After Thailand, Malaysia is next to launch CKD 2022 Honda Civic Hybrid (FE) later this year

Honda Malaysia is expected to launch the 2022 Honda Civic Hybrid later this year, according to sources familiar with the matter.

The forthcoming FE-generation 2022 Honda Civic will be locally-assembled (CKD) at Honda Malaysia’s Pegoh plant in Melaka, a first for a Civic in Malaysia.

It will however, not be the first CKD hybrid from Honda. Far from it. Honda Malaysia have been assembling hybrid models here since 2013, the Honda Jazz Hybrid (IMA) – the first CKD hybrid car in Malaysia.

Today, the Melaka plant makes 3 CKD hybrid models – Honda City e:HEV RS, Honda City Hatchback e:HEV RS, and the soon-to-be-replaced Honda HR-V i-DCD Sport Hybrid.

Also read: From 600k to 1m in 5 years - Honda Malaysia's 1 millionth CKD car is a 2022 Honda Civic FE

The Pegoh plant is also the only one in Malaysia to assemble hybrid battery packs, or as Honda calls it, Intelligent Power Unit (IPU).

The 2022 Honda Civic Hybrid has been previewed (but not launched) in Thailand, with estimated prices confirmed to be below THB 1,150,000 (~RM 144,300) for the mid-range e:HEV EL+ and below THB 1,270,000 (~RM 159,000) for the highest specifications e:HEV RS.

Also read: Priced under RM 145k, more powerful than Turbo, Honda Civic e:HEV hybrid debuts in Thailand with 2.0L 180+ PS engine

Honda Thailand has since discontinued the 1.5-litre VTEC Turbo RS and EL+ variants – the two highest variants there. Now, the two highest specs 2022 Honda Civic are sold exclusively with e:HEV hybrid drivetrain there.

Power comes from a 2.0-litre Atkinson cycle engine paired to two motors. Output for the Thailand market car has yet to be announced, but the European market Civic Hybrid hatchback makes 184 PS and 315 Nm, driving the front wheels via an eCVT, which doesn’t mean anything anyway because it’s not even a CVT in a conventional sense and all recent Honda i-MMD hybrid models don’t need conventional gearboxes. Drive transferred directly from the electric traction motor (most of the time).

For reference, the regular 1.5-litre VTEC Turbo variant makes 182 PS and 240 Nm (178 PS / 240 Nm for Thailand's E85 gasohol fuel-compatible specs).

The fact that Honda Malaysia will launch a hybrid variant of the 2022 Honda Civic is an open secret, as previous CEO Madoka Chujo said, “Honda Malaysia is planning to expand our hybrid line-up and and Civic on the list for future hybrid development. The details will be shared once it’s available.”

Also read: Malaysia’s 2022 Honda Civic FE gets more power than Thailand's, here’s why

The comment was made in January, two months before the world debut of the Civic Hybrid so she couldn’t share any further details.

Now, after the Civic Hybrid sedan’s world debut in Thailand, it’s obvious that the Civic will be the next follow up on Honda Malaysia’s City’s and City Hatchback’s e:HEV RS offering.

The Honda Civic is now on sale in Malaysia with starting prices listed as below (valid until 30-June 2022):

• Civic 1.5E: RM 125,634
• Civic 1.5V: RM 138,043
• Civic 1.5 RS: RM 144,350

What's the estimated price for the 2022 Honda Civic Hybrid?

The 2022 Honda Civic Hybrid will certainly command a higher premium, so expect prices to be closer, or even exceed RM 150k.

When will the 2022 Honda Civic Hybrid be launched in Malaysia?

The Civic Hybrid will most likely be launched in Malaysia only in the final quarter of 2022.

The next major launch for Honda Malaysia will be for the 2022 Honda HR-V, which will also include a hybrid variant but with a smaller 1.5-litre engine, estimated at around July 2022.

Also read: 2022 Honda HR-V to launch in Malaysia after June - VTEC Turbo, e:HEV hybrid hinted