We’ve seen the all-new Honda Civic Sedan and now we’re getting the Civic Hatchback. However, the Civic Hatch has one key feature that the sedan does not have. What is it? Read on…
Performance
Engine – The 2022 Honda Civic Hatch is available with two engine options. The base trim receives a 2.0L naturally aspirated 4-cylinder with 158 hp while this top spec Sport Touring trim gets a 1.5L turbocharged 4-cylinder. This engine produces 180 hp and 177 lb-ft of torque (134 kW & 240 Nm). The peak power figure is pretty high up in the rpm range at 6,000 rpms but in city driving situations, it’s the torque that matters more. The peak torque figure is reached at a very low 1,700 rpms and is sustained to 4,500 rpms. This means that the engine doesn’t need to rev all that much when taking off from a stop which in turn is good for fuel economy.
Fuel Economy – Compared to the sedan, the Civic Hatch has slightly worse fuel economy figures. With the CVT automatic, it is rated for 7.7 L/100km (30.5 MPG) in a city and 6.3 L/100 km (37.3 MPG) on a highway. But if you opt the Civic Hatch with the manual transmission, the highway fuel economy remains the same but city fuel economy takes a hit as it is rated for 8.5 L/100km (27.6 MPG). During my time with the car, I averaged 8.0 L/100km (29.4 MPG) but if you do a lot of highway driving, you can get it as low as 6.0 L/100km (39.2 MPG).
Transmission – Yes, the key feature that the 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback receives over the Civic sedan is the option of a 6-speed manual transmission. It is available for both engine options. The shifts feel slick and there’s a satisfying “click” as the shifter goes into each gear. Clutch actuation is easy with a light but noticeable clutch bite point and a light pedal actuation.
Also, this manual Civic hatch has an engine auto start/stop feature. Normally this feature is only found on vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission. It only operates when the car is in neutral and your foot is off the clutch pedal. As soon as you step on the clutch, the engine turns on.
Braking – The brake pedal is a bit more sensitive in this Honda Civic than I was expecting. It’ll take a bit more getting used to for those that have a heavy foot but the pedal modulation is good for smooth stops.
Handling – The handling dynamics of the new Civic have been slightly tweaked. It feels more “mature” when it goes around corners. The steering response is sharp and communicative. It’s also nicely weighted so that it doesn’t feel too light or overly assisted. Sure, the tires squeal in agony if you drive it like a hoonigan around a corner but it feels sporty enough with a hint of “maturity” that trickled down from its big brother; the Accord.
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Comfort
Ride Comfort – The suspension is more compliant over bumps than the previous generation of the Civic. Shunts from potholes don’t get translated through the suspension and into the cabin as much.
The seats have also been revised from the previous generation Civic. They are a bit softer and provide a bit more support for your entire body thus reducing stress over longer drives. However, there is no lumbar adjustment.
Interior Space – This new generation of the Civic has grown in size and this is most evident in the rear seats. Sitting behind my 6’4” tall driving position, I fit with ease. My knees gently brush up against the back of the front seat but they don’t feel squished like how they do in the Mazda 3 Sport. There is also a deep indentation in the roof for a generous amount of headroom. In the front seats, legroom and headroom are plentiful.
With the hatchback design, the 2022 Honda Civic Hatch can swallow up to 693 L (24.4 cu-ft) of cargo. That’s 285 L (10 cu-ft) more than the Civic sedan and 124 L (4.4 cu-ft) more than the Mazda 3 Sport. With the seats folded, the Civic Hatchback can accommodate 1,308 L (46.2 cu-ft) of cargo which is just 26 L (1 cu-ft) less than the Mazda 3 Hatch.
Noise, Vibration, & Harshness – Sound insulation has been drastically improved in this new Civic over the old one. Engine, wind, and tire noises barely intrude into the cabin when driving around city streets. Road noise is a bit more prevalent on highways and is still the Achilles heel of the Civic when it comes to interior comfort.
Odds and Ends
Pricing – This is where it starts to fall apart a bit for the 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback because this top spec Sport Touring trim is quite a bit more expensive than the GT trim of the Mazda 3 Sport – the topmost trim in which you can get a manual transmission. This 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback Sport Touring costs $35,000 CAD ($29,850 USD) while the Mazda 3 Sport GT Manual costs just $30,600 CAD ($28,350 USD, Premium trim). The starting prices are $28,000 CAD ($23,350 USD) & $22,200 CAD ($22,750 USD) respectively. One thing to note for the United States market, the manual transmission is available on the Sport and higher trims.
Gadgets – But for all that money, you are getting a very well equipped vehicle. It has leather, heated seats all round, heated steering wheel, sunroof, wireless phone charging along with wireless CarPlay & Android Auto, a full digital driver display, a 9-inch touchscreen (with a volume knob), adaptive cruise control, blind spot sensors, lane centering system, and automatic emergency braking among other features. It is very well loaded but so is the competition from Mazda and Toyota; both of which are less expensive.
Interior Design – The fit and finish of the new interior is miles ahead of the previous generation. It retains a lot of physical buttons and they have a premium quality to them. You can easily take them out of this Civic and put them in a Mercedes-Benz. The real metal mesh grille across the dashboard covers the air vents but the air vent prongs feel a bit on the flimsy side. It feels as if you could break them with one strong tug of the prong. But otherwise, the interior fit and finish as well as the materials are top notch.
Exterior Design – When this new generation of the Honda Civic was revealed as a sedan, I called it a bit bland and boring. I still stand by that. But with the change to a hatchback, it looks much more interesting. It’s not as striking to look at as the previous generation hatchback but it’s more appealing than the sedan. The front remains relatively unchanged but the rear has different tail lights and exhaust pipes. Not to mention, in side profile, the Civic Hatch looks like a teardrop in reverse. I like how the hatchback looks a lot more than the sedan.
Warranty – The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback is covered by a 3 year / 60,000 km new vehicle and 5 year / 100,000 km powertrain warranty. For more information on Canadian warranty, click here. For information on USA warranty, click here.
Conclusion – As an overall package, the new 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback is just about perfect. It offers more space, a better interior, the latest gadgets, and is genuinely fun to drive. Its major downfall is that it is significantly more expensive compared to the Mazda 3 Sport and the Toyota Corolla Hatch.
Thank you to Honda Canada for providing the vehicle. www.Honda.ca
2022 Honda Civic Hatchback Gallery
