Among all, the EX trim of the 2017 Honda Civic hatchback is the best one to opt for as it has got better interior engagement and safety tech-ends than the lower trims. While the powering thrust remains at par with the higher trims. Overall, it is the most reasonable one. 

The 2017 Honda Civic LX Manual is the first among all that has got 16-inch alloy wheels, a 5-inch central display screen, and a 4-speaker sound system as standard. While an extra $800 brings the Honda Civic Hatchback CVT transmission into the light for the same trim. The next one in the lineup is the Sport configuration that specs 18-inch wheels and textured aluminum pedals on the inside. 

The EX edition is a level-up over the lower two editions that comes with an investment of $22,800 for extra add-ons such as the Honda LaneWatch, Dual-zone automatic climate control, and an 8-speaker audio system. This gets even better with the 2017 Civic EX-L which houses Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System and Leather-trimmed seats. Moreover, there is a Sport touring at $28,300 for exclusive features like the heated outboard rear seats and Honda Sensing suite. 

"Like a vein of caramel running through an already-delicious ice cream, the 2017 Civic adeptly blends dollops of zeal with overall suppleness" - Kelley Blue Book

The 2017 Honda Civic hatchback fits in a 1.5L Turbocharged Inline-4 engine that is tuned to bash 174-hp and 167 lb-ft of torque when coupled with a 6-speed manual transmission in the LX trim. However, there is a CVT on offer as well for the LX, EX-L, and EX editions that tends to bring down the torque to 162 lb-ft while keeping the Civic hp at par. One gets a little more juice of 180 hp and 177 lb-ft with the same 1.5T I-4 engine and 6-speed manual stick for the Honda Civic Sport layout. 

But this hatch tends to fade off to 162 lb-ft of torque with the same 180 hp as soon as the Sport Touring CVT is driven on the track. In addition to all these, the 2017 Honda Civic Sport 0 60 clocks 7.2 seconds, and the quarter-mile takes 15.3 seconds when the manual transmission powers the wheel alongside a top speed of 132 MPH. While, the CVT timing for the LX, EX, and EX-L having 174 hp 1.5T I-4 engine increases to 8.2 seconds and 16.3 seconds respectively with a top speed of 125 MPH. 

In terms of comparison, the Civic 2017 hatchback is 5 MPH slower than its rivals. Not just that, it is half a second more sluggish in the 0 60 times as well than the Ford Focus hatchback but manages to outclass the Chevy Cruze by 0.2 seconds in the same 0-60 MPH despite being $1,540 less expensive. 

Honda has always been exceptionally skilled in maintaining high fuel economy numbers and the 2017 Honda Civic Hatchback MPG is no exception. Its 30/39/33 MPG fuel economy puts it right on top of its competition which allows it to have a range coverage of up to 484 miles with its 12.4-gallon filled gas tank. However, one can even have a mileage of 42 MPG on the highway when the CVT replaces the manual transmission.

Going by the figures, the Civic hatchback's economy is 4 MPG better than the Ford Focus and 3 MPG higher than the Mazda 3 on the city streets. As a result, it overwhelms the Focus by 50 miles, however, the Chevy Cruze which is 2 MPG less efficient seems to hold an edge of 11.6 miles over Civic, owning to its 1.3-gallon bigger gas tank size. 

"Honda's touchscreen interface can be annoying to use, and those of most competitors are better. Beyond that, the Civic delivers a large, versatile cabin for both people and their things" - Edmunds

The 2017 Honda Civic hatchback interior gets you with cloth surfaced seats inside its LX, Sport, and EX trims that change to leather upholstered ones in the EX-L and Sport Touring editions. On top of that, we have single-zone climate control for cooling ambiance for the Civic Hatchback LX and Sport while the dual-zone automatic climate control is integrated from EX onwards. 

The Honda Civic Hatchback 2017 interior has been a package of driver's seat with 8-way power adjustment as we choose to prefer the EX-L configuration. And, it is accompanied by the heated outboard rear seats inside the likes of the Sport Touring. Moreover, regarding loading cargo at the fullest, the capacity can vary from 25.7 cu-ft-46.2 cu-ft. 

In terms of cabin roominess, the Civic Hatchback 2017 comes with 2.8 inches extra legroom in the 2nd row over the Ford Focus and that too with 2 cu-ft larger boot space. On the other hand, the Chevy Cruze hatchback has 3 cu-ft smaller cargo volume but is almost parallel in interior spaciousness. Apart from that, there is a 5-inch infotainment unit as well for the Civic LX 2017 hatchback as standard. 

