It confirms Honda hasn’t given up on the manual transmission.
The new hatchback’s structure is 19% stiffer than the previous car.
The wheelbase has grown by 35mm and the rear track is 12mm wider.
The Honda Civic hatchback was eliminated from the North American market for over a decade until 2016 when it was reintroduced. The new 5-door positioned itself as the premium version of the popular compact car and returns for 2022 with a sporty new design loaded with technology and design.
2022 Honda Civic hatchback | Photo: Honda
Sporty certainly is the operative word. The new hatchback gets a unique front-end design to match two new exterior colours: Boost Blue Pearl and Smoky Mauve Pearl. As well, it’s sleeker than ever as the “A” pillars have been moved rearward by nearly 50mm, the wheelbase has been stretched by 35mm and its rear track is 12mm wider. Thanks to the new composite hatch, its hinge points are a full 50mm lower creating a smoother roofline. To keep the styling tidy, the Hatchback’s rear overhang and overall length are 124mm shorter than the Civic Sedan’s while the cargo opening is 40mm wider. Gone are the signature “C”-shaped taillamps, replaced instead with more conventional ones.
Like the sedan, the 2022 Honda Civic hatchback is powered by a naturally-aspirated 2.0 litre 4-cylinder engine and an available 1.5-litre turbo 4-cylinder engine. The big difference is that they can both be specified with a new 6-speed manual transmission.
Honda says that the 11th generation Honda Civic hatchback is the most fun-to-drive ever. Like the sedan, the hatchback receives numerous chassis upgrades in the form of new low-friction ball joints, front damper mount bearings, and new rear lower control arm bushings. The car’s wider rear track and longer wheelbase promote a smoother ride altogether, helped largely by the stiffer structure.
The 2022 Honda Civic hatchback’s cabin is lifted from the sedan. This means the base LX and Sport trims include a new 7-inch colour touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Sport Touring gains an all-new 9-inch colour touchscreen and wireless charging.
The 11th generation Honda Civic’s future will hold performance versions such as the Type R and likely a hybrid.
