2021 Honda Civic Hatchback

It is a known fact that Civic sells like hot cakes in the United States and is available in both sedan and hatchback models. The 2021 Civic Hatchback has a starting price of $22,200 and is known for its practical liftback styling. It faces competition from the likes of the Toyota Corolla hatchback, Volkswagen Golf, and the Subaru Impreza hatchback.

The 2021 Civic Hatchback is offered in 4 trim levels and two engine options. You can even choose between a CVT and a manual transmission. The base LX trim packs a decent package with its turbocharged engine, exterior styling, and various convenience features. 

The Sport trim adds better performance, styling, comfort, technology, and convenience. The EX and Sport Touring trims are all about premium features with better safety, premium interiors, and various options. Still, the price remains under the $30,000 mark.

Which trim should you buy?

The Sport trim packs the best value with its 180 hp turbocharged engine, standard 18-inch alloy wheels, and a center-mounted dual-outlet exhaust. Moreover, it is available with both CVT and manual transmission options. Inside we have a leather-wrapped steering wheel and a 7.0-inch display with an intuitive touchscreen. It will cost you $24,100 max, which in our opinion is a good bargain.

The 2021 Civic Hatchback comes with a 1.5L turbocharged DOHC 4 cylinder engine. The turbocharged engine churns out 174 hp power at 6,000 rpm with a torque output of 162 lb-ft at 1,700 rpm. The engine is mated to a CVT with overdrive and driver-selectable driving modes. The Sport trim has the same 1.5L DOHC 4 cylinder engine with a bump of 6 horses. It outputs 180 hp power at 5,500 rpm with a torque output of 177 lb-ft at 1,900 rpm. 

The engine is either mated to a 6-Speed manual transmission or a CVT. With its FWD drivetrain configuration, the Civic Hatchback is pretty amazing. With its base turbocharged engine, the 2021 Civic Hatchback does a 0-60 mph sprint in about 7.3 seconds and 15.2 seconds to cover a quarter-mile. The top speed is rated as 125 mph. The 180 hp engine opens up its capabilities with a 7.0 second 0-60 mph run and a 14.9-second quarter-mile run.

The 2021 Honda Civic Hatchback is quite capable when compared with its rivals. The 174hp engine is good enough to take on the rivals where the 180hp becomes a nightmare for other cars. Both Corolla and Golf give it a close competition. The Subaru Impreza hatchback is way behind even with its standard AWD.

How well does the 2021 Honda Civic Hatchback handle?

The 2021 Civic Hatchback has much better and agile handling than its sedan sibling. Its multi-link rear suspension is paired with coil springs to give a comfortable and nimble ride quality. The electric power-assist steering feels light and ensures proper cornering with good handling at high speeds.

This vehicle is said to have a more balanced and track-friendly nature than any other car in its segment. The lightweight structure combined with a wide wheelbase makes the Civic lean like a sports car around the sharp curves. The ride quality and comfort are at par with its performance and price range.

2021 Honda Civic Hatchback Braking Performance

The 2021 Civic Hatchback won't disappoint you when stopping at high speeds. It comes standard with all-wheel disc brakes with ABS and brake assistance. The front ventilation keeps the front disc brakes cool to avoid brake fading and deliver safer braking in most driving situations.

It also offers hill start assist and electronic brake-force distribution. The vehicle has 11.1-inch brake rotors at the front and 10.2-inch rotors at the rear. With that, the 2,906 pounds weighing Civic Hatchback stopped from 60 MPH in just 115 feet, which in our opinion is quite decent.

The 2021 Civic Hatchback is the lightest car among the rivals. With its decent brakes, it can stop within less distance than its rivals. The second spot is taken by the Subaru Impreza with 118 feet of stopping distance, whereas the Golf takes about 120 feet to stop completely and the Corolla needs a much greater braking distance, approximately 125 feet.

The 1.5L DOHC turbocharged inline-4 engine on the 2021 Civic Hatchback has an amazing fuel management system with its continuously variable transmission. It offers 31 mpg in the city, 40 mpg on the highway, and a combined efficiency of 34 mpg. With its 12.4 gallon tank, you get a maximum range of 422 miles in combined driving conditions. 

