Civic is Honda’s largest selling vehicle worldwide and the 10th generation Civic is a result of an extensive and comprehensive design in the history of Honda manufacturing, which includes new chassis, powertrain, exterior as well the all new interior. A few weeks back, we shared an unofficial news about the upcoming Civic Hatchback, bound to United States from Europe. 10th Generation Civic Sedan and Coupe has already got worldwide praise and the release of the hatchback looks as if it will work as icing on the cake.
Honda today has officially released the images and some more details about the hatchback. The car will be making official debut and public appearance on the upcoming Paris Auto show in 3-week time.
Read Also: 2017 Civic X Hatchback is Almost Here! .
Interesting fact for our readers is that there is NO saloon variant (A four-door sedan as called in Europe) for this generation in European market as previously predicted. Europe will get Civic in two flavors, a Hatchback and a Tourer [station wagon/estate] only.
Exterior-wise the hatchback looks similar to sedan version at front. From B pillar onward, the hatchback has different lines with increased sloping roof at the C pillar, which then converges into the rear hatch that has a full-size rear glass. At the rear, the hatchback receives identical C-shaped tail lights as on sedan. On exterior, the twin exhausts are centrally placed, which we have seen one on either side in the sedan version. The hatchback gets optional LED headlights same as sedan. Interior is almost identical to what we have seen on the Civic sedan version and it should be same as Honda Civic X interior has already been awarded as one of the best in class.
2016 Honda Civic Bags Wards Auto Award For Best Interior.
The most wanted full digital driver information interface is also available but with Red theme, unlike US Sedan version, where it’s bluish. Mathematically, the hatchback is 4497mm long (sedan 4630mm), 1800mm wide (sedan 1799 mm) and 1421mm high (sedan 1433mm). The new hatchback is almost 125mm longer and 30mm wider than the previous Civic hatchback, so you can imagine the extra room you will get in the new generation hatchback. Well, we always think hatchbacks are tight on space with less cargo capacity, but no it’s not like that here. The new hatchback has a cargo capacity of 16.88 cubic feet around 2 cubic feet more than sedan version. The rear folding seats and with open up hatchback door gives extra room to load and carry bulky items.
Mechanically in Europe, the hatchback version will be available in a 1.0-liter three-cylinder turbo engine with power output of 127hp, and a 1.5 liter four-cylinder turbo as can be found in Sedan version, but with 180hp unlike sedan, which is rated at 174HP. Both engines options powers the front wheels via a standard six-speed manual or optional CVT automatic.
In future, a 1.6L Honda i-DTEC diesel engine is also expected to arrive in Europe. Honda European Chief hinted at a hybrid version of Civic hatchback in future to compete against the all-time best hybrid seller Toyota Prius. Like the sedan, the hatchback also has a MacPherson strut front suspension and a multi-link rear suspension system with hydraulic bushing for better and agile handling. In the interior on the entertainment front, Honda equipped Civic hatchback with 7″ media center capable of Apple Car Play and Android Auto smartphone integration with voice control identical to sedan version. Top of the line variant will get a 450 Watt premium audio system with a subwoofer while all other trims will get 8 speaker 180 watt audio system as standard.
On safety front the hatchback follows the same safety design as the new civic sedan. The new car is based on an advanced compatibility engineering (ACE) body structure that has a new crash stroke design. The frame rails are created and fixed in a manner that they plunge downwards in a front head-on collision. In high-speed collisions, this technique will decrease the risk of engine thrusting into the passenger cabin. The new frame is about 30kgs less than the prior generation but has 25% more torsional rigidity. High-strength steel is used in major crash zones, while there will be a single piece sub-frame in the rear as well as delicate frame areas to absorb the collision force.
Video Demonstration: Honda Sensing Active Saefty Features
In Europe the Civic hatchback will also be offered with Honda Sensing active safety system package, which comprises of emergency braking, lane departure warning and lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control as well as foe the first time the traffic sign recognition with intelligent speed assist. The US bound hatchback already scored 5 star rating on US crash testing protocol and the same is expected for the European version.
Civic hatchback will exclusively be produced at Honda’s factory in Swindon, UK and will be exported to around 70 countries around the globe, where it will be introduced. Honda invested around £200m for the production of the new hatchback at the new assembly plant. Honda, later in the production cycle of Civic X hatchback, will offer the potent performance variant of it in form of a “Type R” which will be powered by a 2.0L Turbocharged engine with powers rumored nearing 350HP. No price details have been declared at this time by Honda Europe.
We are not sure if we will be able to see any hatchback soon on our roads in Pakistan and chances are slim but we can hope to see some imported used versions as we have seen in the past.
You’ll rarely find a hatchback in Pakistan. We do have some Civic 1995 (hatchbacks) here. My university fellow had one. You need luck to spot one on roads OR wait for Pakwheels Auto Show!