Gas prices are up, and likely not coming down soon. What’s a consumer to do? 

Our suggestion: think small, hybrid, and award-winning. The 2026 Honda Civic Hybrid is a logical choice. Okay, we’re a bit biased, but it’s confirmed by the experts at U.S. News & World Report, which just recently named the 2026 Honda Civic Hybrid its “Best Compact Hybrid Car.” 

With a hybrid, you’re not paying as often at the gas pump, and while compact, the Honda Civic Hybrid is still roomy enough for four adults, stylish enough for the most discerning, and – most of all – a blast to drive! It comes in both sedan and hatchback versions and it’s priced well below the average price of a new vehicle starting at around $30k.

How U.S. News Chose the Civic Hybrid

The experts evaluated 138 luxury and affordable hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and electric vehicles of all sizes. These judges were looking for the best combination of quality, efficiency and value in each segment, including gas mileage and range, price, and opinions of other experts, including the automotive press. Here’s what they discovered about the Civic Hybrid:

 

• Four-cylinder engine married to twin electric motors offering 200 hp and 232 lb-ft of torque. “The result is a very quiet car that feels quick off the line ... The transition from electric to gas power is uncannily seamless.”
• “An engaging driver with a taste for corner carving.” In short, the 2026 Honda Civic Hybrid is a lot of fun to drive. The corner carving aspect should be particularly attractive to Colorado drivers.
• Two trims: Sport and Sport Touring.
• EPA-estimated fuel economy (sedan) of 50 mpg city/47 mpg highway/49 mpg combined, slightly less for the hatchback. 
• Excellent cargo space: 14.8 cf in the sedan and 25.4 cf for the hatchback. “Overall, it’s one of the most utilitarian small cars you can buy.”
• Safety rating of 9.3/10 with tons of standard safety and driver-assistance features. The Honda Sensing® Suite is superb.
• Predicted reliability was “Great,” scoring 84/100.
• Infotainment and technology rated well, especially in the Sport Touring trim, which includes a 9” display, standard Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™, wireless charging, 12-speaker Bose audio. Even in the standard Civic Hybrid Sport, “the system is simple and intuitive. Even a serious technophobe would be able to settle in and master this system pretty quickly.”
• Comfortable seating, high-quality fit and finish, “logically and thoughtfully designed” controls – mostly physical. 

 

The 2026 Honda Civic Hybrid is a worthy successor to the 2025 Honda Civic Hybrid: the North American Car of the Year. We’re very proud of it, and think you’ll love it, too!