The Honda Civic, now in its tenth-generation, gets a new hatchback variant for 2017.
By David Miller
After a 17-year hiatus from North America, the Civic hatch is back. It’s not a model specific to the Canadian and American markets but the same new hatch built in Swindon, UK for the rest of the world.
The Civic has stayed on top of Canada’s best-selling passenger car list for 18 years in a row and it’s on pace for 19. But Honda is attempting to dominate the compact segment by appealing to even more Canadians with a sedan, coupe and now a hatch. Scheduled to arrive next year are two more sporty Civic versions in the Si and Type-R.
There are only three trim levels available for the Civic hatch: LX, Sport and Sport Touring. Honda believes that hatch buyers are willing to spend a little more to get features, so they've cut off a couple lower-level trims and loaded up on more add-ons.
It may be different in other markets, but Canada will receive only one engine for all trims – a turbocharged and direct-injected, 1.5-litre four-cylinder that produces 174 hp in the LX trim.
It may be just one engine, but in the upper trims, the power gets a bump to 180 hp due to a restructuring of its dual exhaust to the centre at the rear, enabling greater exhaust flow. It will need premium gasoline for to achieve that performance boost, however.
Torque numbers vary based on the transmission used: 167 lb-ft of torque for the LX manual; 177 for the Sport manual; and 162 for all Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) versions.
Aerodynamics of the Civic hatch have been retuned, especially beyond its C-Pillar, to expedite airflow beneath the body, helping it achieve a low drag coefficient.
The Civic hatch offers the same smooth ride found in the sedan. It accelerates gradually with plenty of power to push it forward when needed. In CVT mode, it seamlessly works its way up the power band. On the other hand, the stick shift version creates a little more excitement with a gearshift that's easy to work.
Driving this low-to-the-ground compact is simply fun. Thanks to its electronically assisted steering, you don't have to turn the wheel much to attack those tough corners. On our first-drive, up to Muskoka, Ontario, the Civic hatch stayed balanced and composed throughout as we attacked some delightfully twisty roads.
Its handling prowess notwithstanding, one of the most impressive features of the Civic is its quiet ride. Honda has done a phenomenal job of sound deadening. While driving, one can hardly hear a peep from the engine or the weather outside.
During this first-drive, I achieved a reasonably low 6.5 L/100 km combined between the two days with the manual transmission and CVT LX models. The manual is rated at 8.0 L/100 km in the city and 6.2 km on the highway, while the CVT gets 7.7 L/100 km in the city and 6.9 on the highway.
The front end of the hatch looks similar to the sedan version with only a few changes. A wider hood was used to accommodate its turbo engine, while the grille that sports a bolder look with a black stream running across it.
The hatch is 135 mm shorter than the sedan. The chassis is shared, but tweaked slightly for its fifth door with a shorter overhang behind the C-pillar.
The hatch not only has a segment-leading 728 litres of cargo space behind the second row, it also has one of the largest load-floor areas, 1,120 mm wide and 960 long. It can hold either three golf bags or two large and two mid-size suitcases.
Honda has created a cargo cover that unwinds from side to side without getting in the way. It's a world's first creation that eliminates the issues involved with packing a trunk and figuring out what to do with the typical removable tonneau cover afterwards.
We had access only to the LX trim level but it doesn't look like your typical base model. While the design isn't all that flashy, it impresses with a clean and simple cabin that includes some premium styling touches. Leather seats can be found in the upper trims, but the LX comes with comfortable, cloth seats in a two-tone colour with white piping and a contrast stitching design in the centre.
If there's anything to get picky about it's the Civic's volume control and fonts. Honda will soon offer a physical volume knob in the new CR-V, but for now the Civic is sticking with a touch slider that effectively forces one to use the volume controls on the steering wheel.
The seven-inch touchscreen fonts come in Honda's traditional block forms. They're large and unexciting, but at least they’re easy to read.
Honda Sensing, the brands driver assistance package, comes standard in the top trim level and will be available as an option on LX and Sport for $1,000 more. Honda Sensing includes Collision Mitigation Braking System, Road Departure Mitigation, Adaptive Cruise Control with Low Speed Follow and Lane Keeping Assist.
Honda Sensing may be extra cost, but the Civic hatch comes standard with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a rearview camera and heated front seats. An automatic brake hold also comes into play when driving and can be especially vital during stop-and-go traffic.
Storage within the cockpit is impressive with spaces found in the centre console, glove compartment, inside the door handles and even a cubby underneath the gear shifter.
Pricing for the Civic hatch starts at $21,390 for the LX manual. Moving up to the CVT will cost an additional $1,300 plus a $1,000 more for Honda Sensing technology. The second-level Sport trim begins at $25,190; while the Sport Touring checks in at a starting price of $29,390.
According to Honda, the hatch market is growing and the company wanted to add more versatility to its lineup. Honda is projecting 15% Civic sales to be hatchbacks with 10,000 units being sold in Canada in the first year.
The long-awaited 2017 Honda Civic hatchback can be tested and purchased now in showrooms across Canada.
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