Honda disrupted the American automotive industry in all the right ways in the 1970s with the debut of the all-new Civic. At the time, the international fuel crisis prompted American automakers like Ford and Chevy to deliver smaller, more efficient models like the Pinto and Vega. Honda upped the ante with the debut of the Civic in 1972. Available as either a sedan or hatchback, the Civic proved that smaller vehicles could be both efficient and incredibly fun to drive, which is exactly what we find five decades later in the all-new 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback.

Honda once again sets a new standard of efficiency, performance, and innovation with the all-new 2022 Civic hatchback. Although the hatchback isn't new to the Civic lineup, Honda gives the model an updated appearance with cleaner lines and a more athletic design that makes it attractive to drivers of all ages. The hatchback also offers two different powertrains, an available manual transmission for sport-like handling, and a spacious cabin that makes it easy to haul passengers and gear.

Aside from its new design, you can expect the Civic hatchback to keep with tradition as one of the most affordable, reliable, and safe compact cars on the market. Beyond this, what else makes the 2022 Honda Civic hatchback remarkable?

MSRP: $20,000 ^[a]

Horsepower (hp): 158-180

Bose Speaker (qty): 12

Information Screen (in): 10.2"

Taking inspiration from low-profile European sportbacks, the 2022 Civic hatchback boasts a minimalist design that's aimed to attract younger drivers looking for a more stylish and athletic alternative to the traditional sedan. To accomplish this, the "hatch" puts a modern twist on the sedan with cleaner lines and a coupe-like profile courtesy of a lower hood and front fenders that visually bring the hatchback's body lower to the ground while the distinct front grille features a concave mesh design.

You won't find a hatchback with a smoother profile than the Civic, and that's made possible by the all-new composite rear hatch. Honda moved the hinge outward to reduce the height of the roof near the hinge to create a sleeker appearance. The taillights and the position of the high-mounted stop lamp in the center of the rear also give the hatch a wider and more athletic stance proving that this isn't the same hatchback design from the 1970s.

Honda continued the hatchback's minimalist design in the interior in what Honda calls a "human-centered interior design." To do this, Honda improved visibility from the cabin by pulling back the A-pillars, lowering the front hood, mounting the exterior mirrors to the door, and flattening the dashboard. This means you'll have a clear view throughout the cabin and beyond, which not only adds sophistication and luxury to the hatchback but also improves your safety on busy streets.

Since its debut in 1972, the Civic has built a reputation for not only being efficient but also being fun to drive. The 2022 Civic continues this tradition by adding more power and a second engine option to its lineup. The Civic LX and Sport are equipped with a tried and true naturally aspirated 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that delivers 158 horsepower and 138 lb-ft of torque. The Civic's standard CVT is designed to maximize efficiency and performance, which means you'll save even more on fuel with this combination. However, the Sport trim also offers a 6-speed manual transmission.

The 2022 Civic is also available with a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine that you can pair with the same two transmission options. The turbocharged engine delivers 180 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque and, especially when paired with the manual transmission available on the Sport Touring trim, makes the Civic hatchback a lot of fun to drive. If you opt for the CVT, you'll find that this new Honda car offers three drive modes - Normal, Eco, and Sport - and wheel-mounted paddle shifters for manual control. While Eco mode reduces the sensitivity of the throttle and transmission to maximize efficiency, Sport mode makes a few adjustments to deliver sport-like handling that's ideal when you're cruising down winding back roads or tearing down straightaways at highway speeds.

The 2022 Civic is the most technologically advanced hatchback in Honda history and reflects Honda's longstanding commitment to delivering cutting-edge tools to its customers. This technology starts right from the driver's seat, where you'll immediately see an all-new 7-inch color instrument display that's home to a digital speedometer and tachometer on the left and a physical speedometer on the right. Upgrading to the Sport Touring trim exchanges the 7-inch display with a 10.2-inch high-definition full-color LCD panel display that you can customize with a traditional needle-and-dial display or with a more modern bar-graph design.