As the hierarchy gets higher, the 5-inch display is replaced by the 7-inch infotainment system. For musical tunes, one switches on the 4-speaker audio when seated in the LX and Civic Sport but it is that 8-speaker audio that engages for the EX and EX-L. In the end, the range-topping Sport Touring specs the functionalities of the 540-watt premium audio system with 10 speakers and a standard Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System. 

• Cloth/Leather Seats
• Tilt and Telescopic Steering Column
• Rear-Seats Heater Duct
• Rear Window Defroster with Timer
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility
• Bluetooth connectivity
• 4G Wi-Fi hotspot
• 4-speaker audio system
• 5-inch infotainment touchscreen
• HD Radio
• Satellite Radio
• Realtime traffic

"Sedan and coupe models are arguably the most beautiful, though the new hatchback stands out." – Kelley Blue Book

The 2017 Honda Civic hatchback has been carved to have projector-beam halogen headlights with auto-on/off on the front which updates to LED ones for the Sport Touring exclusively. There is an underbody spoiler kit available for this trim as well. However, the Sunroof on top gets standardized for the EX and other elder siblings. 

Riding on the 16-inch alloy wheels, the 2017 Honda Civic Hatchback LX shifts its momentum to the sportiness attire with the Civic Sport that flaunts the 18-inch alloy wheels. The Sport edition has a center outlet dual exhaust too adding that extra glow to the overall philosophy but it lacks the heated exterior side mirrors, unlike EX onwards. 

As per data, the 2017 Civic has an inch lower ground clearance than the Mazda 3 which could make it more prone to gravel-laden tracks and speed brakes when fully loaded. But it weighs nearly 100 bs less than the Chevy Cruze that will surely assist in easy handling on the straights and corners. In addition to these, some of the notable exterior features have been noted below:

• Automatic headlights
• 18-inch alloy wheels
• Fog Lights
• Dual exhaust
• Heated outside mirrors
• Auto intermittent wipers (higher trims)
• Power sunroof (higher trims)

The 2017 Honda Civic hatchback inherits top-notch safety attributes like every Honda badge ever. A standard list of safety equipment is praiseworthy, while buyers can add more of these features with an optional Honda Safety Sensing package. To further strengthen its safety quotient, it received a 5-star safety rating in all crash tests conducted by the NHTSA including the rollover tests. It also received “Good” overall ratings in the IIHS tests and was also awarded ‘Top Safety pick’ the same year. Standout safety features on the 2017 Honda Civic hatchback are :

• VSA Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
• Driveline Traction Control
• Low Tire Pressure Warning
• Forward collision warning
• Automatic emergency braking
• Lane departure warning
• Lane keep assist
• Adaptive cruise control
• Honda LaneWatch

2017 Honda Civic Hatchback vs 2017 Chevrolet Cruze Hatchback

The Chevrolet Cruze hatchback is a great choice in its class but doesn’t match the Civic hatchback’s level. The Honda hatchback leads in terms of overall balance between performance, and efficiency and offers sporty and aggressive styling. It also offers more features than Chevy. Cruze comes with an underpowered engine and slightly less fuel economy. Hands down, Civic is a clear winner here unless you want a homegrown car.

2017 Honda Civic Hatchback vs 2017 Ford Focus Hatchback

A step down to the hot hatch version, both Honda Civic and Ford Focus hatchback is not just great daily driver’s cars, but also bring a lot of engagement and fun behind the wheels. Though the Focus hatchback is more compact but is heavy, making it a little harder to maneuver in the corners. Moreover, its smaller fuel tank does affect its driving range. Meanwhile, the Civic boasts a better-predicted reliability rating over the Focus. In all, the Civic gets the preference here. 

2017 Honda Civic Hatchback vs 2017 Mazda 3 Hatchback

The Civic poses as an aggressive-looking hatchback, while the Mazda 3 is more premium and subtle, with fancier interiors. The Civic is almost at par with the Mazda 3 in performance dynamics and so does its reliability and safety quotients. So, one can go either of them as they present equal propositions. 

 The Honda Civic Hatchback is an agile, nimble, and aggressive-looking hatchback that doesn’t mess with the attributes which are necessary to make it a sensible family car. The interiors are spacious and functional and so is the hatchback rear, which opens a wide space for bigger cargo. And the driver can feel empowered once the pedal is pinched, and allowed to go loose. Overall, it is a must-buy if you are looking for a practical hatchback with prices that do not exceed 30 grand.