2020 Honda Civic Hatchback

The 2020 Civic Hatchback can be your daily drive with its fuel economy and performance. It is one of the best handling cars in the segment. The lineup of 5 trims includes multiple engine options where you either get a CVT or the traditional manual one. With its styling and features, the Civic also offers top-notch entertainment and safety features for you.

Which Trim should you buy?

The Sport trim of the 2020 Honda Civic Hatchback will cost you just $1,100 more than the base trim. With that, you can choose between a manual or a CVT transmission. With a sporty exterior, it has 18-inch gloss black wheels, automatic air-conditioning, a black exterior, and a 7-inch display audio infotainment makes the Sport trim a practical proposition. On top of that, it is powered by a 180hp turbo mill that turns your Civic into a beast.

Honda introduced the Civic Hatch as a more performance-oriented version of the sedan which is powered by a 1.5L four-cylinder engine as standard that is mated to a CVT and churns out 174 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque. With its peak torque dispersed at low RPM, the Civic Hatchback is quick to launch while also being an efficient power plant. If you want to experience the fun of Civic, you can avail the Sport and Sport Touring trims that offer 180 horsepower of peak power and a torque output of 177 lb-ft

You have a choice of 6-Speed manual transmission or CVT unit where the latter decreases the torque output to 162 lb-ft. Both the engine tunes are close enough in terms of power. The CVT unit constantly changes gear ratios to give you seamless driving and save fuel. The 180hp engine with the 6-Speed manual adds to the thrill and fun driving experience. The Civic HB can do 0-60 MPH in a minimum of 7.3 seconds.

The 2020 Honda Civic hatchback is on another level as compared to the rivals with its better performance and agility than the sedan. With its 174 hp engine, most of the rivals taste the dust behind it, also surpassing the more powerful Mazda 3 Hatchback that makes 186hp, in terms of acceleration. The CVT might be sleek but the 6-Speed manual makes the ride more engaging. Rivals like the Golf and Corolla are close but that's not enough for such reputed cars. 

How well does the 2020 Honda Civic Hatchback handle?

Once you get behind the wheel of the 2020 Civic, you'll forget that it is a regular hatchback. If you compare it with similar cars, it has the best handling characteristics and with its new-age dynamics and a sports-oriented suspension, the ride quality is remarkable. The balancing and cornering ain't special yet satisfactory for its segment.

Honda has well thought about the Civic and how to give it better agility and durability on the road. It is made to perform like a track vehicle. The stability and traction management assists you at high speeds. As it mostly resembles the performance-oriented Type-R, it ensures similar agility and dynamics while driving.

Braking Performance

To stop safely from high speeds, you need proper braking equipment and that's why the 2020 Civic Hatchback comes standard with four-wheel disc brakes with ventilated front discs. The brakes are complemented by four-wheel ABS, brake assist, and hill assist. 2020 Civic hatch comes equipped with 11.1-inch brake rotors at the front and 10.2-inch rotors at the back. The braking performance is quite impressive as the 2,763 pounds weighing Civic stops at a distance of 110 feet from 60MPH.

With its lightweight structure, the 2020 Honda Civic hatchback has an advantage over other cars but also has the smallest brakes that work well with its size. The hefty rivals couldn't stop faster even with their bigger brake rotors. The closest one to the Civic hatch is the Toyota Corolla that takes 3 feet more to come to a halt. Unsurprisingly, the heavier Mazda and Volkswagen, even with slightly larger rotors take longer distances to come to a halt. 

Honda cars have no match when it comes to fuel efficiency and said that the 2020 Civic hatchback ensures 31 MPG in the city with its 174hp engine tune when paired to a CVT transmission. It returns 40 MPG on the highway and a combined 34 MPG. If you can settle with slightly less economy, then the 180hp motor and the manual transmission won't harm you much. 

