The Honda Civic Hatchback is a compact five-door hatchback model that has been part of the popular Civic lineup since 1972. First introduced in the early 1970s, the Civic became an instant success and helped establish Honda’s reputation for reliable, fuel-efficient vehicles. The original Civic Hatchback featured a small 1.2-liter engine and front-wheel drive, giving it good fuel economy and maneuverability. According to Wikipedia, the Civic is positioned between the Honda Fit/City and Honda Accord in Honda’s global car line-up.
Throughout its 10 generations over 50 years, the Civic has come in various body styles including coupe, sedan and hatchback models. The Civic Hatchback has gone through its own evolution with various generations adding more power, tech features and refreshed styling over the decades. For example, the third-gen Civic Hatchback introduced the popular Si high-performance trim. Recent hatchback models include the sporty Civic Type R, which debuted in 2015. Today, the Civic Hatchback continues Honda’s tradition of fun-to-drive, fuel-efficient compacts with modern amenities and eye-catching design.
Notable Model Years
The Honda Civic Hatchback first debuted in 1973 and has gone through many generations and notable model years since then. Some key years that brought major changes include:
2006 – This 8th generation model marked the return of the hatchback after a brief hiatus. It featured a new exterior and interior design and increased dimensions for more interior room. The engine options ranged from a 1.8L to a 2.0L (source: Wikipedia).
2013 – Honda introduced the 9th generation with European-inspired styling. It had an improved rigid body, advanced tech features, and available engines ranging from a 1.8L to a 2.4L. The interior was also upgraded (source: History of Honda Civic).
2017 – The 10th generation brought a sleek, sporty look with a low and wide stance. The interior space increased, and new features included a turbocharged engine option, Honda Sensing safety tech, and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto (source: CarBuzz).
2022 – Honda redesigned the exterior and interior for the 11th generation’s debut. Changes included a larger body, revised styling cues, improved tech features, and a new engine lineup with up to 180 hp (source: CarBuzz).
Models and Trims
The Honda Civic Hatchback is available in several trim levels, each offering different features and amenities. The main models and trims include:
LX – The base LX trim comes standard with features like a 158-horsepower turbocharged engine, partial digital instrumentation, automatic climate control, and an 8-inch touchscreen display.
Sport – The Sport trim adds styling enhancements like 18-inch alloy wheels, a center-mounted exhaust, gloss black exterior accents, and sport pedals. It also includes paddle shifters.
EX – Moving up to the EX trim brings amenities like an 8-speaker audio system, moonroof, heated front seats, and additional safety features.
Sport Touring – The top-of-the-line Sport Touring includes leather seats, navigation, premium audio system, wireless charging, and full LED headlights.
Honda has offered different models and variations of the Civic Hatchback over the years. Recent model years include the LX, EX, EX-L, Sport, and Sport Touring trims (Battison Honda).
Dimensions and Capacity
The Honda Civic Hatchback has a compact and sporty design. According to Honda, the hatchback has the following key exterior dimensions for the 2022 model year:
- Length: 175.6 inches
- Width: 70.9 inches
- Height: 55.7 inches
- Wheelbase: 107.7 inches
Inside, the Civic Hatchback can seat up to 5 passengers. Headroom comes in at 37.4 inches in both the front and rear seats. Legroom is measured at 42.3 inches in the front and 36.0 inches in the rear.
Cargo capacity behind the rear seats is measured at 24.5 cubic feet. With the rear seats folded down, maximum cargo capacity expands to 46.2 cubic feet (Honda News, 2022). This provides versatility for hauling larger items when needed.
Performance and MPG
The 2023 Honda Civic Hatchback comes with two engine options:
The standard engine is a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder that produces 158 horsepower and 138 lb-ft of torque. With the standard 6-speed manual transmission, it gets 29 mpg city/37 highway/32 combined. With the optional CVT, it gets 30/38/33 mpg.1
The optional turbocharged 1.5-liter 4-cylinder produces 180 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque. With the CVT, it gets 31/39/35 mpg. With the 6-speed manual, it gets 29/37/32 mpg.2
So in summary, fuel economy ranges from 29-39 mpg depending on engine and transmission choice. The turbo engine provides a noticeable boost in power while maintaining excellent fuel efficiency.
