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2019 Honda Civic Hatchback 2019 Honda Civic Hatchback

2019 Honda Civic Hatchback

The Honda Civic has entered its 10th generation. It's bigger, more tech-focused, and better to drive than ever before, while retaining the attributes that have made the nameplate a hit since the original model arrived in the 1972.

Honda offers the 10th-gen Civic as a coupe, a sedan, and a hatchback (detailed here). The latter spawned the hot-rodded Civic Type R.

Recent changes

For the latest model year, Honda has upgraded the Civic Hatchback with an improved infotainment system that marks the return of the physical volume knob. The model also benefits from additional standard safety features.

Overview

Though still recognizable as a Civic, Honda designers pushed the enveloped a little farther with the latest redesign, adding a bolder front fascia that includes a chrome grille bar, optional LED headlight and lower air inlets. The Civic sedan is more coupe-like than before, with a sloping roofline giving the car a fastback appearance. The Civic's rear lights feature a new boomerang design.

The Hatchback is an evolution of the same design, featuring a more pronounced cargo area in the rear. 25.7 cubic feet is available with the seats up on LX and EX models. Sport and Sport Touring models offer a little less thanks to their larger spare tire, but it is still on par with the segment leaders.

Like the sedan and coupe, the hatchback offers such niceties as advanced touchscreen navigation, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support, and on CVT-equipped models, the advanced Honda Sensing safety suite (which includes adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, emergency braking and road departure mitigation).

Powertrain lineup

All Civic Hatchback models are powered by Honda's new 1.5L turbocharged four-cylinder. Depending on the trim level, it is available in different outputs and with different transmissions.

When paired with the manual transmission in the LX model, the 1.5L produces 174 horsepower and 167lb-ft of torque. Opting for the CVT limits the torque output to 162lb-ft.

On the Sport model, those numbers bump up to 180 horsepower and 177lb-ft of torque. Note however that while the Sport Touring model gets the same horsepower bump as the Sport, it is only available with the CVT.

Fuel economy is a Civic strong suit regardless of powertrain. LX models are rated at 30 mpg city, 39 highway and 33 combined with the six-speed manual. With the CVT, those ratings increase to 31 city, 40 highway and 34 combined (and those same numbers apply to EX and EX-L models--exclusively available with the CVT).

Sport models are rated the same as the LX with the manual transmission. CVT-equipped Sport and Sport Touring models are rated at 30 city, 36 highway and 32 combined.

All Civic models are front-wheel drive and feature a drive-by-wire throttle system, an Eco Assist system and Hill Start Assist.

Trim level breakdown

The Civic LX's standard equipment list includes automatic climate control, electronic parking brake, LED daytime running lights, 5-inch LCD screen with integrated rear-view camera, Bluetooth connectivity, Pandora compatibility, steering wheel-mounted controls, capless refueling and 16-inch steel wheels with full covers.

Sport models get unique suspension tuning and wheels along with a more powerful engine tune. CVT models also get paddle shifters. Buyers who want more options with their extra power will have to opt for the Sport Touring at the expense of the manual transmission.

The Civic EX adds push-button start, smart entry, 7-inch Display Audio touchscreen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, Honda LaneWatch, power moonroof and heated side mirrors.

The Civic EX-T is equipped similarly to the Civic EX, but includes upgrades like SiriusXM satellite radio, heated front seats, a dual-zone automatic climate control system, fog lights and a body-colored deckled spoiler.

Stepping up the EX-L model nets leather seats with an 8-way power adjustment for the driver, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, automatic dimming rear-view mirror and an available satellite navigation system.

The top-spec Sport Touring includes a 450-watt premium sound system with sub-woofer, standard navigation, power adjustable front passenger's seat, heated outboard rear seats, rain-sensing windshield wipers, chrome door handles and the Honda Sensing suite of safety features. The Touring also receives the Sport model's slightly thicker anti-rolls bars for a sportier driving experience.

Occupant safety

All Civic models ship standard with advanced front, side, and side curtain airbags. The Civic's front and side airbags are equipped with a new venting technology that helps reduce the risk of injury for passengers "out of position” during the time of a collision.

In order to help avoid a crash altogether, every Civic model comes standard with Honda Sensing. That safety suite includes advanced technologies like collision mitigation, lane departure warning, forward collision warning, lane keeping assist, road departure mitigation and adaptive cruise control with low-speed follow. 

All but the entry-level Civic LX gets Honda's LaneWatch system, which provides a video feed of the passenger's side of the car via a mirror-mounted camera. The system is intended to reduce the Civic's inherent blind spots during lane change maneuvers.

Key competitors

The Honda Civic goes toe-to-toe with the Toyota Corolla Hatch, Chevrolet Cruze Hatch, Mazda Mazda3, Subaru Impreza and Volkswagen Golf in the highly competitive compact market.

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