2025 Honda Civic: 70% of JDM buyers want the RS 6MT Turbo

In a few days' time, Honda Cars Philippines will be launching the updated Civic at the 2024 Philippine International Motor Show. Aside from a slight facelift and a few tech updates, the PH market Civic is set to have a hybrid option in its top-spec RS variant with the e:HEV powertrain.

In its home market, however, the Civic RS is pretty different from the one we have. Apart from being a hatchback, the JDM Civic RS is not a hybrid. But wait, there’s more. Its 1.5-liter VTEC Turbo is exclusively paired to a 6-speed manual transmission with a lighter flywheel, a rev match system similar to the more hardcore Civic Type R, and an RS-specific suspension.

Guess what, Honda’s strategy in Japan is paying dividends. The Japanese brand announced they already have about 3,000 orders for the new Civic, and about 2,000 of those buyers want the 6-speed MT RS. Oh yes.

Not just that, but it has also triggered an increase in demand for the Civic altogether as the 3,000 orders already surpassed the monthly sales target of 500 units for the Japanese market. So what can we take away from this?

Well, it turns out that a manual transmission Civic is still revered by Honda enthusiasts in Japan, especially the young ones. In the buyers’ demographic, the 6-speed RS is wanted by Japanese drivers in their 20s, or those Japanese kids who grew up playing Gran Turismo and seeing EK and EG generation Civics on the road. Those who want the e:HEV, on the other hand, are buyers in their 50s.

We know traffic is horrible in the country and it's clearly not ideal to drive around a manual, especially in the metro. But we’d like to think the 6-speed MT RS could also be very welcome in the Philippine market considering the cult following of the Civic here. So should Honda Cars PH consider it now? Let them know what you think in the comments.

Source: CarWatch