2026 Honda Civic Facelift | What’s New in the Updated Civic Hybrid? UK
Hi guys, I’m Tish and welcome back to the John Banks Review YouTube channel. Today I’m at John Banks Honda taking a closer look at the latest generation 2026 Honda Civic EV. Now this is a pretty special car in Honda’s lineup because the Civic name, well, it’s been around for about 50 years. And since its debut in 1972, the Civic has been really well known for being clever, practical, and fun to drive. And this latest version definitely continues that tradition. This is the midlife facelift for the 11th generation Civic. And while the changes are subtle, they have been designed to make what was already a very well-rounded hybrid hatchback even more polished than ever before. So, if you’re local to Cambridge, Colchester, Ipsswitch, or Berry, St. Edmunds, then you can actually come and see the latest generation Honda Civic for yourself at John Banks Honda showrooms. I’ll pop all the details down below. And let’s take a closer look. But just before we do, if you do like new car reviews and car content, then you’re in the right place. Please make sure you go ahead and you hit that subscribe button. Oh, and I forgot to mention the best bit. This latest facelifted version of the Honda Civic is actually more affordable before. So, keep watching to the end of the video to find out the current pricing. So, on the outside, this latest generation Civic has had a subtle but smart refresh. So, the front bumper now has sharper lines and a more sculpted look with bodycoled lower spoiler that gives the car a slightly more premium and also planted stance. There’s now a gloss black finish to the grill and also the headlight surrounds. And these help to give it that slightly sportier and more modern feel. One of the most noticeable changes for this latest generation is the removal of the front fog lights. And at first glance, that might seem like a bit of a downgrade. But Honda’s reasoning actually makes sense. So, the Civic has new adaptive LED headlights that use dynamic beam technology that automatically adjust the brightness and the spread depending on your speed, steering, and angle, and also road conditions. So, that means that in poor visibility, it throws a wider lower beam pattern that effectively does the job of traditional fog lights. So, you get a better illumination and also a cleaner, more modern look around the front. There’s also new 18-in alloy wheels, which is standard across the range. So, they’re gray on this advanced trim. And there’s also a new paint color, too, called Seabed Blue, and that replaces the old premium crystal blue. It’s not a radical redesign, but these touches definitely give the Civic a more confident and upmarket presence while keeping that sleek, sporty look that it’s so well known for. But let’s see if there’s any changes on the interior. Inside, Honda has made a series of thoughtful updates that make the cabin feel just that bit more premium. So, all trims now come with a black roof lining and darker pillars, giving it a sportier, more cocooned feel. The honeycomb style air vents remain a key design feature, but they now feature a matte chrome detailing for a more refined finish. There are also a few nice comfort upgrades, too. So, the sport trim now gets a heated steering wheel as standard. Advanced trim like this gains ambient lighting and illuminated footwells for a more upmarket feel. Across the range, wireless phone charging is now also standard. And the digital driver’s display on higher trims has updated graphics, making it crisper and easier to read. One thing that hasn’t changed, which many people will be extremely happy to see, is there’s still a ton of buttons inside this latest generation car. So you have a button here for your heated steering wheel. You also have physical volume controls on one side and also your cruise control on the other. Here you have physical climate control dials which are really nice and heavily weighted and feel really good to use. You also have buttons for your AC, for your modes, and also for your heated wing mirrors and your heated seats as well. And not to mention, you do also have some buttons down the center console, which includes your drive mode. Under the bonnet, the Civic EV keeps the same setup as before, and that’s no bad thing. It’s powered by a 2 L Atkinson cycle petrol engine paired together with two electric motors, working together through what Honda calls an EC CVT. But it’s not like a traditional CVT you might expect. Instead, it’s a belt driven system. This uses direct drive and clever software which seamlessly switches between electric, hybrid, and also engine drive modes depending on what’s most efficient at the time. Now, most of the time around town, the petrol engine doesn’t actually drive the wheels at all. It simply acts as a generator to keep the battery topped up while the electric motors do all the heavy lifting. Then when you get