A Comprehensive Guide On Features, Specs, And Pricing

The 11th-generation Honda Civic is a budget compact hatch with a lineage that dates all the way back to 1972. In this time, the moniker has evolved into a lot more of a sophisticated and advanced offering, without abandoning its affordable and reliable reputation.

Despite the rise of fully electric car demand, Honda recognizes that the bulk of American consumers still require simple cars with a touch of technological innovation. The Civic also remains a popular choice among the flurry of affordable crossovers, showcasing the moniker’s esteemed reputation and resilience in the increasingly competitive new car market.

The Honda Civic has always been a relatively safe option, thanks to its solid reputation and appealing affordability, and with the 2024 model year, the case remains the same. The much-awaited Hybrid model was rumored for a 2024 release, but Honda has confirmed it will enter the market in 2025. Honda has done a great job at keeping the Civic line-up relatively simple and easy to decipher, while still making each trim option fairly unique and distinctive. This guide dives into each of the model’s derivatives, so that you can make an informed choice of which trim will be best for you.

To give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this guide was sourced from Honda, Car and Driver, MotorTrend, the IIHS, the NHTSA, the EPA, and J.D.Power.

What’s New For 2024

Honda has not made any changes to the Civic Hatchback range for the 2024 or 2023 model year. The 2022 model introduces the current 11th generation with an all-new interior and exterior design. This includes a revised engine range, infotainment system, wheel options, exterior color shades, and safety features.

2024 Highlights

• Honda Sensing safety suite
• 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• 16- to 18-inch alloy wheel designs
• LED head- and taillights
• Automatic climate control
• Multifunction leather-wrapped steering wheel

Exterior Dimensions

(Specifications sourced from Honda)

Engine Specifications And Performance

Honda fits the LX and Sport trims with the K20C2 naturally aspirated 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, which produces 158 horsepower and 138 pound-feet to the front wheels. Transmission options include a six-speed manual or CVT. Honda does not provide 0-60 MPH acceleration times for this model, but independent tests reveal that 9.2 seconds is a realistic time for both transmission options. The naturally aspirated engine option will reach a top speed of 137 MPH.

The EX-L and Sport Touring trims come equipped with the L-Series turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder, producing 180 horsepower and 177 pound-feet. The same engine is used in the CR-V range. This derivative features the same transmission options as the naturally aspirated model. Again, Honda fails to provide claimed acceleration figures for this model, but performance testing indicates a 7.3-second 0-60 MPH time is achievable for the manual and 7.5 seconds for the CVT.

Performance Specifications

(Specifications sourced from Honda)

Both powertrains can tow up to 2,645 pounds, which is enough to haul a small or medium trailer. Honda limites payload for both trims to 850 pounds. The Civic may not be an ideal car to drive in straight lines, but reviewers make note of how enjoyable it is to drive through a sharp series of corners. This is mainly thanks to its front MacPherson strut and rear multilink suspension. The six-speed manual shifter also has an incredible feel that is in line with the Si and Civic Type R derivatives.

Fuel Economy

Honda equips its Civic Hatch range with a selection of efficient drivetrains. The most efficient of the lot is the EX-L, which uses the naturally aspirated 2.0-liter four-cylinder unit, returning an EPA-estimated 31/39/35 MPG on the city/highway/combined cycle. The least frugal of the lot is the manual Sport trim, which returns a 26/36/29 MPG estimate on the same cycle. All units come fitted with a 12.4-gallon fuel tank, with range estimates varying between 360 and 434 miles.

(Specifications sourced from the EPA)

Interior Technology And Comfort

Best Interior Features Of The Year Make Model

• 7.0-inch or optional 9.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Optional 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster.
• Four-, eight-, or Bose 12-speaker audio system.
• Automatic single- or dual-climate control with rear-bench air vents
• Optional electrically adjustable faux-leather heated front seats
• Power Windows with auto-up and down functions for the driver and front passenger.