Beyond the instrument display, you'll find a new 7-inch color touchscreen display sitting in the center stack. From the screen, you can easily access your favorite apps via Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, navigate the quickest route, or use the available Bluetooth feature to make phone calls, listen to music, and more with a simple voice command. When you upgrade to the Sport Touring trim, you'll enjoy an even larger 9-inch color touchscreen display with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. The Sport Touring also includes a wireless charging station, which means you can leave all of your cables at home and enjoy the Civic's clutter-free interior.

While the touchscreen display is remarkable, Honda didn't stop there and offers an available Bose premium sound system complete with 12 speakers and a 12-channel amplifier to deliver an immersive listening experience. The system is also equipped with Dynamic Speed Compensation technology that automatically adjusts the volume and tone based on the speed of the Civic. This means that you can keep your hands on the wheel and your focus on the road without missing a second of your favorite song, podcast, or news update.

When you look at the 2022 Civic, it's obvious that safety is a top priority for Honda; all new Honda vehicles are equipped with the best safety equipment out there. The hatchback's minimalist design serves another purpose beyond offering clean lines, reducing clutter, and optimizing visibility. It incorporates Honda's Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body structure and works behind the scenes to route the energy from a crash around the cabin to minimize injury and soften the impact. The addition of advanced airbags and a stronger, stiffer frame further enhances the hatchback's structure and ability to withstand impact.

Beyond these design updates, you'll have plenty of safety and driver-assist tools at your disposal with the updated Honda Sensing suite that comes standard on every hatchback trim. The suite isn't new to the Civic lineup, but Honda made a few significant upgrades to the system by replacing its old sensors with a new single-camera system that delivers a wider field of view. Honda also improved the software and added a more powerful processor, which means the technology responds faster than ever to alert you to potential collisions with pedestrians, objects, and other vehicles.

The Honda Sensing suite includes a Collision Mitigation Braking System that can apply hard emergency braking to bring the hatchback to a complete stop if a collision is imminent. Road Departure Mitigation and the Lane Keeping Assist systems help you keep the Civic in its lane, while Traffic Sign Recognition and Adaptive Cruise Control make cruising at highway speeds stress-free. Honda also adds Traffic Jam Assist to the suite as well as enhancements like Low-Speed Braking Control, all of which are vastly improved with the faster processor and new camera system to help you maintain control of your Civic and avoid collisions.

Making its debut in 1972, the Civic is Honda's longest-running automotive nameplate and, with models like the 2022 Civic hatchback, it's easy to see why. The 2022 Civic continues Honda's rich legacy of delivering exceptional vehicles that are reliable, sophisticated, efficient, and fun to drive. Also loaded with innovative technology ranging from connectivity features to safety and driver-assist tools, the 2022 Civic is positioned to become the most popular Civic ever made.

As your Honda dealer, we're excited about everything the 2022 Civic has to offer, and we can't wait to demonstrate all of its new features to you. We encourage you to visit our dealership, where you'll see our unmatched selection of new, used, and certified pre-owned Honda vehicles. Our friendly sales team can help you find the vehicle that best meets your driving, budget, and lifestyle needs, while our expert vehicle financing team can help finalize the paperwork and get you one step closer to driving home in a Honda you will love. But, our relationship with you doesn't stop there!

Our work isn't done once you sign on the dotted line. We're here for all of your vehicle needs, and that includes routine maintenance and repairs. The certified technicians at our Honda service center can handle everything from oil changes and tire rotations to more complex powertrain repairs. If you're looking for parts to do the work yourself, we can handle that too through our parts department, where our trained technicians can help you find everything you need. We're truly a one-stop Honda shop!

___________

^[a] MSRP excluding tax, license, registration, $995 destination charge and accessories. Dealer prices may vary. MSRP does not include $395 charge for premium colors.