Hatchback Review: 2023 Honda Civic

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After a wild run of being Canada’s best selling car since 1997, the Honda Civic was toppled in 2022 by the Toyota Corolla. By no means does this take away from all the Civic has to offer as the changing of crowns was largely due to production issues, as opposed to demand.

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In 2022, we saw an all-new 11th generation of the palindrome people mover and with it brought a mature design throughout. Driving’s Jil McIntosh did a deep dive into the all-new 11th generation Civic Hatchback when it debuted. I spent a week with the carryover-model, the 2023 Civic hatchback, to determine which lane it lands in regarding value proposition in the segment. It’s got a snappy little engine, and the power steering got an update.

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The exterior is cleanly designed and far removed from the overly-angled 10th generation. Simplicity runs strong with smooth and rounded lines up front and along the profile. The rear is almost Volvo-esque minimalist with subtle C-shaped taillights. The body itself bears a closer-than-it-should shape to the sedan, with the visible difference being a rear wiper and larger rear glass.

Sharing an interior feel with the all-new HR-V and CR-V, the Civic Hatchback excels at a functional cabin, especially with the honeycomb insert that adds an upscale feel. For a model with only three trims (LX, Sport and Sport Touring), there is either a seven-inch or nine-inch screen, trim dependant. I feel the gear lever is a couple of inches too high but that’s countered by easy to use HVAC dials and just enough physical buttons paired with the touchscreen infotainment.

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Power-wise, the Honda Civic Hatchback is offered with two engines, again trim dependant. The LX is stuck with a 2.0L four-cylinder CVT creating 158 horsepower and 138 lb-ft of torque. The Sport and Sport Touring models get a 1.5L turbo four-cylinder CVT with an adequate 180 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque. Interestingly, you can get a six-speed manual Sport Touring for exactly zero dollars more than the CVT. However, the LX also offers a manual ($30,130), but according to Honda Canada’s website, there’s an extra $100 fee when compared to the CVT’s price. The mid-trim Sport is CVT only; choose wisely, friends.

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Drive feel of the tested Sport Touring was refined, smooth, and the turbo engine is the best way to spec a Civic Hatchback. With its small footprint, handling, cornering and agility are impressive, it’s easy to park and with a combined fuel consumption figure of 7.1L/100 km on a measly 46L fuel tank of 87 octane, you can crank out nearly 700 km with a smart driving approach.

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How does the Honda Civic Hatchback compare to competitors?

The value proposition is where things slow down for the Civic hatch. With the Hyundai Elantra, Kia Forte and Nissan Sentra being sedan only models, direct competitors become the Mazda3 Sport, Toyota Corolla and Subaru Impreza.

I examined pricing and specs in early March 2023 for the aforementioned and here’s where we land.

Honda Civic Hatchback vs. Mazda3 Sport

The top-trim of the Mazda3 Sport is the GT Turbo AWD that comes in at $37,400 including freight and PDI. It rocks a massively-powered engine with up to 250 horsepower and 320 lb-ft of torque, and has the best driving dynamics in its class by far. It’s an upscale, premium vehicle that’s carved its own niche but still lives in the mainstream market as it’s definitely not luxury.

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However, if you’re looking for something a bit cheaper, Mazda offers the base GX trim with a manual transmission that comes with a tame 150 horsepower and 155 lb-ft of torque. Its starting price is $22,900, which is almost $10,000 less than the Civic Hatchback’s base LX — yikes.

If power is your love language, this is it, but take note: you cannot get a manual paired with all-wheel drive here.

Honda Civic Hatchback vs. Toyota Corolla Hatchback

Toyota went with a single trim and gives you four package options to consider, with the highest-spec landing at $33,004.20 including freight and PDI. With a 2.0L engine churning out 169 horsepower and 151 lb-ft of torque, it’s not the fastest, however, it carries Toyota’s proven longevity and reliability, and 660L of cargo space (versus the Civic Hatchback’s 693L).