The 180hp turbocharged engine found on the Sport trims has a slightly lower fuel economy. It delivers 29 mpg in the city, 37 mpg on the highway, and a combined 32 mpg. The economy remains nearly unchanged if you switch to manual transmission. That's how a full tank gets you 397 miles of maximum range in combined conditions. 

The Civic has been consistent with its fuel economy figures for several years and still, it offers the best-in-class economy with its turbocharged engines. However, a small 12.4-gallon tank becomes a problem where rivals offer better fuel tank capacity. The Volkswagen Golf is less efficient than the Civic, despite that it gives a tough time to the Civic with its 13.2-gallon fuel tank. The Impreza is left far behind with the least fuel economy and offers the least range of the lot.

The 2021 Civic Hatchback has a sporty yet spacious cabin crafted with good quality materials. Moreover, the interior is highlighted with metal-look accents, a fabric seating surface, and leather upholstery on the top trims. It is available in vanilla/blue and ivory color options. The Civic Hatchback has proper seating space for up to 5 people. You’ll find various physical controls offered with the base infotainment system whereas control knobs are eliminated with the bigger infotainment system on higher trims. Other than that, we have an analog-digital instrument cluster and a leather steering wheel with mounted controls.

The LX trim offers bucket seats at the front with the 6-way driver and 4-way passenger power adjustability. With the EX and above trims, you get heated seats with an 8-way power driver and 4-way power passenger seat adjustability. At the back, we have a 60/40 split bench seat with a fold forward seatback. You can also opt for the convenience package which includes a tilt and telescopic steering, air filtration system, and automatic air-conditioning. The higher trims get dual-zone automatic air-conditioning, one-touch power windows, a power moonroof, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror as standard. 

The 2021 Civic Hatchback offers a much spacious cabin as compared to most of its rivals. The Subaru Impreza is the only car in the segment that offers more spacious seats than the Honda. Other cars offer limited seating space. When it comes to cargo, the Civic Hatchback is the best. If you fold down the rear seat, you get a massive 46.2 cubic feet trunk. When considering interior quality, the Corolla is slightly ahead. Some of the standout Interior features are:

• Heated bucket seats
• Power front-seat adjustments
• Tilt and telescopic steering
• Dual-zone automatic air-conditioning
• Power moonroof

What's there to keep you entertained?

The base infotainment system on the 2021 Civic Hatchback is equipped with a 5.0-inch LCD screen. It comes with an AM/FM stereo with seek-scan and voice activation. Moreover, you have a Bluetooth hands-free link, Bluetooth audio streaming, USB tethering, and a radio data system. The infotainment is connected to a 160W music system and 4 speakers. On the Sport and above trims, we have a 7.0-inch electrostatic touch screen with the HondaLink feature. The infotainment has customizable features and knob controls. 

For smartphone connectivity, It adds Apple CarPlay and Android Auto device integration. Along with that, you have a SiriusXM radio subscription as well. The higher trims also get a 180W HD audio system with 8 speakers. The top-end Sport Touring trim gets a 540W HD premium audio system with 12 speakers. It also has a HondaLink satellite navigation system with Honda HD digital traffic sense. The instrument cluster has a 7-inch TFT screen called the driver information interface. The customizable display comes with a trip computer and real-time vehicle information. Some of the standout Infotainment features are: 

• HondaLink display audio system
• Bluetooth handsfree link
• Apple CarPlay 
• Android auto
• SiriusXM radio subscription
• 12-premium speakers with a subwoofer
• Honda Satellite-linked navigation system

The 2021 Honda Civic Hatchback is all about its aggressive exterior styling and sharp design. It looks much better than the sedan with its liftback design and sporty design lines that makes it an outstanding car. With a jaw-dropping front fascia and a hatch-style rear, the Civic looks capable and agile. The 2021 Civic is also aerodynamic in nature. A sloping muscular hood meets the blacked-out signature grille and dual sleek LED headlamps. The aerodynamic bumper completes the front fascia with optional fog lamps with aluminum and chrome exterior accents.

