The new 2024 Honda Civic is arriving in our region sooner than anticipated. After its global debut in USA in May, Honda has confirmed that the updated Civic will be launching in Southeast Asia this year, beginning with Thailand on 23 August 2024.

For Thailand, the entry 1.5 EL Turbo variant is no more, leaving 1.5 Turbo EL+ as the sole pure combustion engine variant. The full-hybrid 2.0-litre e:HEV EL+ and e:HEV RS variants remain.

Cheaper hybrids, more expensive turbocharged variants

Prices have also been slashed. The highest specifications 2.0L e:HEV RS variant will see its starting price drop from 1,259,000 Baht to 1,23x,xxx Baht. The lower-range e:HEV EL+ variant will also see reduced prices, from 1,129,000 Baht to 1,09x,xxx Baht.

Meanwhile, the sole 1.5L Turbo EL+ will see its price increase from 1,009,900 Baht to 1,03x,xxx Baht, bringing it almost on par with the entry EL+ hybrid variant.

The final prices will be announced on 23 August 2024, when the new Civic is launched.

The adjustment in prices, by making hybrids more attractive, and raising prices of the turbocharged variant, is likely a gesture of support to the Thailand government’s recent announcement to extend tax incentives for hybrid cars to 2032.

Thailand extends support to promote hybrids

Previously, excise tax for hybrid cars was set at 4%, for passenger cars emitting less than 100 g/km of CO2, while passenger cars emitting between 101 to 150 g/km were taxed at 8%. This incentive was set to expire by 2026, after which excise tax would increase to 6% and 10% respectively, increasing by 2% every 2 years.

The government has since announced that it will maintain the 6% rate from 2028 to 2032, while cars in the 101 to 150 g/km bracket will see excise tax reduced from 10% to 9%.

The excise tax for regular passenger cars ranges from 25% to 50%, depending on their CO2 emissions and compatibility with E85 gasohol, a biofuel blend of ethanol and petrol.

Highlights of the new Civic (for the Thailand market) include a new front-end design, 12-speaker Bose audio (for e:HEV RS variant), and Google Built-in infotainment system.

In Malaysia, the Honda Civic starts from RM 131,900, for 1.5-litre VTEC Turbo-powered variants. The highest specifications 2.0-litre e:HEV RS hybrid variant starts from RM 167,900.

For lower prices, our Malaysia market Honda Civic is locally assembled in Melaka. Naturally, there will be a longer lead-time as the Melaka plant would need to adjust its tooling and supply chain to accommodate the new model’s parts. The Melaka plant cannot do this until the Thailand plant – the region’s ‘Mother plant’ for Honda – completes the phasing-in of the new Civic there.

We don’t expect Honda Malaysia to launch the new facelifted Honda Civic until early next year.