Honda Doubles Down on Hybrids with 13 New Models Amid Slower EV Growth
Honda is planning a major push with hybrid cars as it looks for a better balance between traditional engines and electric vehicles. The company announced it will launch 13 new hybrid models between 2027 and 2030, and they’ll all be powered by what Honda says is “the world’s most efficient” internal combustion engine.
The reason behind this move is simple: EV sales haven’t taken off as quickly as Honda expected. Toshihiro Mibe, the CEO of Honda, explained that demand for hybrid vehicles is actually going up, while the EV market isn’t growing like they thought it would.
He believes changes to emissions rules and EV targets in the US are partly to blame for this slowdown. “The expansion of the EV market has fallen behind the initial projection,” Mibe said.
While Honda hasn’t said which cars will get the new engines first, it’s likely that future versions of the Civic and Jazz will lead the way. The engines will come in two sizes: 1.5-litre and 2.0-litre, just like in the current versions of those cars.
The smaller 1.5-litre engine will be tuned to deliver strong torque over a wider rev range, making the car more efficient without losing power. Honda claims these engines will have the best thermal efficiency of any petrol engine on the market.
To go along with the new engines, the hybrid system will get a lighter and slimmer electric motor, which will help make the cars more efficient. Honda says fuel economy should improve by about 10%. For comparison, the current Jazz already gets around 62.8 miles per gallon, and the Civic hits 56.5.
Honda is also building a new platform for these hybrids, one that’s lighter and better in terms of handling, comfort, and safety. It’s expected to be around 90 kilograms lighter than the current design. On top of that, Honda plans to cut costs by making the cars share more parts, up to 60% across models, and the new hybrid systems will be 30% cheaper to make than the ones from 2023.
Even though Honda recently reduced its EV investment by £15.4 billion, bringing the total to £51 billion, and took a big loss on electric cars last year, it’s not giving up on that side of the business. Mibe told investors that “we would like to see the battery EV business as a pillar of our business from 2030 onward.”
Next year, Honda will kick off a new chapter with its 0 Series of electric cars in the US. This new range is designed to reboot its EV plans, following the slow performance of earlier models like the Honda E and the e:Ny1. The lineup will include a boxy SUV, a futuristic sedan, and later, more practical vehicles like a seven-seater and a compact sedan aimed at taking on the Tesla Model 3.
While the hybrid and EV cars will look different, Honda wants all of them to share a simple and clean design style. Toshinobu Minami, who leads Honda’s design team, told Autocar that “hybrid and combustion models are going to be different in terms of design but dynamic and simple will be key words for all models in future.”
So, even as electric cars are still finding their footing in the market, Honda is doubling down on hybrids with new technology, lighter platforms, and more efficient engines. It’s clear the company is trying to stay flexible while it works toward an electric future.
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