HONDA CIVIC HATCHBACK 2017 FIRST LOOK

HONDA CIVIC HATCHBACK 2017 FIRST LOOK BY AUTO CRITIC STEVE HAMMES

The 2017 Civic Hatchback joins the 2016 Civic Sedan and Coupe as the third body style in the 10^th-generation Civic lineup, designed for buyers seeking an even more expressive, sporty and versatile Civic.

Built on the same winning platform as the Sedan and Coupe, the Hatchback delivers class-leading volume and cargo capacity, including a roomy interior, best-in-class rear seat legroom and the largest cargo carrying capacity with rear seats up in the competitive set.

The Civic Hatchback is available in five trims with all models equipped with a 1.5-liter direct-injected and turbocharged in-line 4-cylinder engine with peak output of 174 horsepower in LX, EX and EX-L Navi trims, and 180 horsepower in the Sport and Sport Touring trims which feature a center-mounted dual exhaust system and are designed to benefit from premium unleaded fuel.

It can be mated to either a CVT or 6-speed manual transmission.  Working in concert with the turbocharged powertrain is the Civic’s rigid and lightweight body and sophisticated chassis design, featuring a fully independent suspension system, sport-tuned electronic power steering with variable gear ratio, and powerful 4-channel anti-lock disc brakes with Electronic Brake Distribution and Hill Start Assist.

The Civic Hatchback’s all-new Sport Touring grade adds the Honda Sensing™ suite of safety technologies, LED headlights, heated rear outboard seats, aero kit, sport pedals and other features as standard equipment.

Pricing starts at $20,575 with the best mileage achieved via the CVT-equipped non-Sport models, rated at 31mpg city/40mpg highway.