The Honda Civic Hatch features a well-equipped interior. Base LX derivatives come standard with a 7.0-inch touchscreen and TFT instrument cluster with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 160-Watt four-speaker audio system, and a 2.5-Amp USB port for device charging and data transfer with a 12-volt power outlet. Other comfort and convenience features include automatic single-zone climate control, all-electric windows with auto up and down functions for the front doors, and a plethora of storage compartments surrounding the front and rear seats.

The Sport trim adds a 180-Watt eight-speaker audio system, aluminum sport pedals, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob. The EX-L includes illuminated vanity mirrors for the driver and passenger, dual-zone climate control, and a passenger-side seatback pocket, but omits the sport pedals.

The Sport Touring is a true flagship model that features the larger 9.0-inch touchscreen with the Type-R-inspired 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster and Bose 12-speaker audio system with a subwoofer. You can use this to connect Android Auto and CarPlay wirelessly. The Sport Touring also adds two USB ports to the rear bench, a wireless smartphone charger, sport pedals, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a sunglass holder, and a HomeLink remote system.

Interior Dimensions

(Specifications sourced from Honda)

Safety And Reliability

Safety is a top priority for the 11th-generation Honda Civic. The brand builds all trims on its Advanced Compatibility Engineering body structure and includes airbags for the driver and front passenger, knees, sides, and curtain. This configuration affords the range a prestigious IIHS Top Safety Pick award and a five-star overall crash test rating from the NHTSA.

The Honda Civic has proven to be a reliable and resilient compact hatchback, primarily thanks to its tried and tested engine options. All models are affected by a recall relating to an incorrectly assembled steering rack. J.D. Power grants the entire Civic range an 82/100 rating for quality and reliability.

Driver Assistance Features

All Civic hatch models ship standard with Honda’s Safety Sensing suite, which includes a plethora of essential advanced driving assist systems. Honda also equips all models with vehicle stability assist with traction control and ABS with electronic brake distribution and brake assist.

• Adaptive cruise control with low-speed follow and traffic sign recognition and traffic jam assist
• Forward collision warning with mitigation braking
• Lane departure warning and mitigation and lane keep assist
• Auto high-beam headlights
• Rear cross-traffic monitor

Blind-spot monitoring is only available on the EX-L and Sport Touring trims. Only the Sport Touring has access to the rear cross-traffic monitor, and front and rear parking sensors. The Sport Touring CVT is the only model that features low-speed braking control.

IIHS Crash Testing

(The Honda Civic Sedan and Hatch are built with the same structure and have the same safety features, so the IIHS has grouped both body styles into one test)

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

(Ratings sourced from the NHTSA)

• Recalls (NHTSA): 1
• NHTSA Investigations: 0
• NHTSA Consumer Complaints: There are three complaints relating to the Civic’s steering, brakes, and powertrain.
• Awards: IIHS Top Safety Pick (2022)

Warranties

All Honda Civic hatch trims feature the brand’s basic warranty coverage, which consists of a 36-month or 36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and a 60-month or 60,000-mile powertrain warranty. Honda covers the first two factory-scheduled maintenance over a 24-month or 24,000-mile period. The package also includes roadside assistance for 36 months or 36,000miles and corrosion for 60 months over an unlimited mileage cap.

(Specifications sourced from Honda)

2024 Honda Civic Hatch Versus Its Competitors

Despite once being one of the most popular segments in the world, the rise of crossover demand has resulted in the Civic Hatch only having to compete against a handful of opponents. Its most noteworthy challengers are the Toyota Corolla hatch and the Mazda3. These are two alternative Japanese hatchbacks that put up a serious fight, with equally impressive value and performance, compared to the Civic range.

