2025 Honda Civic 1.5L V Review

Entering 2025, the C-segment sedan market in Malaysia remains a fiercely contested space for major brands—consumers demand fuel economy for daily commuting, value practical space and smart configurations, and their expectations for driving quality are increasing year by year. Against this backdrop, the 2025 Honda Civic 1.5L V, as a mid-cycle facelift model, offers 182PS turbocharged power, L2-level driving assistance as standard across the range, and a 497L trunk capacity. It has immediately attracted the attention of many family and young consumers upon its launch. This time, we got a test drive vehicle to verify whether its static performance is practical, its dynamic driving experience is user-friendly, and its features truly meet daily needs.

From the exterior, the 2025 Civic 1.5L V continues the family’s streamlined design with an overall sporty yet not overly aggressive style. At the front, the black honeycomb grille is paired with chrome accents, while the LED headlights on both sides are sharp in shape and connected to the upper edge of the grille, visually widening the front. Two muscular lines on the hood extend from the A-pillar to the grille, adding a touch of power. On the sides, the fastback-style lines subtly slope downward from the B-pillar, complemented by 17-inch multi-spoke alloy wheels, creating a coupe-like stance; chrome trim along the window edges and crease lines on the lower doors ensure the sides are not too plain. At the rear, the “C”-shaped LED taillights are connected by a black trim panel, making them highly recognizable when lit at night. The black diffuser-style rear bumper and hidden exhaust further enhance the sporty feel.

Entering the cabin, the interior adopts Honda's latest minimalist style, with the center console slightly tilted towards the driver for easier operation. Regarding materials, the top of the dashboard and the armrests on the door panels are wrapped in soft-touch materials that feel pleasant. Silver trim around the air vents and central screen elevates the sense of refinement in the interior. In terms of technology, the 9-inch central touchscreen supports touch input and CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity, responding swiftly. The 7-inch digital instrument cluster displays information such as RPM, speed, fuel consumption, and driving assistance, with a clear interface. The steering wheel is multifunctional, with the left side controlling multimedia and phone functions, while the right side controls the driving assistance system; it is also equipped with paddle shifters for manual gear adjustments. For seating, the driver's seat supports 8-way electric adjustment, with excellent back and cushion support to ensure comfort on long drives. The rear seats are equally well-padded, and thanks to the 2735mm wheelbase, a passenger with a height of 175cm would have a knee clearance of two fists from the front seat, with approximately one fist of headroom due to the fastback design. In terms of storage, the door storage slots can hold two bottles of water, and the central armrest compartment and glovebox provide sufficient capacity for daily usage. The trunk offers a 497L capacity, and the rear seats can be split 60:40 for folding, allowing space for larger items such as strollers or folding bicycles.

In terms of power, the 1.5T turbocharged engine produces a maximum power of 182PS and a peak torque of 240N·m, paired with a CVT transmission. During daily driving, the engine can deliver maximum torque as early as 1700rpm, making acceleration smooth and responsive with no noticeable lag. During mid-to-high-speed acceleration, while the CVT transmission stands out for its smoothness, pressing the accelerator deeply keeps the revs above 3000rpm, providing ample power for overtaking. There are two driving modes: Normal and Sport. Switching to Sport mode increases throttle sensitivity and adjusts the transmission's shift logic for a more dynamic driving experience, suitable for users seeking excitement. In terms of handling, the steering is precise with minimal play, and the feedback communicates road conditions clearly when cornering. The suspension system, featuring front MacPherson struts and a rear multi-link independent setup, is tuned for comfort without sacrificing support. It effectively absorbs most vibrations when driving over speed bumps or uneven road surfaces, ensuring no significant jarring sensation. During cornering, the vehicle's body roll is well-controlled, with the suspension providing adequate support to instill confidence in the driver.

In terms of fuel consumption, we conducted a comprehensive road condition test with 60% in urban roads and 40% on highways. The final measured fuel consumption was 6.5L/100km, slightly higher than the official figure of 6L/100km. However, considering the frequent stop-and-go and air conditioning usage during actual driving, this result is slightly above average among vehicles of the same class. Regarding the driving assistance system, all trims are equipped with ACC adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, active braking, and lane-keeping assist. After activating ACC on the highway, the vehicle can follow the car in front automatically, braking promptly when the car ahead slows down. The lane departure warning also gives a reminder and makes slight corrections to the steering when the car is about to cross the lane, which greatly reduces driving fatigue on long journeys. However, in this test drive, we did not encounter very bumpy roads, only experiencing the suspension performance on some uneven sections. The shock absorption was overall decent, with no noticeable shaking.

In terms of comfort, the Civic 1.5L V is commendable. For noise insulation, tire and engine noise are well controlled at low speeds, while wind noise becomes slightly more noticeable at high speeds but does not affect normal conversations inside the car. As mentioned earlier, the seat comfort is good, and the rear row is also equipped with air conditioning vents, which can quickly adjust the temperature in the back. Additionally, the air conditioning system is automatic climate control, making adjustments very convenient, and the cooling performance is impressive.

In summary, the core advantages of the 2025 Honda Civic 1.5L V are apparent: powerful performance with moderate fuel consumption, practical space to meet family needs, rich features with safety assistance systems as standard across all trims, smooth driving quality with a degree of handling capability. Compared to similar models like the Toyota Corolla Altis 1.8V or Mazda 3 2.0 High, the Civic offers more powerful performance, more comprehensive configurations, and a comparable price, making it highly cost-effective.

This car is suitable for a wide range of people: for family users, its space and safety configurations can meet the daily commuting and childcare needs; for young consumers, its sporty appearance and powerful performance can provide an enjoyable driving experience; for those who often drive on highways, the Level 2 driving assistance system reduces fatigue.

If you are planning to purchase a C-segment sedan recently and are looking for a balanced performance, rich features, and a reliable brand, the 2025 Honda Civic 1.5L V is worth considering. It has no obvious shortcomings and is a "jack-of-all-trades" vehicle suitable for most users.