10.2-inch instrument cluster, dual-zone climate control as well as Active Noise Control (ANC) that works together with Active Sound Control (ASC) to reduce outside noise while enhancing the engine sound to deliver an exciting driving experience.

In the safety department, all variants come standard with six airbags (front, side and curtain), front and rear seatbelt reminder, rear seat reminder, ISOFIX child seat anchors, automatic door lock, Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA), Agile Handling Assist (AHA), ABS, EBD, emergency stop signal as well as front and rear parking sensors.

Driver assistance systems include auto brake hold, hill start assist, a driver attention monitor and a multi-angle reverse camera. Honda’s LaneWatch blind spot camera (on the left of the vehicle) is still used for the Civic (and other models in the line-up), although remains reserved from the V onwards.

Once again, the Honda Sensing suite is fitted to every Civic variant on sale, with functions available being Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS; basically AEB), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Lane Keep Assist System (LKAS), Road Departure Mitigation System (RDM), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Low Speed Follow (LSF), Auto High Beam (AHB) and Lead Car Departure Notification (LCDN).

Some of these functions have been improved, such as FCW that gains bicycle and pedestrian detection. The ACC also operates with smoother braking and acceleration, while LKAS has a more linear form of operation for less jarring steering assistance.

The Civic is offered in five colours, with Canyon River Blue Metallic being a new option to replace Lunar Silver Metallic, while returning hues are Platinum White Pearl, Meteoroid Gray Metallic, Crystal Black Pearl and Ignite Red Metallic.

All Civics come with a five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty and five times free labour for servicing (applicable within 100,000 km or five years). Specific to the 2.0L e:HEV RS is an additional eight-year, unlimited-mileage for the lithium-ion hybrid battery.

For those wanting to add some official accessories to their new Civic, there are several packages to choose from, starting with the Modulo Package (RM3,738) that is available for all variants and includes front, side and rear under spoilers.

Next comes the Modulo Premium Package with the same items as the Modulo Package, but adds on a rear lower garnish, exhaust pipe finishers, a boot lid spoiler, fender garnish and black emblem set.

This version of the Modulo Premium Package is priced at RM6,900 and is specific to E and V variants only, with RS variants getting their own version at RM5,063. Both the petrol and hybrid RS cars already come with exhaust pipe finishers and a boot lid spoiler, so those items are omitted from the Modulo Premium RS Package.

Next comes the Urban Package at RM3,002 for the E and V variants that includes door visors, footwell lighting, a wireless charging pad and illuminated sill plates. The RS variants get a version called the Urban RS Package that doesn’t include a wireless charging pad and footwell lighting, both of which already come standard.

Further options are the Utility Package (RM659) for all variants and includes a body cover, boot tray and boot organiser. There’s also the Protection Package (body and window coating, wheel lock nuts) for RM2,888, along with individual accessories like door reflective safety film, front and rear digital video recorders (RM1,149), Touch ‘n Go RFID tag and sports pedals (E and V only).

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