How The Honda Civic Hatch Compares To The Toyota Corolla Hatch

• 2024 Honda Civic Hatch

  Model

  Honda Civic Hatch

  Engine:

  2.0-liter four-cylinder or turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder

  Torque

  138 LB-FT @ 4,200 RPM or 177 LB-FT@ 1,700 RPM

  Range

  409-434 miles

  Transmission

  Six-speed manual or CVT

  Driveline

  Front-wheel drive

  MSRP

  $24,950

  Fuel Economy

  29-35 MPG

  Horsepower

  158 HP @ 6,500 RPM or 180 HP @ 6,000 RPM

• 2024 Toyota Corolla Hatchback

  Model

  Toyota Corolla Hatchback

  Engine:

  2.0-liter four-cylinder

  Torque

  151 LB-FT @ 4,800 RPM

  Range

  422 miles

  Transmission

  CVT

  Driveline

  Front-wheel drive

  MSRP

  $23,155

  Fuel Economy

  35 MPG

  Horsepower

  169 HP @ 6,600 RPM

The Toyota Corolla Hatch is the Civic Hatch’s main rival. This has been the case since both monikers debuted in the USA in the 1970s. The Toyota Corolla has always been the more popular model, and this remains the case with the current-generation offerings. However, it is a very tight and close race in terms of performance and specification level.

The Corolla is available with a downsized 1.2-liter turbocharged engine in international markets, but American consumers only have access to the naturally aspirated 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, which drives 169 horsepower and 151 pound-feet to the front wheels using a CVT. The result is a near-identical set of performance characteristics, making this a truly challenging pairing.

The Corolla ultimately offers better value with its lower starting price, as it bests the Honda by about $1,000. The Corolla does match the Sport Touring’s specification with its XSE trim, but the lack of a turbocharged engine option somewhat hurts its case if you are looking for a more capable hatchback.

How The Honda Civic Hatch Compares To The Mazda3 Hatch

• 2024 Honda Civic Hatch

  Model

  Honda Civic Hatch

  Engine:

  2.0-liter four-cylinder or turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder

  Torque

  138 LB-FT @ 4,200 RPM or 177 LB-FT@ 1,700 RPM

  Range

  409-434 miles

  Transmission

  Six-speed manual or CVT

  Driveline

  Front-wheel drive

  MSRP

  $24,950

  Horsepower

  158 HP @ 6,500 RPM or 180 HP @ 6,000 RPM

• 2024 Mazda3 Hatch

  Model

  Mazda3 Hatch

  Engine:

  Naturally aspirated or turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder

  Torque

  186 LB-FT @ 4,000 RPM or 310 LB-FT @ 2,000 RPM

  Range

  330-396 miles

  Transmission

  Six-speed manual or automatic

  Driveline

  Front-wheel or all-wheel drive

  MSRP

  $24,170

  Horsepower

  191 HP @ 6,000 RPM or 227 HP @ 5,000 RPM

The Mazda3 takes a more emotional approach to the affordable compact hatch segment with its larger engine selections and optional all-wheel drive system. The turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder mill may not be as efficient as the Civic’s 1.5-liter unit, but its 227-horsepower output makes it a much more enjoyable hatch to drive.

On the value front, the Mazda3 does an equally good job with its base trim, which starts at $24,170, which is a bit lower than the Civic Hatch LX. The base naturally aspirated 2.5-liter unit is also a bit more powerful, with its 191 horsepower output. The Mazda3 is a clear winner in this match-up, if you’re after good value, enjoyable driving dynamics, attractive interior and exterior design, and impressive build quality.

How Much The 2024 Honda Civic Hatch Costs

The Civic Hatch range starts with the LX, which Honda prices at $24,950. Following this is the Sport at $26,350, EX-L at $28,650, and the flagship Sport Touring at $31,450. Honda limits optional extras across the range, but there are All-Season, Protection, and HPD packages for all trims, with prices ranging between $295 and $799. Honda also offers an extensive accessories catalog, consisting of cosmetic parts and storage facilities.

(Pricing sourced from Honda)

Is It Worth Buying The Honda Civic Hatch?

The Honda Civic Hatch remains an exemplary product that appeals to budget-conscious consumers who don’t want to compromise on aesthetics, practicality, or performance. The engine range is impressively efficient, but both powertrains lack a sense of urgency when put under strain. The fact that it is one of the last compact hatches available works in its favor, but the competition remains resilient and tough.