After more than a decade away the Civic hatchback is set to return to North American dealerships this fall. While Civic hatches of yore were enormously popular, especially in Canada, the body style hasn't occupied a regular spot in the Civic lineup since the sixth generation ended in 2000. It did return, albeit briefly, from 2002-05 in the guise of the European-sourced SiR, but that car (also known as the EP3), shared little in common with its North American coupe and sedan stablemates.
This time around, however, the Civic Hatch will be based on its tenth-generation coupe and sedan counterparts and will be powered by the same engine (1.5-litre turbo four-cylinder) and transmissions (six-speed manual and CVT). Output will also remain the same on the LX and Sport trims (174 hp / 162 lb-ft.), with the range-topping Sport Touring getting a bit of a horsepower bump (180 hp / 162 lb-ft.).
And for the gearheads and performance enthusiasts out there, yes, the Civic hatch will form the basis of the upcoming Civic Type R. A production version of that car is expected to be revealed at the upcoming Paris Motor Show in late September as a 2017 model. Industry speculation has that car going on sale in North America in September 2017, but Honda has yet to confirm. As soon as we know more, we'll be sure to post it here at ignitionmag.ca
One other interesting side note, the Civic hatchback will be built in Swindon, England, in the same plant that made the SiR (EP3), and not in Alliston, Ontario or Greensburg, Indiana where the coupe and sedan are currently being produced.
For more on the Civic hatchback, see Honda Canada's official statement below.
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All-New 2017 Honda Civic Hatchback Arrives This Fall in Canada
MARKHAM, Ont. – Arriving this fall in Canada, the 2017 Civic Hatchback is the latest addition to the much-heralded 10th-generation Honda Civic lineup, joining the 2016 AJAC Canadian Car of the Year – the Civic Sedan, and the Civic Coupe that launched earlier this year. The 2017 Honda Civic Hatchback combines striking, Euro-inspired styling and five-door versatility with the Civic’s world-class driving dynamics and Honda direct-injected turbo engine technology. The Civic Hatchback, scheduled to arrive this fall at Honda dealers nationwide, also will serve as the basis for the radical new Civic Type-R launching in 2017.
“We’re bringing back the much anticipated sporty, stylish and sophisticated Civic Hatchback to Canada, as we amp up the performance of our incredible Civic lineup with each new model” said, Dave Gardner, Senior Vice President of Operations, Honda Canada. “The Hatchback paired with the 1.5L Turbo Engine builds on the fun-to-drive characteristics of the Civic that appeals to enthusiasts, new and old.”
Built on the same world-class platform as the 10th-generation Civic Sedan and Coupe, the 2017 Honda Civic Hatchback offers an appealing combination of sporty styling, efficiency, interior utility and premium features. The Civic Hatchback will be available in LX, Sport and Sport Touring trims, and will feature a single engine for the Canadian market: a 1.5-liter DOHC direct-injected turbocharged in-line 4-cylinder with peak output of 174 horsepower and 162 lb.-ft. of torque in LX trim and 180 horsepower and 162 lb.-ft. of torque in the Sport and an all-new Sport Touring grade, which feature a high-flow center-mounted exhaust.
The turbocharged engine will be offered with either a performance-inspired 6-speed manual transmission or a sporty CVT. Anticipated NRCan fuel economy ratings of 7.7 / 6.0 / 6.9 L/100KM on the LX CVT trim and 7.9 / 6.6 / 7.3 L/100KM on the Sport and Sport Touring CVT trim. The manual transmission on all trims will come with an NRCan rating of 8.0 / 6.2 / 7.2 L/100KM.
Working in concert with the Honda turbocharged powertrain is the Civic’s more rigid and lightweight body and sophisticated chassis design, featuring a fully independent suspension system with liquid filled bushings, front and rear; sport-tuned electronic power steering with variable gear ratios; and powerful 4-channel anti-lock disc brakes with Electronic Brake Distribution and Hill Start Assist.
The interior of the 2017 Honda Civic Hatchback carries through on the modern, sophisticated and premium quality of the 10th-generation Civic lineup, with high-grade materials and finishes applied liberally throughout. In terms of packaging, the 2017 Honda Civic Hatchback delivers top class volume (2752 L) and class leading cargo capacity (727.7L) and best rear seat legroom (916 mm) in the competitive set.
Available on all trims (and standard on Sport Touring) will be the Honda Sensing suite of safety and driver-assistive technologies, which includes Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), Forward Collision Warning (FCW) integrated with CMBS, Lane Keeping Assist (LKAS), Road Departure Mitigation (RDM), Lane Departure Warning integrated with RDM and Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Low-Speed Follow. All trims will come equipped with Honda Display Audio with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, heated front seats and heated side mirrors, available power driver and front-passenger seats, available remote engine start and more.
The Civic Hatchback will target top-class safety ratings – an NCAP 5-star Overall Vehicle Score and an IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK rating with a GOOD rating in all crash test modes and a SUPERIOR rating in frontal crash prevention, when equipped with Honda Sensing.
Photo courtesy of Honda Canada
