The Honda Civic e:HEV L has claimed the 2025-26 Wheels Car of the Year award, with judges praising the hybrid sedan’s efficiency, refinement and all-round practicality.
Priced at $49,900, the Civic topped a field of 20 vehicles from 20 manufacturers to win the 62nd edition of the world’s longest-running annual car award. The MG HS Hybrid+ mid-size SUV finished second, with the Toyota GR Corolla taking third place.
Testing was conducted at Victoria’s Lang Lang Proving Grounds in early November, where Wheels judges put the finalists through a rigorous week-long evaluation process.
Wheels managing editor Trent Nikolic said the Civic’s victory celebrated traditional automotive values in contrast to last year’s innovative winner, the Hyundai IONIQ 5 N.
“In the same way last year’s winner was a celebration of innovation and moved EVs into a different space, the Civic’s win this year is a celebration of tradition, quality and execution,” Nikolic said.
“The new Civic is a fantastic car in every sense of the word, representing value, delivering safety, driving superbly and presenting a high-quality cabin.”
The judges found the Civic would continue to reward buyers long after purchase, citing its fuel efficiency, refined drive, beautiful finishing and practicality as key strengths.
Honda Australia Director – Automotive Rob Thorp said the award validated the company’s engineering efforts and hybrid technology leadership.
“Honda has long stood for quality, innovation, and engineering excellence, and to have this validated with Civic’s 2025-26 Wheels Car of the Year success is testament to the work our engineers and wider teams put in,” Thorp said.
Honda was the first brand to launch hybrids in Australia and has continued developing the technology since. Thorp said recognition for the Civic’s e:HEV hybrid engine was “incredibly gratifying” ahead of the technology’s expansion across Honda’s Australian range.
“We anticipate up to 90% of the Honda range sold in Australia will be hybrid by the end of next year,” he said, referencing planned rollouts for the CR-V and Honda ZR-V in 2026.
The 20 finalists represented a realistic cross-section of the Australian market, with an average purchase price of $56,000 reflecting typical consumer considerations.
Commonwealth Bank joined as the award’s new official sponsor for 2025, supporting the programme that both automakers and consumers regard as the trusted verdict on the best new vehicle available.
The complete field included electric vehicles such as the Kia EV3 Air Long Range and Tesla Model Y Long Range AWD, alongside traditional combustion models like the Isuzu MU-X LS-U and various hybrid options.
The 2025 Yearbook edition of Wheels is now available, with full reviews of the winner, runners-up and entire field also accessible at WhichCar.com.au.
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