Before we get into why the 2026 Honda Civic Sport Touring Hybrid Hatchback is such a compelling car, I need to address the elephant in the dealership showroom. The Civic I tested — generously supplied by our friends at Honda Canada — carries a pre-tax price of $41,430. Add a now generally accepted dealer admin fee of say $699 (yes, yes… we’ve all collectively sighed and moved on) and Ontario’s 13% HST, and suddenly the all-in, on-the-road number becomes $47,605.
Let me repeat that for dramatic effect.
Forty-seven thousand six hundred and five dollars. For a Honda Civic.
Now, before you accuse me of yelling at clouds, let’s inject some fairness into the conversation. This is not the 1973 Civic puddle-jumper that showed up in Canada for roughly two grand and smelled faintly of optimism and vinyl. Today’s Civic is a completely different animal — so much so that if you squint just a little, you could mistake it for a Honda Accord sedan. It’s longer, wider, quieter, safer, smarter, and loaded with tech that would’ve made NASA jealous back when the original Civic landed here.
Still, price creep is real. For context, a fully loaded 2016 Honda Civic Touring sedan stickered at $28,850. That’s almost a 50% increase in 10 model years, and no — our wages did not get the same memo.
Why Honda Still Makes the Civic (Hint: People Buy Them)
Not that long ago, small cars owned the Canadian market. Civics, Corollas, Mazda3s, Chevy Cavaliers and Cruzes, Ford Focuses, Dodge Neons — they were everywhere. Today? The Big Three domestics don’t even bother making a small sedan anymore. SUVs and crossovers have swallowed the landscape whole.
But Honda didn’t quit on the Civic. Why? Because they sell.
In the first half of 2025, the Civic cracked the Top 10 best-selling vehicles in Canada, landing at #10 with roughly 17,600 units sold — and it was the only car in that entire Top 10 list. That tells you everything you need to know about why Honda keeps investing in this nameplate.
Not Your Typical “Hatchback”
Let’s also clear something up: the Civic Hatchback doesn’t look like a traditional hatchback. It looks more like a sleek four-door sedan with a secret bonus door out back. And that’s exactly why it works so well.
The proportions are spot-on, the stance is athletic, and the design feels modern without screaming for attention. It’s not a “small car” anymore — but it’s also not pretending to be something it isn’t. It occupies its own sweet spot, and frankly, there isn’t much else like it.
The Hybrid Experience: Quicker Than You Think
This is where things get interesting.
The Civic Hybrid pairs a 2.0L Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder with two electric motors, producing a combined 200 horsepower. Translation? This thing moves.
Acceleration is smooth, immediate, and surprisingly punchy off the line thanks to instant electric torque. Around town, it feels quick and eager. On the highway, merging is effortless — no dramatic downshifts or engine screaming required. Honda quotes a 0–100 km/h time in the low six-second range, which is more than respectable for something this sensible.
And because there’s no traditional stepped transmission, power delivery is silky smooth. It just goes — quietly, confidently, and without drama.
Fuel Economy That Actually Makes Sense
Here’s where the Civic Hybrid really earns its keep:
- Civic Hybrid: approximately 4.7 L/100 km combined
- Non-hybrid Civic (ICE): roughly 6.9 L/100 km combined
That’s a meaningful difference. Over the life of the vehicle, you’re saving thousands in fuel costs — especially if you commute, do city driving, or just enjoy not watching gas prices like a suspense thriller.
For younger buyers (yes, I’m talking under 40), this means style, performance and fuel savings — without having to drive something that looks like a rolling science experiment.
Comfort, Tech, and an Interface That Just Works
Inside, the Civic continues Honda’s tradition of doing things properly.
The Sport Touring Hybrid gets leather seating, a power driver’s seat, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and a beautifully integrated 9-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The digital gauge cluster is clean and intuitive, and the physical knobs for climate control deserve a standing ovation in a world obsessed with touch-sensitive nonsense.
Everything is exactly where you expect it to be. No learning curve. No frustration. You just get in and drive — which, ironically, feels very luxurious these days.
Handling: Lower Is Better (Sometimes)
After years of crossovers, getting back into something lower to the ground feels… refreshing. The Civic feels planted, stable, and genuinely fun to drive. Once you stop worrying about sitting lower than everyone else at traffic lights, you realize how much more connected you feel to the road.
It’s lighter on its feet than any compact SUV, more engaging through corners, and simply more enjoyable when the road starts to bend.
I’ll admit it — I felt younger driving it. And no, that doesn’t mean I suddenly bought skinny jeans.
Trim Levels & Pricing (Thanks, CarCostCanada)
A quick shout-out to CarCostCanada for helping keep pricing and trims crystal clear.
2026 Honda Civic Hatchback Hybrid trims:
- Sport eCVT – $36,000
- Hybrid powertrain
- Heated front seats
- Honda Sensing safety suite
- 18-inch alloy wheels
- Wireless smartphone integration
- Sport Touring eCVT – $39,500
- Leather seating
- Bose premium audio
- Power driver’s seat
- Larger touchscreen
- Built-in navigation
- Extra sound insulation
(Prices exclude freight, air tax, admin fees, and HST.)
Civic Hybrid vs. CR-V Hybrid: The $10,000 Question
Let’s talk family politics.
A 2026 Honda CR-V Hybrid starts at $45,900 and tops out at $51,200. That’s $10,000+ more than a Civic Hybrid. If you want a hybrid — and you should — the Civic delivers the same fuel-saving benefits for a whole lot less money.
That $10K difference buys a lot of gasoline… or groceries… or rent… or therapy after realizing how expensive groceries are.
And……At the End of the Day
Yes, the Civic is more expensive than it used to be. But it’s also better than it’s ever been.
It’s stylish, efficient, genuinely fun to drive, easy to park, holds its value exceptionally well, and makes a statement without shouting. Whether you’re 28 or 58, the 2026 Honda Civic Sport Touring Hybrid Hatchback proves you don’t need an SUV to feel grown up — or cool.
And if you’re smart enough to lease or buy strategically, LeaseBusters is always there when life changes and plans don’t.
The Civic didn’t grow old.
It just grew up — and kept its sense of humour.
James Matthews is the President, General Manager and Co-Founder of LeaseBusters. James launched LeaseBusters in 1990 and is considered one of Canada’s leading experts on new vehicle leases, lease-take-overs and vehicle lease (re)marketing. James can be reached directly at jmatthews at leasebusters.com