The 11th-gen Honda Civic Sedan is now joined by the Hatchback sibling, scheduled to go on sale this fall. Honda is also planning to introduce (depending on the market) a new Civic Type R and a hybrid variant with the brand’s e:HEV powertrain in 2022.
For now though, we have the regular Civic Hatchback to take a look at. Compared to the 10th-gen Civic Hatchback, there are a few not-so-obvious changes, including pushing the A-pillars back by nearly 2-inches (1.96-inches), a 1.4-inch longer wheelbase, and a 0.5-inch wider rear track.
Also, a new lightweight composite hatch with a new hinge mechanism enabled a 50 mm roof height reduction in the hinge area. As for the cargo space, Honda claims to have made the lower hatch opening 1.6-inch wider over the predecessor, and a 60/40 split seatback comes standard in case you need to carry more.
There are two new exterior colors: Boost Blue Pearl and Smoky Mauve Pearl. The wheel sizes range from 16- to 18-inches depending on the trim.
Honda claims that the new Civic Hatchback’s body structure has a 19% improvement in torsional rigidity over the previous generation, offering an improved ride and handling. Extensive use of structural adhesives, spray-in foam in the pillars, and additional sound deadening in the firewall and under the floor ensure reduced NVH (noise, vibration and harshness) levels.
The suspension and steering improvements have been carried over from the Sedan. Honda claims that the reduced suspension friction and improved bushings help reduce harsh road shock, such as when going over railroad crossings, by 20%.
It’s a Déjà vu inside, obviously, with pretty much the same stuff as the Sedan, including a clean dashboard design, a 10.2-inch LCD instrument display, a 9-inch touchscreen (7-inch standard), and the optional Bose audio system; notice the A-pillar-integrated customized speakers. Honda claims that the rear legroom is improved by 1.4-inches, while the headroom remains the same. As with the Sedan, the Honda Sensing suite comes standard.
Moving on to the juicy bits of the story then, the Civic Hatchback borrows the engines from its Sedan sibling. For starters, there’s a 2.0-litre (1,996 cc) 4-cylinder naturally aspirated petrol engine with 118 kW (160 metric hp) at 6,500 rpm and 187 Nm (138 lb-ft) of torque at 4,200 rpm. Those looking for more can choose a 1.5-litre (1,498 cc) 4-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine that pumps out 134 kW (182 metric hp) at 6,000 rpm and 240 Nm (177 lb-ft) of torque between 1,700-4,500 rpm. Both engines are hooked up with a CVT as standard, however, the Sport and Sport Touring trims offer an option of a 6-speed manual gearbox.
Recommended for you
Leave a Reply
Note: Comments that are unrelated to the post above get automatically filtered into the trash bin.