For a gallon, you can drive it for up to 29 miles in the city range. On the highway, it goes up to 37 MPG. A combined 32 MPG ain't bad as it puts you up for 400 miles which is still better than most of the other compact cars.

With both its standard and optional engines, the 2020 Honda Civic Hatchback remains unmatchable. The Japanese marque’s advanced fuel management makes it the most fuel-efficient turbocharged hatchback. With such power, you are getting an economy that is not feasible even for the underpowered rivals. The closest someone can get to the Civic if only they drive a Toyota Corolla hatchback that is a notch above in terms of efficiency and can cover a range of 462 miles. Each competitor of the Honda has a similarly-sized fuel tank of 13.2-gallons, which is a contributing reason that the Mazda 3 and Volkswagen Golf hatchbacks manage almost similar combined range despite lower mileages of 30 and 32 MPG, respectively.

The 2020 Civic Hatchback has a decent cabin with proper space and pleasing material quality. If the base trim looks simple, you can pick the higher trims for a premium interior design. The Sport and Sport Touring trim gives a sporty touch to the layout. The contrast color highlights the design lines that also include the seats and the dashboard. Talking about the dash, the Civic stands out with its aesthetic ergonomics. With a focus on the driver, you have information right in front of you with a 7.0-inch TFT gauge display. The 3-spoke leather steering wheel gets paddle shifters and mounted controls to give you the thrill and focus of a performance hatchback.

As standard, the 2020 Civic hatchback gets front bucket seats with manual adjustments. As we move up the trim level, we get heated bucket seats with power adjustments and lumbar support. For the rear, the split-bench seat is spacious for three but has a cramped headroom. Still, you can fold it down to use it as cargo space. Honda is going raw with limited cabin features even in 2020. Still, we have automatic air-conditioning, a tilt, and telescopic steering, as standard. You can avail leather upholstery, dual-zone air-conditioning, and sliding armrests both at the front and rear.

The Civic seats 5 people properly inside its cabin however, its sloping roofline limits the rear-seat headroom. In terms of space, the rivals are close but we have wide bucket seats in the Civic for utmost support. At the rear, you get the best-in-class legroom. What makes it better than the rivals is its practicality as you have 25.7 cubic feet of standard cargo capacity, while every other competitor has a total trunk volume of 20 cu.-ft or lesser. You can make good use of the rear seat by folding it to get a cargo space of 46.2 cubic feet. In terms of quality and design, the Civic is fair enough and this is highlighted by:

• Heated front seats
• Dual-zone climate control
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Fabric and leather upholstery
• Power-adjustable driver's seat

What's there to keep you entertained in the 2020 Honda Hatchback?

In terms of entertainment, Honda goes easy with the entry-level trims. The base LX gets a tiny 5.0-inch center display. With that, you get a Bluetooth Handsfree link as well as audio streaming. Other than that you have a voice-activated radio that can be controlled via illuminated steering controls. All the other trims offer Honda's display audio system with a 7.0-inch HD touchscreen. This one gets smart device integration with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and can be customized as per your choice. As we move ahead, there's a SiriusXM radio as well. With 4 speakers as standard, you get up to 8 speakers.

The range-topping trim has a Bose premium sound system with 12 speakers. With the higher trims, the HondaLink offers a 4G WiFi hotspot too. The infotainment system turns itself into a navigator with the HondaLink satellite navigation with voice command and there's a Honda HD digital traffic to keep you updated on the road. Some of the standout Infotainment features:

• Bluetooth Handsfree link
• 7.0-inch display audio system
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• SiriusXM radio
• 4G WiFi hotspot
• Bose premium speakers
• In-house satellite navigation

What makes the Civic Hatchback special is its design. It is the most appealing compact car in the whole segment. Honda has put a lot of effort into making a big deal out of it. With sporty design lines and premium colors, the 2020 Civic hatch looks nothing like a regular sedan. A lowered front and lifted back suit its design profile. With new sharper LED headlamps with a bar grille at the center, the Civic has sliding hood lines that meet with the bumper to give it an aggressive front look. You can have the grille in either chrome or gloss black. The bumper integrated fog lamps are optional.

