2017 Honda Civic Hatchback Road Test and Review

2017 Honda Civic Hatchback exterior hero ・ Photo by Honda

Honda says there’s a global market shift toward compact utility vehicles, and the company’s new Civic Hatchback is poised to capture some of the action. This new 2017 Civic Hatchback, the third version of Honda’s new Civic (following the sedan and the coupe), is built in England on the existing Civic chassis, and the sheet metal from B-pillars rearward is new. The wheelbase and width are identical to those of the Civic sedan, but the Civic Hatch is 4.3 inches shorter in overall length thanks to an abbreviated tail whose 25.7 cu. ft. cargo hold is more spacious than that of the VW Golf, Ford Focus, and Mazda Mazda3.

Familiar Chassis

The new 2017 Honda Civic Hatchback is built on the 10th-generation Civic chassis, strengthened to accommodate the large opening of the rear hatch. Honda uses generous amounts of high-strength and hot-stamped steels to create a firm but lightweight platform for the suspension, which features MacPherson struts in front and an independent multilink rear. Fluid-filled suspension bushings improve ride quality, while a larger tubular front anti-roll bar (as compared to the Civic Sedan) helps keep the new Civic Hatchback flat in the corners. Disc brakes are found at each corner, augmented by standard ABS, electronic brake distribution (EBD) and brake assist.

Photo by Honda

Turbocharged Engine

One engine is available in the 2017 Honda Civic Hatchback, and it’s a good one: a turbocharged 1.5-liter inline-4 that is a superb blend of power and efficiency. In the mainstream LX, EX, and EX-L Civic Hatchback models, this intercooled and direct-injected 16-valve engine produces 174 horsepower at 6000 rpm. In Sport and Sport Touring models, that bumps up to 180 horsepower (but requires premium-grade unleaded gasoline). Civic Hatches fitted with the CVT are limited to 162 lb.-ft. of torque from 1700 to 5500 rpm, whereas those with the 6-speed manual transmission produce either 167 lb.-ft. of torque (LX) or 177 (Sport models).

What’s most important here is this: in all Civic Hatchbacks, the torque peaks very low, below 2000 rpm, and the small turbo means there’s no long wait for turbo boost (max of 16.5 psi) to arrive.

Photo by Honda

Two Transmissions

A continuously variable transmission (CVT) is available in all versions of the 2017 Honda Civic Hatchback, and a 6-speed manual can be ordered only in the LX and Sport models.

About the CVT: It’s sporty. In certain models, it has shift paddles on the back side of the steering wheel, and it doesn’t exhibit any of the motorboat sensation (in which engine rpm feels unrelated to vehicle speed) common to some CVTs. It also feels like a traditional automatic when it simulates downshifts whenever the driver is aggressive with the drive-by-wire electronic throttle. As for the manual, it feels like a Honda gearbox, which is to say it’s excellent, with a gear lever that moves with ease among the short, well-defined gates, and clutch action that’s easy and aided in smoothness by a dual-mass flywheel.

Photo by Honda

Driving Impressions/Utility

The 2017 Honda Civic Hatchback is a dual-personality car, at home on twisty roads or on a cross-country trip home for Thanksgiving, stuffed with gear. Thanks to thin A-pillars, the view forward is excellent. The ride quality is great, and the electric-assist steering feels natural, not requiring a constant stream of small corrections. There’s lots of assist just off-center, and it decreases for better feel the more the wheel is moved. It’s quiet inside this beautifully finished Civic, where the long wheelbase aids rear seat room and head room is excellent for taller drivers. While there still isn’t a traditional volume knob for the stereo, we’ll forgive Honda for that sin because there’s a handy 25.7 cubic feet of space behind the split 60/40 rear bench, which means the Civic Hatchback can carry three sets of golf clubs than can be hidden from view with a handy cargo cover that pulls out from the side. With rear seat folded, the Civic Hatch has 46.2 cubic feet of cargo space with a flat load floor.