From the side, you can see how the scooped-up back looks different from the sedan. The doors have aerodynamic lines with those muscular wheel arches. We have distinct-looking side mirrors with integrated LED turn signals. From the back, the 2021 Civic hatch is quite wide and looks amazing with those LED tail lamps. On top of that, you have a rear window spoiler and on the trunk, there's a blacked-out wind spoiler as well. The huge bumpers make way for the air where you have a center-mounted dual exhaust outlet. The Civic hatch rides on 16-inch alloy wheels where the Sport and Sport Touring trim gets 18-inch machine painted alloys. 

Irrespective of its massive size and staggering appearance, the 2021 Civic Hatchback is the lightest car as compared to its rivals. Its arch-rival Toyota Corolla weighs the most at 3,060 pounds. Both Volkswagen Golf and the Civic Hatchback have a wide-body stance. Despite its massive 6.7-inch ground clearance, the Civic is still a low rider with its 56.5-inch height. As it rides on a wide wheelbase, this Honda offers great handling and driving dynamics. Some of the standout exterior features are:

• Black signature grille
• Aerodynamic exterior design
• Full LED headlamps
• Fog lamps
• Separate window and a lip spoiler
• Center-mounted dual exhausts
• 18-inch machine painted alloys (Sport trims)

The 2021 Civic gets its strength from Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE); a safety structure developed specifically for Honda cars. The chassis is made out of high-strength steel and lightweight aluminum to provide both rigidity and balance simultaneously. It has scored 5- Star safety in the NHTSA ratings and is chosen as the ‘Top Safety Pick’ by the IIHS. 

The 2021 Honda Civic Hatchback is quite safe with its suite of advanced safety features. We have a collision mitigation braking system, road departure mitigation system, adaptive cruise control, and a forward collision warning. With that, we also have a multi-angle rearview camera and Honda Sensing driver assistance brings lane keep assist and lane departure warning. Some of the standout safety features are: 

• ACE body structure
• Collision mitigation braking system
• Road departure mitigation system
• Adaptive cruise control
• Multi-angle rearview camera
• Honda Sensing driver assistance
• Road departure mitigation system

2021 Honda Civic Hatchback vs 2021 Toyota Corolla Hatchback

The Honda Civic has been competing with the Toyota Corolla since the beginning. The Toyota Corolla takes over the Honda with its value, reliability, quality, and features. That's why Honda challenges it differently by giving the Civic an appealing design with a turbocharged engine. Honda costs more than the Corolla but the package seems better as the Civic offers a better economy and looks distinctive as well. 

2021 Honda Civic Hatchback vs 2021 Volkswagen Golf

The Volkswagen Golf is the toughest rival for the Civic Hatchback in the segment. It gives close competition with its TSI engine taken from the Audi. As the Golf outputs much better torque, it sprints faster than the Civic. The 2021 Civic is a more practical hatchback with plenty of room inside and tons of options to choose from. For one who desires better handling and performance, the Golf is the way to go. 

2021 Honda Civic Hatchback vs 2021 Subaru Impreza Hatchback

When it comes to space, both Civic Hatchback and the Impreza Hatchback are close. The Subaru Impreza costs less than the base Civic but it has a sluggish powertrain. The 2021 Civic Hatchback is better than the Impreza in every way possible be it performance, safety, and extraordinary fuel economy. That gives the Honda an upper hand against the Impreza. The Civic also comes with nimble handling as well and looks much better than the Impreza Hatchback. 

Since its debut in 2015, the tenth generation Civic has been selling more than 3,00,000 units every year in the States. Even the pandemic didn't affect its sales much. The Civic is considered the most customizable and desirable compact car and has been the same for decades. The 2021 Honda Civic Hatchback will cost you $22,200 for the base LX trim where the top-end Sport Touring trim will reach $29,400. All the trims are well packed. Still, Honda has kept some special stuff for the higher trims only. If you want a dope car that can take you places and is fun to drive with its turbocharged engine, then the 2021 Civic hatchback should be your pick.