Honda Civic Hybrid Named Edmunds Top Rated Car for 2026

Honda reports the 2026 Civic Hybrid earned the Edmunds Top Rated Car Award, citing design, safety and efficiency. Read the full details.

The 2026 Honda Civic Hybrid has earned the Edmunds Top Rated Car Award 2026, once again placing Honda’s compact model among the most highly regarded vehicles on the U.S. market. For the 11th-generation Civic, this marks the fourth Edmunds Top Rated recognition since the awards program was introduced in 2020.

Edmunds editors highlighted the hybrid for its sporty design, strong safety credentials, balanced handling and engaging driving character. In their assessment, the Civic Hybrid stands out for delivering broad overall quality at a competitive price point — whether in sedan form or as the more versatile hatchback.

At the heart of the model is Honda’s fourth-generation two-motor hybrid system. It combines a 2.0-liter Atkinson-cycle gasoline engine with a traction motor, a generator motor and a lithium-ion battery pack. The system produces a combined 200 horsepower and 232 lb-ft of torque, while maintaining efficiency figures of up to 50 mpg city for select versions. The result is a compact car that balances responsiveness and refinement with strong fuel economy.

Safety was another key factor in the evaluation. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), updated side-impact ratings (Side 2.0) based on testing of the 2025 Civic sedan apply to 2025–2026 models, reflecting structural improvements. The model also comes standard with the Honda Sensing suite of driver-assistance technologies.

The Edmunds Top Rated Awards are based on the publication’s own testing and ranking process, which evaluates vehicles across performance, comfort, technology and overall consumer value. For 2026, the Civic Hybrid once again secured the Top Rated Car title, a result also reported by the Associated Press. The recognition builds on the Civic’s long-standing market position as America’s best-selling compact car since 1973.

Production of the hybrid model takes place in North America, with the sedan built in Ontario, Canada, and the hatchback assembled in Indiana. Within Honda’s lineup, the Civic continues to serve as an entry point to the brand and a central pillar of its electrified strategy, which accounts for a significant share of U.S. sales.

Taken together, the 2026 Civic Hybrid illustrates how efficiency, everyday usability and dynamic appeal can coexist in the compact segment — a combination that continues to resonate with both evaluators and buyers.