out onto faster roads, the engine can actually directly engage the wheels for better efficiency. It’s a really smart system that gives you this EV like smoothness in traffic, but engine assisted power when you need it most. The performance figures stay the same, 181 horsepower and 315 new m of torque. But what’s really impressive is how Honda’s tuning makes it feel more natural than most hybrids. So, you don’t get that droning CVT noise that you hear in some rivals. And that’s because Honda has added simulated gear shifts and enhanced engine notes that rise and fall with the throttle input. It gives you this impression of a stepped gearbox and it makes the car feel more connected to your right foot. Now, let’s not forget one of the biggest reasons why people choose a Honda and especially the Civic is reliability. Honda’s hybrid system has already proven itself to be incredibly robust, and the Civic continues that reputation. The EV setup has far fewer moving parts than a traditional petrol engine, which means that there’s less that can go wrong, and maintenance costs should stay reassuringly low. Every new Honda Civic comes with Honda’s 5-year 90,000 mi warranty, plus up to eight years of high voltage battery cover, giving you long-term confidence that matches the brand’s reputation for durability. It’s one of those cars that you can buy, drive, and simply get on with your life because that’s exactly what Honda designed it for. Now, in terms of space, the key figures haven’t changed, so it’s just as practical as it was before. The Civic still offers excellent rear legroom and also a generous boot thanks to its long wheelbase. The cabin layout remains clean and functional with plenty of storage and great visibility up front. So, while nothing drastic has changed here, these small refinements really do lift the overall experience. It feels more solid, more grown up, and more premium than ever before. Out on the road, the Civic still drives beautifully. The steering is light but precise. The chassis feels balanced. And there’s that lovely sense of composure that Honda really seems to nail with every generation. The hybrid system blends together power effortlessly, giving you strong mid-range acceleration without ever feeling jerky or overworked. The ride is slightly firm on the sport trim with those 18-in wheels, but overall refinement is excellent. It feels solid, grown up, and genuinely enjoyable to drive, which isn’t something you can say about every hybrid hatchback. So, while there’s no extra power or performance bump for 2026, the Civic still delivers one of the most polished hybrid driving experiences in its class. It’s smooth, predictable, and quietly rewarding for people who enjoy actually driving their car. Here’s something that you often don’t hear these days. The updated Civic is actually more affordable than before. Prices now start from £325,000, which is around £1,300 less than the outgoing model, despite adding extra standard equipment like the wireless charging and the upgraded display and the new heated steering wheel on the Sport trim. In a world where most cars are getting more expensive with every update, it’s refreshing to see Honda moving the other way, offering more tech, more refinement, and better value across the range. So, there you have it. The 2026 Honda Civic EV facelift. Subtle design tweaks, a more refined interior, and some well-judged specification upgrades have definitely made what was already an excellent hybrid hatchback feel even more complete. No, it’s not a radical overhaul, but it doesn’t need to be. The Civic has always been about consistency, clever engineering, and effortless ability. This version continues that tradition beautifully. Now, if you’d like to experience the new Civic for yourself, then visit John Banks Honda in Colchester, Ipsswitch or Cambridge or Berisen Edmunds, take it for a test drive, explore the updates in person, and see why this hybrid remains one of the best balanced cars in its class. Thanks so much for watching. I’m Tish and I’ll see you in the next one. [Music] Hey, [Music] hey, hey.
The Honda Civic is back with a 2026 facelift — sharper styling, upgraded tech, and a few surprise changes inside. But with prices now lower than before, is this the best-value hybrid family hatchback you can buy?
In this video, I take a closer look at what’s new for the latest Honda Civic e:HEV, including the updated design, refreshed interior, and improved specification across all trims. I’ll also explain how Honda’s clever self-charging hybrid system works — and why it still feels more natural to drive than most rivals.
If you’re based near John Banks Honda in Cambridge, Colchester, Ipswich or Bury St Edmunds, come and see the new Civic for yourself or book a test drive: https://www.johnbanks.co.uk/honda
💬 Let me know in the comments — do you think Honda’s done enough with this update?
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