2027 Honda Civic Sport-L Brings Leather Under $28,500, and the Hybrid Gets Prelude’s S+ Shift
Honda just made America’s best-selling compact car a little more luxurious without making it a lot more expensive. The 2027 Honda Civic Sport-L is a brand-new trim that brings leather, heated and power-adjustable front seats, and dual-zone climate control to the gas-powered Civic for $28,495.
Meanwhile, the Civic Sport Touring Hybrid picks up Honda S+ Shift, the clever drive mode that debuted on the Prelude. The 2027 Civic Sedan and Hatchback are arriving at Honda dealers now, and the Sport-L joins the lineup by the end of the year. Here’s everything you need to know, including pricing for every trim.
Meet the First-Ever Civic Sport-L
The Sport-L slots between the Civic Sport and Sport Hybrid. Its big selling point is simple: it takes premium features that used to require a hybrid and puts them in a Civic powered by the 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and CVT.
Here’s what the Sport-L adds:
- Leather upholstery (previously exclusive to the Sport Touring Hybrid)
- Heated front seats (previously exclusive to hybrid trims)
- Power-adjustable front seats (previously exclusive to the Sport Touring Hybrid)
- Dual-zone climate control (previously exclusive to hybrid trims)
- Passenger-side seatback pocket
- Illuminated vanity mirrors
- Silver-colored interior trim
For a lot of buyers, that’s the sweet spot. Heated leather seats and dual-zone climate used to mean stepping up to a hybrid that starts at $29,695. Now you can get them for $1,200 less. That said, the Sport Hybrid still makes a strong case for itself, and we’ll get to fuel economy in a minute.
“With the new Civic Sport-L, we’re making some of Civic’s most desirable premium features more accessible, giving buyers another smart reason to choose Civic,” said Luis Guerra, assistant vice president of Honda National Auto Sales.
Honda S+ Shift Comes to the Civic Sport Touring Hybrid
The other headline is for drivers. Honda S+ Shift debuted on the 2026 Honda Prelude, and now it’s coming to the range-topping Civic Sport Touring Hybrid.
Since a hybrid doesn’t have a traditional geared transmission, S+ Shift simulates one. It adds virtual rev-matched downshifts, gear holding, and enhanced engine sounds to make the drive feel more connected. In other words, it gives the most efficient Civic a bit more personality on a back road.
If you want the full-blown performance Civic, the 2027 Civic Type R is still the one to get. However, S+ Shift brings a taste of that fun to a car that also returns nearly 50 MPG.
2027 Honda Civic Pricing
Pricing still starts with the Civic LX sedan at $24,995, excluding a $1,295 destination charge. That keeps the Civic close to rivals like the 2027 Kia K4. Honda also points out that the Civic’s average transaction price this year, hybrids included, is below the industry’s average price for a used vehicle.
2027 Civic Sedan
| Trim | Powertrain | MSRP | With Destination |
|---|---|---|---|
| LX | 2.0L/CVT | $24,995 | $26,290 |
| Sport | 2.0L/CVT | $26,995 | $28,290 |
| Sport-L | 2.0L/CVT | $28,495 | $29,790 |
| Sport Hybrid | Hybrid | $29,695 | $30,990 |
| Sport Touring Hybrid | Hybrid | $32,695 | $33,990 |
2027 Civic Hatchback
| Trim | Powertrain | MSRP | With Destination |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sport | 2.0L/CVT | $28,195 | $29,490 |
| Sport-L | 2.0L/CVT | $29,695 | $30,990 |
| Sport Hybrid | Hybrid | $30,895 | $32,190 |
| Sport Touring Hybrid | Hybrid | $33,895 | $35,190 |
Premium paint adds $455. The Civic Hatchback is built in Greensburg, Indiana, while the sedan comes from Honda’s plant in Alliston, Ontario, Canada. Both use domestic and globally sourced parts. You can explore the full lineup on Honda’s Civic page.
Fuel Economy: The Hybrid Is the Sweet Spot
Fuel economy is where the Civic hybrid shines. The sedan hybrid models earn an EPA-estimated 49 MPG combined, compared to 34 MPG for the Sport and Sport-L. That’s a 15 MPG difference for a $1,200 price gap.
| Model | City / Hwy / Combined MPG |
|---|---|
| Sedan LX | 32 / 41 / 36 |
| Sedan Sport, Sport-L | 31 / 39 / 34 |
| Sedan Sport Hybrid, Sport Touring Hybrid | 50 / 47 / 49 |
| Hatchback Sport, Sport-L | 30 / 38 / 34 |
| Hatchback Sport Hybrid, Sport Touring Hybrid | 50 / 44 / 47 |
Buyers have clearly noticed. Civic hybrids, the 2025 North American Car of the Year, account for more than 30% of all Civic sales this year. That lines up with what we saw in third-quarter hybrid sales, where Honda set records. It also helped drive Honda’s strong September.
Honda Sensing Is Standard on Every Civic
Every 2027 Civic comes with the Honda Sensing suite of safety and driver-assistive technologies. That includes:
- Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) with Pedestrian Detection
- Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
- Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS)
- Forward Collision Warning
- Road Departure Mitigation (RDM) with Lane Departure Warning
On top of that, all Sport models add blind spot information with Rear Cross Traffic Alert. For parents shopping for a first car for a new driver, that standard safety list is a big deal.
That’s exactly who the Civic keeps winning over. According to Honda, it’s America’s most popular vehicle with Gen Z and first-time buyers, and Honda has sold more than 13 million Civics The new Sport-L makes that first car feel a little more grown-up. Meanwhile, S+ Shift gives enthusiasts a reason to stretch for the hybrid. Either way, the Civic is still one of the best values on the road. Stay tuned to GT: Garage Talk® for more on the 2027 Civic.