2027 Honda Civic Sport-L: What the New Trim Adds

Honda is adding a new middle step to the 2027 Civic lineup: the Sport-L, a gasoline-powered trim with comfort features that previously appeared higher in the range. The sedan Sport-L starts at $28,495 before destination, while the Civic Sport Hybrid starts $1,200 higher at $29,695. The two choices put a practical question in front of shoppers: pay more for the hybrid’s much higher EPA fuel-economy estimate, or keep the lower purchase price and choose the Sport-L’s upgraded interior?

The Sport-L is scheduled to join Civic sedan and hatchback models at dealerships by the end of 2026. Honda says 2027 Civic sedans are beginning to arrive now. The new trim does not replace the hybrid; it sits between the nonhybrid Sport and Sport Hybrid, with leather-trimmed seating, heated front seats, an eight-way power driver’s seat and dual-zone automatic climate control. Honda’s announcement of the 2027 Civic describes those as key upgrades over lower trims.

What the sedan price difference buys

For the sedan, Honda lists the Sport at $26,995, the Sport-L at $28,495 and the Sport Hybrid at $29,695. The Sport-L is $1,500 above the regular Sport, but it is only $1,200 below the hybrid. Honda’s separate 2027 sedan price and EPA table gives total suggested retail prices including the $1,295 destination charge: $28,290 for Sport, $29,790 for Sport-L and $30,990 for Sport Hybrid. Tax, registration, premium paint, accessories and dealer-installed items are not included, and Honda says dealer prices may vary.

The feature step is concentrated in the cabin. The Sport-L adds leather upholstery, heated front seats, power adjustment for the driver, and separate temperature settings for driver and front passenger. The Sport Hybrid also has heated seats, but the Sport-L brings several of these comfort items to a trim that does not use the hybrid powertrain. Honda’s official sedan specifications and feature chart lists those features by trim, helping separate standard equipment from items available elsewhere in the line.

Fuel economy is the main tradeoff

The gasoline Sport and Sport-L use a 2.0-liter four-cylinder with a continuously variable transmission and front-wheel drive. Honda lists 150 horsepower for these trims and EPA estimates of 31 mpg city, 39 highway and 34 combined. The two sedan hybrid trims use Honda’s two-motor hybrid system, which has 200 total system horsepower and a direct-drive unit; their EPA estimate is 50 city, 47 highway and 49 combined.

Those are test estimates, not a promise of an individual driver’s fuel use. The difference in the combined ratings is 15 mpg, but whether the hybrid’s extra $1,200 is offset by lower fuel spending depends on miles driven, local fuel prices, trip mix and the actual price paid. This comparison also does not include insurance, financing, maintenance or resale value, and it should not be read as a total-cost calculation.

Hatchback shoppers face a similar ordering, but at different prices. Honda lists the 2027 hatchback Sport at $28,195, Sport-L at $29,695 and Sport Hybrid at $30,895 before destination. The gasoline trims are rated at 34 mpg combined; the hatchback hybrids are rated at 48 mpg combined. Honda’s hatchback price and EPA table cautions that real-world mileage varies with driving and maintenance.

Keep S+ Shift in the right trim

Honda is also adding its S+ Shift drive mode to the Civic Sport Touring Hybrid. The company says it simulates a performance transmission with virtual rev-matched downshifts and gear holding. That feature is attached to the Sport Touring Hybrid, not the Sport-L, so it should not be treated as part of the new midrange trim’s equipment. A shopper comparing the two has a distinct choice: the Sport-L emphasizes comfort features at a lower MSRP, while the Sport Touring Hybrid adds the higher-level hybrid equipment and S+ Shift.

For shoppers who want the heated seats and leather but do not prioritize the highest Civic fuel-economy estimate, the Sport-L fills a clear gap in the sedan range. Buyers who travel more miles or spend more time in city traffic may want to compare the hybrid’s higher starting price against its EPA rating using their own driving pattern. A dealer quote should also be checked against the published MSRP and destination charge, because those figures do not include taxes, registration or optional equipment.