Honda Civic Type R is a beast in its own right, but a competitor or two could give you more bang for your buck.

The Honda Civic hybrid won the 2025 North American Car of the Year award, while the Ford Ranger took the crown for the truck honors, and Volkswagen ID. Buzz won the utility award. The honors, announced Friday morning during an Automotive Press Association event kicking off the North American International Auto Show in Detroit,

North American Car, Truck, and Utility Vehicle of the Year™ (NACTOY) award winners were announced this week at the Detroit Auto Show.

The Honda Civic has been voted as the Best Small Car in the 2025 AutoTrader Awards by our expert jury, representing a four-time win for this popular nameplate. Our panel of more than 20 of Canada’s top automotive experts considered every car in this segment and voted the 2025 Honda Civic as the best one to buy, meaning it’s a car they can confidently recommend. The award covers the full Civic lineup, which includes a sedan, hatchback, hybrid, and even performance variants. The Civic prevailed over a number of worthy competitors in the category, including the Mazda3, Toyota Corolla and Prius, Volkswagen Jetta, Hyundai Elantra, Subaru Impreza, and more. A car in this segment has to have a lot going for it to be considered the best. A winner must be well-rounded and give drivers a blend of efficiency, user-friendliness, practicality, and affordability without making too many sacrifices. The Civic checks all the boxes. The Civic, built in Alliston, Ont., gets a refresh for 2025 and that includes the return of its hybrid model, which comes in both sedan and hatchback configuration. The automaker expects the hybrid powertrain to account for 60 per cent of overall sales. The non-hybrid Civic sedan and hatchback models use a 2.0L four-cylinder engine that makes 150 hp and 133 lb-ft of torque, mated to an automatic continuously variable transmission (CVT). The new-for-2025 hybrid combines a 2.0L engine with a self-charging hybrid system that uses an electric generator motor that supplies power to the drive battery, and an electric propulsion motor that drives the wheels. It can drive on gasoline, electricity, or a combination, as can the Toyota Corolla Hybrid and Prius, and the Hyundai Elantra Hybrid. However, the Honda’s system produces a combined 200 hp, which is more than any of those finalists, along with 232 lb-ft of torque. And with a Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) fuel efficiency rating of 4.9 L/100 km in combined driving, it’s almost on par with the Corolla and Elantra at 4.7, and the Prius at 4.8 L/100 km. The 2025 Civic refresh also gave it some styling updates, including its fascia, grille, and taillights. The top trim has Google Built-In, which is the first time it’s available on a Civic. Pricing starts at $29,370 for the gas-only sedan, including delivery, and $35,130 for the Hybrid, which comes in upper trims. Our jury liked the cabin, with its upscale look, comfortable seats, and user-friendly controls. While many automakers are centralizing their controls in touchscreens, which can be distracting when you’re trying to accurately tap them while driving, the Civic uses physical buttons and knobs for many of its climate functions, which is much easier. When you do access items in the infotainment screen, it’s easy to navigate the intuitive menus and simple icons. Our judges also thought highly of what the Civic’s like behind the wheel. AutoTrader Editor-in-Chief Jodi Lai said that, “The Civic sets the benchmark for driving dynamics in this segment, not because it feels like a sports car, but because of its refinement and composure.” She added that the “chassis is expertly tuned to balance comfort and performance,” and that the car has “a planted and confident feel on the road.” Storage space is good, including small-item cubbies in the cabin and trunk space in the sedan or the cargo compartment in the hatchback. The Civic has a considerable number of standard or available features, including premium items such as an auto-dimming mirror, upgraded stereo, navigation, and leather upholstery, along with several driver-assist technologies. Its competitors in the category are no slouches, but the judges found the Civic to be exceptionally well-rounded and liked that it’s now available as a hybrid in both sedan and hatchback configurations. The 2025 Honda Civic is a deserving winner of our Best Small Car crown.

The Honda Civic hybrid won the 2025 North American Car of the Year award, while the Ford Ranger took the crown for the truck honors, and Volkswagen ID.

Automotive award season is in full swing, and the winners of the 2025 North American Car, Truck and Utility of the Year awards were announced at the 2025 Detroit Auto Show.

DETROIT (AP) — The Honda Civic hybrid won the 2025 North American Car of the Year award, while the Ford Ranger took the crown for the truck honors, and Volkswagen ID. Buzz won the utility award.

The Honda Civic hybrid won the 2025 North American Car of the Year award, while the Ford Ranger took the crown for the truck honors, and Volkswagen ID. Buzz won the utility award.