You could not love its appears to be like, however Honda’s Civic is an excellent car.
Craig Cole/Roadshow

The Honda Civic is an all-around glorious small automobile, arguably the gold normal in its phase. This machine has a thoughtfully designed, high-quality inside, it gives loads of normal tools, together with the Honda Sensing suite of superior driver aids, and its real-world gasoline economic system is outstanding. Further broadening its enchantment, this little Honda is obtainable in a spread of physique types, from a standard sedan to a sporty coupe to a five-door hatchback. If you are available in the market for a small automobile simply get a Civic and chances are high you will not be disillusioned.

LikeGlorious driver-assistance techEfficient powertrainAffordable pricingSpacious inside

Don’t LikeThe infotainment system is not greatElevated inside noise levelsOverstyled exterior

A hatchback-to-basics automobile This hatchback is obtainable in 5 completely different trims, from the entry-level LX mannequin as much as the Sport Touring variant, which is what I’m testing right here. The most elementary model Honda gives begins at nearly $23,000, together with $995 in vacation spot charges. Naturally, my evaluation unit is pricier than that, trying out for round $29,905, which continues to be a very cheap sum contemplating all of the tools it comes with. When it is time to haul a load of products out of your native big-box retailer, this Civic is glad to oblige. With the rear seats up, it offers 25.7 cubic ft of house. Fold these backrests down and that determine grows to a Costco-worthy 46.2 cubes, a determine that, whereas a lot helpful, is barely lower than what you get in both a Hyundai Elantra GT or Volkswagen Golf, each of which supply greater than 50 cubic ft of most quantity.

Why is that this Civic’s roofline so droopy?
Craig Cole/Roadshow
Other opponents of this Honda embrace five-door variations of the Mazda3 and Toyota Corolla. These rivals have their very own strengths and weaknesses, although I’m not afraid to say that each one of them are extra enticing than the Civic. It’s not that this Honda hatchback is ugly, it is simply that it is acquired a number of further styling, from faux air vents to overly busy-looking bumpers to an oddly deflated roofline to its duet of rear spoilers. It is, sadly, not a really fairly automobile.  It’s what’s inside that counts But if you may get previous that wrapper, the Civic’s inside is way extra nice, and arguably among the best on this phase. Front and rear, the seats are comfortable and there is loads of room for heads and legs. Even taller of us shouldn’t have any complaints whereas using on this Honda, although older folks may run into just a little hassle. The Civic sits fairly low to the bottom, which makes it virtually really feel such as you’re getting up off the ground when alighting. 

The Honda Civic hatchback is a superb, if weird-looking, car
See all photographs

The high quality of this automobile’s cabin is extraordinarily excessive. In reality, a few of its inside supplies are nicer than what you get in some luxurious automobiles. Improving its versatility, the Civic’s heart console does extra methods than a magician. The armrest slides fore and aft to raised accommodate completely different folks, however it additionally flips up, revealing a deep, spacious storage bin. Within this compartment are a number of cup holders in addition to a separate storage tray. Several of those parts additionally slide. There’s even a further storage cubby beneath the middle stack do you have to want extra junk-stashing house.

It could also be roomy and versatile, however all just isn’t roses inside this Honda. One aspect I do not take care of is the instrument cluster. Like its physique, the Civic’s gauges are unusually robotic, with odd-looking analog meters flanking a mildly reconfigurable heart display screen. The general look is a bit hokey and is unlikely to age very properly. Techno-illogical Part of this automobile that is already old-fashioned is the infotainment system. All variations of the Civic hatch, save the entry-level LX mannequin, include a Display Audio system and a 7-inch touchscreen. With unattractive graphics and a difficult person interface, it isn’t considered one of my favourite multimedia arrays accessible immediately. At least Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are included. Top-shelf Sport Touring fashions additionally include a premium 12-speaker audio system, which sounds tremendous, neither terrible nor wonderful. The Civic’s inside is rife with high-quality supplies.
Craig Cole/Roadshow
Along with its entrance buckets, the rear outboard seats are heated, which is sweet, however the lack of any USB ports serving backseat passengers just isn’t. Higher-end variations of this automobile include solely two such retailers, one delivering 1.5 amps’ value of juice, the opposite a measly 1 amp. One characteristic of observe is the digital parking brake with computerized maintain. Doing away with a mechanical handbrake frees up house on the middle console. And I’ve acquired to say, computerized brake maintain has grow to be considered one of my favourite options. When enabled, a agency push of the pedal whereas stopped will maintain the automobile stationary, so whereas ready at a light-weight you do not have to maintain making use of strain on the brake pedal. It’s a welcome comfort characteristic, one which’s nonetheless pretty unusual on this car phase. The Honda Sensing security suite is normal tools right here and it is nearly as good as ever. This consists of issues like forward-collision warning, collision-mitigation braking, adaptive cruise management and lane-keeping help. Those final two options work extraordinarily properly; the truth is, they’re among the finest accessible within the trade immediately. The cruise management with lane centering is especially good, maintaining the car locked in the midst of its lane with minimal ping-ponging from one facet to the opposite.  The infotainment system ain’t nice, however at the very least you get a quantity knob.
Craig Cole/Roadshow
Power and efficiency All mainline Civic hatchbacks are powered by a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. In Sport and Sport Touring fashions, it delivers a good 180 horsepower and both 177 pound-feet of torque when paired with a six-speed handbook transmission or 162 lb-ft when bolted to the accessible CVT. Non-Sport variants brandish 174 hp of their under-hood stables. Pedantic vagaries apart, this powerplant is clean and quiet, even when working all-out. Despite the pint-size displacement (technically 1,498 cc is 3.17 US pints, however I digress), this engine delivers loads of midrange punch, a thick serving of torque proper within the coronary heart of its rev vary. In regular use, the Civic will not go away you wanting for extra efficiency because it feels fairly energetic. While not fairly as responsive as I’d like, this automobile’s repeatedly variable transmission is clean and helps ship some spectacular gasoline economic system. So outfitted, the Civic Hatchback is rated at 29 miles per gallon within the metropolis and 35 on freeway drives. Combined, it ought to return 32 mpg, although in blended use I’ve seen simply shy of 35 mpg. It’s all the time nice when you may beat the EPA’s estimated scores with out even attempting. This might be the Civic’s least-flattering angle.
Craig Cole/Roadshow
This Honda’s journey high quality is about on par for a compact automobile, being neither pillow-soft nor buckboard-stiff. It strikes a pleasant stability between sport and luxury. At pace, nonetheless, this hatchback’s cabin is a bit on the noisy facet, with unexpectedly noticeable tire and wind ruckus. Another draw back is the design of the C-pillars. They’re chunky, even chonky, and significantly block rearward visibility. Still an awesome possibility The 2020 Civic hatchback is sweet at nearly every part. Sure, I’d respect an up to date infotainment system, some nicer devices and toned-down styling, however the automobile is so basically strong I can look previous these minor faults. If you are available in the market for an environment friendly, versatile and well-equipped car however do not wish to go the crossover route, make certain to take a look at this Honda or any of the opposite Civic physique types. They will not disappoint.