5 Things You Need To Know About The New Honda Civic Hatchback
1. It looks just like the concept
Getting a little deja vu? That’s because the production version of the 10th-generation Civic hatch looks very similar to the concept version, which made its debut at the Geneva motor show earlier this year.
It’s a much cleaner looking beast than the current Civic hatchback, and unlike the two generations before it, it doesn’t have a daft trim piece slapped across the middle of the rear windscreen. Instead, it has a spoiler/brake light combo thing which sits much further down, so it’ll impede rear visibility a little, but not anywhere near as badly as the part on the outgoing car.
What do you think of the looks? Let us know in the comments.
2. Made in Britain, sold in the USA
Yep, the Civic hatchback is built in Blighty at Honda’s Swindon factory. God Save The Queen and all that. But the big news is it’s heading Stateside - the first time in over 10 years that American buyers have been able to officially buy a hatch-ified Civic.
It’ll actually hit ‘Murican showrooms long before their UK counterparts - the new hatch will go on sale in the USA in September, whereas we’ll have to wait until March to get our hands on one.
3. There'll be a Type R, and it'll go Stateside too
The boggo Civic hatch isn’t the only previously forbidden fruit our friends across the pond will be able to get a taste of - the eventual Type R is officially on its way to the United States, arriving 2017.
According to reports it’ll be less extreme in the looks department than the current one (don’t expect something quite as mad as the render above), but it’ll be plenty powerful. We’re looking at an updated version of Honda’s 2.0-litre turbo engine kicking out somewhere in the region of 340bhp, and it’ll still push that power out through front wheels with the help of suspension and limited-slip differential trickery.
4. One engine to rule them all
While European buyers will almost certainly get a broader range of engines including diesels, US-spec Civics get just one powerplant: a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol. It’s available in two states of tune, though: the LX, EX and EX-L versions get 172bhp, while the Sport and Sport Touring get a massive boost of, err, 6bhp. Yep, 178bhp; not a massive figure. But hey - don’t forget about that Type R. Meanwhile all models put out a useful 162lb ft of torque.
You can spec a CVT gearbox on any model, while the LX, Sport, and EX trims get the option of a six-speed “performance-inspired” manual. If it’s anything like the slick six-speed in the current Civic Type R, it’s well worth going for.
CVT-equipped cars manage a combined 34mpg US, or around 40mpg Imperial. And while we’re talking about practical stuff, Honda claims the hatch is best in class for boot space and rear leg room.
5. No more torsion beam
The eighth-gen Civic - infamously - ditched its formerly independent rear suspension setup for a torsion beam affair, an approached continued for the ninth-gen car. The Type R is a brilliant handling thing despite that arrangement, but you can’t help but wonder if it might have been even better had it inherited a more sophisticated rear setup.
We have some good news on that front: the tenth-generation Civic has returned to having fully independent suspension. The body is also lighter and stiffer - all of this bodes well for the Type R, and the ‘normal’ models.
Comments
My cats reaction to the car
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I just can’t stand the look of new Civics. All those angles. It’s that thing where manufacturers try and make their cars look cutting edge and futuristic, then in four or five years time they look really dated.
I’m looking forward to that Type R though…
I count 140 angles on the rear end alone of this Touring.
For me it’s vastly superior to the ninth-gen, which has too many awkward, fussy details like those protruding rear light clusters, the split rear glass thing etc. It’s just not a particularly sleek shape, either.
You sir, have way too much free time
“speed dating”
COMMENT OF THE WEEK!!!
Speaking of angles, can we at least mention this dastardly Lexus? And yes by dastardly I mean it looks pretty damn hideous… (In my opinion)
Am I the only one who thinks this is a fastback and not as much a hatchback? I still think the 99 hatch would be better…
Kinda reminds me of an i8, looking all futuristif and stuff
I thought they already released the fastback
Honda doesn’t call the Civic “fastback”. But yes, the sedan has been on production for awhile.
At least there isn’t a…
Han Solo dies
YES! YES YES YESSSSS
There’s more things wrong with that back end than things wrong with Phil.
To be fair to Honda I think they have nailed the wrong end, especially the front 1/4 on the 4th picture
Congratulations, ‘muricans you will now get the mighty Type-R. All hail the Honda Civic.😌
#civicisnomorerice
YAY
Finally a manual trans