The design lines continue on the doors where it blends in with the wheel arches. There are gloss black or chrome accents on the beltline according to the trim you choose. As we move to the rear, you have stylish LED tail lamps designed curved with the lip spoiler. As it is a hatchback, the huge rear windshield opens up with the boot lid. The Sport trims get a trim-specific wing spoiler at the back. With 16 and 17-inch silver alloy wheels, you have huge 18-inch high gloss black alloys. For the best appearance, you should either avail the Sport trim or the Sport touring trim.

The lightweight Honda Civic isn't that small as it seems. With a wide wheelbase, it is still a 177.3-inches long hatchback along with being practical and performance-oriented with a design that makes it the most distinct in its class. Its widened body and lowered stance make it look like a low-budget sports car. Still, it rides comparatively higher from the ground ensuring better handling and a low center of gravity. The Toyota Corolla Hatchback, on the other hand, is smaller than most of its competitors sporting the least clearance from the ground of 5.1 inches and has a wheelbase of 103.9 inches, similar to the Volkswagen Golf. That said, some of the standout exterior features in the Civic Hatchback include:

• Sporty exterior design
• LED headlamps and taillamps
• Rear wing spoiler
• 18-inch high gloss black alloys
• Dual chrome tip exhausts

For 2020 MY, IIHS has awarded the Honda Civic Hatchback with Top safety pick and it received 5 stars from NHTSA. The ACE structure is designed with a high-strength steel chassis combined with aluminum to keep the passengers safe. Moreover, it ensures durability and stability for a safe and balanced ride. 

Other than structural safety, the 2020 Civic hatchback uses advanced safety tech. It comprises a distance pacing cruise control, lane departure warning with lane keep assist, collision mitigation warning with brake assistance, a forward collision warning, Honda Lane watch with a driver-side camera, and a rearview camera. Some of the standout safety features include:

• Honda's ACE structure
• Collision mitigation braking
• Honda Sensing lane departure warning
• Forward collision warning
• Distance pacing cruise control
• Honda Lane watch driver side camera

2020 Honda Civic Hatchback vs 2020 Mazda 3 Hatchback

The Mazda 3 Hatchback is the closest rival to the Civic with its similar power output, quality, and performance. In terms of design and features, Mazda is the leading brand in its segment. It offers better options and figures than any other brand. Still, the Civic has that undying charm that Honda developed from nothing. The 10th generation is the most desirable and powerful Civic ever. For its price, it offers driving dynamics and handling of a premium sports sedan.

2020 Honda Civic Hatchback vs 2020 Volkswagen Golf

The German Volkswagen Golf is a stripped-down Audi which makes it both capable and appealing. With a simple-looking design, it offers solid performance numbers and good enough features. The Golf is one of the smallest hatchbacks which makes it agile and sporty. However, the Civic swiftly moves ahead with its turbocharged engines, a striking appearance, and a fan following that won't let any other hatchback take its place irrespective of price.

2020 Honda Civic Hatchback vs 2020 Toyota Corolla Hatchback

The Toyota Corolla Hatchback is the most loved compact car in the USA for its value, reliability, and features. It has been competing with the Honda Civic for decades. With time, the Corolla became modern and more practical in terms of features and economy. On the other hand, the Honda Civic has grown with its performance and styling. Now it is way ahead of the Corolla hatch both in terms of features and practicality.

Even after so many years, the Civic name is as young as ever. Now we have a car that can adapt to any household irrespective of the price. The available options with the 2020 Civic Hatchback are plenty and you can even count it as the most practical family compact car. The 2020 Honda Civic Hatchback is a full package deal with its spacious cabin, turbocharged engine, undeniable looks, entertainment options, dynamics, fuel economy, and levels of comfort.