Photo by Andy Bornhop

Fuel Economy

In short, the fuel economy of the 2017 Honda Civic Hatchback is excellent. When it’s fitted with the 6-speed manual transmission (LX and Sport only), the 2017 Honda Civic Hatchback is rated by the EPA at 30 MPG city/39 MPG highway/33 MPG combined. With the CVT, the Civic LX, EX, and EX-L Navi models do a bit better, rated at 31/40/34. The Sport and Sport Touring Civic Hatchbacks (the ones with the full 180 horsepower) are hurt a bit on the highway, rated at 30/36/32. Of note, every 2017 Civic Hatchback has an Econ button: When it’s pressed, the Civic’s throttle mapping (and even the air conditioning operation) is optimized to enhance fuel economy.

Photo by Honda

The Various Models

Five models of the 2017 Honda Civic Hatchback are available: LX, Sport, EX, EX-L Navi, and Sport Touring. 

The LX, a base model with 16-in. wheels, has a 160-watt stereo and a standard 6-speed manual transmission.

The Sport adds the more powerful engine plus 18-in. alloy wheels, a center exhaust, an aero kit, red dash illumination, a leather-covered steering wheel, sport pedals, and paddle shifters.

The EX rides on 17s, and it’s fitted with an 8-speaker stereo, Display Audio (with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto), a moonroof, satellite radio, and Honda Lane Watch.

Upping the luxury ante is the EX-L Navi, which boasts heated front leather seats, an auto-dim mirror, and a navigation system.

If there’s a flagship Civic Hatchback, it’s the Sport Touring model. The Sport Touring has LED headlights, a 12-speaker stereo, heated rear seats and HondaSensing, the company’s comprehensive suite of safety technologies.

Photo by Honda

Safety Technologies

In a great move, the company has made the HondaSensing suite of safety technologies available on all Civic Hatchbacks. This includes collision mitigation braking system, forward collision braking, lane keeping assist system, road departure mitigation, lane departure warning, and active cruise control. This suite of technologies is standard on the Civic Hatchback Sport Touring model and is a $1000 option on the LX, EX, and EX-L Navi. Even if you don’t get HondaSensing, the new Honda Civic Hatchback has lots of inherent safety thanks to stability control, a full complement of airbags, anti-whiplash seats, and even a standard rearview camera.

Photo by Andy Bornhop

Pricing

The 2017 Honda Civic Hatchback LX has an MSRP of $19,700. That is for a model with a 6-speed manual transmission. If you want an LX with a CVT, that’s $20,500. With HondaSensing, an LX with a CVT starts at $21,500.

Next up is the Civic Hatchback Sport. It costs $21,300 with a manual transmission and $22,100 with a CVT.

The EX, available only with a CVT, is $22,800 (or $23,800 with HondaSensing).

The EX-L Navi, available only with a CVT, is $25,300 (or $26,300 with HondaSensing).

Lastly, the top-of-the-line Sport Touring Hatchback, CVT only, sells for $28,300.

All 2017 Honda Civic Hatchbacks, for the record, have an $835 destination fee.

Photo by Honda

Our Verdict

We tend to think of the Honda Civic as an entry-level car, but the new 2017 Civic Hatchback doesn’t feel that way. This Honda is refined, sporty, and handy, and it comes across as a pricier ride when you’re behind the wheel. From the driver’s seat, this well-equipped 5-door feels just like a Civic Sedan, which already looks a bit like a hatchback, given its semi-fastback roofline.   

While hatchbacks are practical and popular in Europe, will the new Honda Civic Hatchback—which looks great in Sonic Gray Pearl—succeed in the U.S.? Hard to say, but based purely on its merits, it should. On the other hand, there are some folks in the U.S. who wish Honda had extended the Civic Hatchback’s roof a little farther back and created an attractive, sporty and efficient little station wagon.

What do you say, Honda?

Photo by Honda