MotorTrend Editor describes Coast-to-Coast Trip in Civic Hybrid

Most multi-car households will opt for their largest vehicles for cross-country trips, and many people still consider "economy cars" unsuitable for long-distance travel. MotorTrend editor and New York native Kristen Lee will spend a year reviewing the 2025 Civic Hybrid Sport Touring. To start, she had to drive the vehicle from the publication's Los Angeles-area office to her home in New York City. Michael Hohl Honda summarizes her experience. 

For a quick review, the Civic Hybrid has a drivetrain that includes a 2.0-liter naturally aspirated inline-4 engine combined with two motor generators. In city driving, the motors power the vehicle while the engine acts as a generator. This setup eliminates the need for a traditional transmission, as the electric motor's torque can move the vehicle from a stop to highway speeds. When cruising at steady highway speeds, the engine can be engaged to directly drive the front wheels. The combined output of the engine and motors is rated at exactly 200 horsepower and 232 lb-ft of torque. That's 50 more horsepower and 99 lb-ft more torque than the non-electrified Civic, providing an EPA-estimated MPG of 50 city, 47 highway, and 49 combined*. Ms. Lee would have the perfect chance to test that highway figure. 

Together with photographer Ryan Lugo, Kristen began the trip at Motor Trend's headquarters in El Segundo, just a few blocks from LAX airport, which could have her trip taking hours instead of days. Some may have been interested in seeking out what remains of Route 66 for the LA-to-Chicago portion of the journey. However, Lee was more interested in brevity than nostalgia, so she traveled as most of us would, using our iconic interstate highway system.  After slogging eastward through LA to the I-15, she took that to the I-70, which would take her to the Big Apple.   

She found early on that her posterior was in disagreement with the Civic seat cushion, prompting her to pick up a gel seat cushion from Walmart.  That was the only vehicle adjustment required for the whole trip.   

With traffic fairly dense on the I-15, she soon appreciated the driver-assist features, especially the Adaptive Cruise Control system for its ability to smoothly follow the flow of traffic and the display graphics that showed what it detected. When darkness fell, she found the automatic high beams helpful, as they lit up the road while quickly adjusting for oncoming traffic. Utah's Kolab Canyons prompted Lugo to take a break or two to photograph the vehicle against the canyon backdrop. The western end of the I-70 begins at the I-15, and from there, the eastward part of the trip started. 

With the 75-mph speed limit, Lee found the Civic getting 31.2 mpg. This dropped to 25.1 as the car climbed "Colorado's mountainous and suffocating elevation," eventually reaching 11,158 feet, which she suspected would be the worst mileage she would see in her upcoming year with the car. 

Anyone traveling to or from Denver from the East quickly notices that once the mountains are to your West, Colorado is flat and nearly identical to Kansas. She took a moment to think about the Pony Express, which passed through this area. Although a household name, the enterprise lasted only 18 months before being made obsolete by the transcontinental telegraph. Jobs lost to technology back in 1861. 

After some further discussion about Chicago deep dish pizza, she found herself in highway traffic, whereupon she reflected on a seldom discussed aspect of hybrid drivetrains: "Somehow, sitting in traffic with a hybrid doesn't feel nearly as wasteful, as there isn't the engine's constant vibration to remind you of how much gas you're burning by idling." 

Upon reaching New York City, it was time to review the numbers: 

She reflected on how far "economy cars have come" and how navigation, driver assist technologies, and Wi-Fi—features that all came standard on this car—were once exclusive to luxury cars not that long ago. "Comfortable (after the cushions), easy to drive, and pleasant to be around, the Civic Hybrid proves you don't need the biggest land yacht to get from sea to shining sea." 

Whether you're looking for a car to handle daily routines efficiently and comfortably or are planning a cross-country trip, you should consider the Civic Hybrid as your vehicle. If you live near Carson City, NV, Michael Hohl Honda is the ideal destination for a test drive. 

* Fuel-economy ratings: 50 city/47 highway/49 combined mpg rating for Sport Hybrid and Sport Touring Hybrid. Based on 2026 EPA mileage ratings. Use for comparison purposes only. Your mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle, driving conditions, battery-pack age/condition (hybrid trims) and other factors.