Safety Features
The Honda Civic Hatchback comes equipped with a comprehensive suite of standard safety technologies. All models include Honda Sensing® safety features like collision mitigation braking, forward collision warning, road departure mitigation, and lane departure warning. Additional standard safety tech includes vehicle stability assist, anti-lock brakes, tire pressure monitoring, and a multi-angle rearview camera.
Available active safety features include blind spot information, cross traffic monitor, and parking sensors. Passive safety features include advanced front airbags, front knee airbags, and side curtain airbags with rollover sensor as noted in the 2023 model. The Civic Hatchback has earned top safety ratings from the NHTSA and IIHS, and offers drivers peace of mind with its comprehensive safety technology and performance.
Interior and Exterior
The Honda Civic Hatchback offers an attractive interior and exterior design with ample space. All trims have a 2-tier instrument panel with a 5-inch or 7-inch driver information interface screen (depending on trim) that provides useful information to the driver. The seats are comfortable and supportive, with the driver’s seat offering manual height adjustment on all trims and power height adjustment on higher trims.
The hatchback body style provides excellent cargo versatility, with cargo volume behind the rear seats measuring 25.7 cubic feet. With the 60/40 split rear seats folded down, that expands to 46.2 cubic feet, allowing you to fit large items. The rear liftgate opening is wide and makes loading cargo easy.
On the exterior, the Civic Hatchback has an athletic, sporty design. The front features Honda’s signature solid wing face with distinctive headlights and a black honeycomb grille. The side profile has clean lines and a sloping roofline, while the rear has C-shaped taillights and dual chrome exhaust tips on higher trims. Overall, the exterior styling provides a balance of sportiness and sophistication.
According to Honda, the 2024 Civic Hatchback aims to provide “sporty performance” and a “spacious cabin,” which is evident in the interior and exterior design.
Infotainment and Technology
The 2023-2024 Honda Civic Hatchback comes equipped with an impressive array of infotainment and technology features. On the base Sport trim, it has a 7-inch touchscreen display with support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. Higher trims upgrade to a larger 9-inch touchscreen with wireless compatibility for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which makes connecting your smartphone simpler.
The available HondaLink infotainment system enables various connected capabilities through the Civic’s touchscreen. For example, it can provide emergency assistance, remote start/lock, vehicle status reports, and more. There’s also built-in Alexa support for voice commands.
For audio, the Sport and EX-L trims have a 4-speaker 160-watt system, while the Sport Touring gets upgraded to a premium 12-speaker Bose audio system with Centerpoint and Bose SurroundStage digital signal processing for an immersive listening experience.
Other notable technology features include automatic climate control, remote engine start, heated front seats and steering wheel (on EX-L and higher), and a host of advanced safety systems like collision mitigation braking, road departure mitigation, adaptive cruise control, and more.
Pricing
The 2024 Honda Civic Hatchback starts at a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $22,700 for the base LX model. The pricing rises progressively through the lineup with more features added. The top Sport Touring trim has an MSRP of $32,900.[1]
Optional packages can increase pricing further. For example, the Sport Touring offers a Premium package with leather seats, parking sensors, and wireless charging for $1,500. Standalone options include things like a cargo cover ($200) and wireless phone charging ($200-$500 depending on trim).[2]
Honda frequently offers customer cash rebates and special financing offers that can reduce real-world transaction prices. Haggling may also be possible at the dealer level to negotiate a lower price.
[1] https://automobiles.honda.com/civic-hatchback
[2] https://www.edmunds.com/honda/civic/2023/hatchback/
Competitors
The Honda Civic Hatchback competes with other compact hatchbacks like the Kia Forte5, Hyundai Elantra GT, Volkswagen Golf, and Mazda 3. The Civic typically edges out the competition in areas like fuel economy, interior space and quality, reliability ratings, and resale value.
For example, the Civic gets EPA estimates of 31 mpg city/40 highway, while the Elantra GT is rated at 26/33 mpg. The Civic also offers more passenger and cargo room than the Golf. Reliability ratings for the Civic from J.D. Power and Consumer Reports consistently exceed those of competitors like the Mazda 3. Additionally, ALG projects the Civic to retain over 50% of its value after 3 years, higher than the Golf, Forte5, and Elantra GT.
Overall, the Civic Hatchback sets itself apart from rivals with its balance of efficiency, practicality, quality, driving dynamics, and value retention.
