2023 Honda Civic Hatchback

The base LX trim might seem sufficient but we would recommend the Sport trim. For a couple of grand more including the taxes and other expenses, the Sport trim offers a much better value for the asking price over the base trim. Apart from the ability to equip the car with a six-speed manual transmission and the leather-wrapped steering wheel, you would also get a Sports mode to satiate your inner enthusiast out on the open roads. 

The 2023 Honda Civic will see no major changes in terms of its trim levels while the lineup starts with the base LX trim. Right from the LX trim, the Civic is equipped with features such as automatic climate control, LED headlamps, and push-button start. While both the base and the Sport trims ride on humble plastic cover-clad 16-inch wheels, the upper EX-L gets slightly bigger 17-inch alloys and the range-topping Sport Touring gets 18-inch alloys. 

The driver safety tech is offered as standard across the trim levels while climbing up from the base LX trim will get you premium features including premium leather upholstery, leather-wrapped steering wheel, and heated outside rearview mirrors among others. The prices for the 2023 Civic hatchback ranges between $25,645 and $31,145 as both the CVT automatic and manual transmissions are priced similarly. 

Release Date

The 2023 Honda Civic Hatchback will be released in June 2022. There is no official confirmation yet regarding when the car will go on sale. Expect it to hit the dealerships by third quarter of 2022 and deliveries should begin soon after that. 

Among its four trim levels, the base LX and the Sport trims utilize a 1.5-liter naturally aspirated four-pot motor. The output figures are modest at 158 horsepower and 138 lb-ft of torque. The transmission duties are handled by a standard CVT unit; however, a six-speed manual is offered from the Sport trim onwards. The base engine feels adequate for day-to-day driving needs while cruising out on the highway in a relaxed manner and doesn’t stress the engine much. However, within the urban limits, the motor needs to be worked to achieve optimum driveability and quick overtaking maneuvers might require you to floor the throttle sometimes. 

Get behind the wheels of the Civic, and you’ll be surprised by the athleticism it carries. The Hatchback feels as sporty and stable as the sedan and can take corners with ease. The grip levels from the tires are commendable over a variety of surfaces while you can turn off the stability control to have some fun too. With the 1.5-liter turbo motor and the Sports mode activated, the car feels even more responsive to throttle inputs while the impeccable suspension tuning offers a comfortable ride too. 

The upper EX-L and the Sport Touring trims get a more powerful yet smaller 1.5-liter turbocharged motor that is good for 180 horsepower along with 177 lb-ft of torque. Pair it with the manual gearbox, and you’ve got yourself a power-packed corner-crunching machine on a budget. When equipped with the base engine, the Civic Hatchback can complete the 0-60 mph sprint in under 9.4 seconds while the number drops to a decent 7.2 seconds with the 1.5-liter turbo four-pot motor. Coming to the quarter-mile timings, the Hatchback finishes the run under a leisurely 17.3 seconds while stopping it takes 109 feet in the 60-0 MPH braking tests. 

The Mazda3 hatchback is the sportiest one here with the biggest engine too. It also utilizes the size of its engine fully with an impressive 186 horsepower and 186 lb-ft of torque. Also, it is the quickest one here with a 7.8 second 0-60 mph sprint time and has the highest top speed at 125 mph. The Toyota Corolla Hatchback takes second place with its 169 horsepower and 151 lb-ft of torque output from its standard 2.0-liter motor. Due to its higher output figures, it is both peppier and quicker than the 2.0-liter four-pot equipped Civic models. The Subaru Impreza Hatchback disappoints the most with its lackluster power figures when compared to the rivals here. However, it does make up for it to some extent with its standard AWD layout and a well-tuned CVT unit.

Being a compact and affordable car, fuel efficiency is of utmost importance for the Honda Civic and the car manages to ace it as well. Since there wouldn’t be any significant changes in the powertrains of the 2023 Civic, the MPG figures are expected to be similar to the last year’s model. When equipped with the base motor, the hatchback delivers 30 MPG in the city limits while the number goes up to 38 MPG out on the highways. The combined mileage is rated at 33 MPG. The gasoline tank is smaller than average in the Civic when compared to the rivals at 12.4 gallons.

The Toyota Corolla manages to beat the Civic as well as most of the rivals in its class with its fuel economy numbers. Within the urban limits, the Corolla manages to deliver 32 mpg while out on the highways it delivers 41 mpg. The combined mpg number is rated at 35. The Mazda3 hatchback’s fuel economy figures might disappoint but they are acceptable given the performance the car offers. The Subaru Impreza with its H-4 motor manages to squeeze 28 mpg of city mileage and 36 mpg of highway mileage.

The 2023 Honda Civic’s cabin feels attractive right from the base trim onwards. After the current year’s redesign, the dashboard looks spectacular, especially that chicken wire-like insert running across the dashboard which also hides the aircon vents as well. The dashboard doesn't get any soft-touch materials but the plastic used is of good quality, enhancing the premium design of the dashboard further. From the Sport trim onwards, the steering wheel gets a leather wrapping and so does the gear shifter knob. The EX-L and the Sport Touring get premium leather upholstery but the lower trim’s upholstery doesn’t feel cheap either. The front seats are comfortable and provide ample support except for the lacking lumbar support while power adjustment functions are reserved for the top-end trim only. 

Headroom and legroom for the driver and the front passenger is ample and the rear passengers also get an adequate amount of headroom and legroom too. The center stack at the front houses two big cup holders which can double up as a storage cubby while the adjustable armrest has a storage space underneath as well. The front door pockets are of decent size and can hold a fairly big water bottle too. All the controls are well within the reach from the driver’s seat but the positioning of the infotainment screen can make it slightly difficult to reach for shorter drivers. The trunk space is also commendable when compared to the Civic’s peers and it measures 24.5 cu-ft, adequate for carrying luggage for 4 people. 

The Toyota Corolla hatchback has a straightforward and practical cabin. However, it lacks that premier feeling and appeal of the Civic’s cabin. It also has the smallest trunk space among most of the rivals in the class. Moreover, the rear seats of the Corolla feel cramped too due to shorter legroom and shoulder room. The Mazda 3 get a retro-modern design, especially on the dashboard. The infotainment display of the Mazda3 can be hard to reach from the driver’s seat due to the awkward placement. It gets a decent-sized boot measuring 20.1 cu-ft. The Subaru Impreza’s cabin looks quite dated when compared to the rivals here. However, it still gets all the basics right and offers excellent comfort as well. The boot capacity is decent too at 20.8 cu-ft.

Some of the key interior features available with the 2023 Honda Civic Hatchback include:

• Automatic climate control
• Push-button start
• Semi-digital instrument cluster
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter knob(Sport trim onwards)
• Premium leather upholstery(EX-L trim onwards)
• Power-adjustable driver’s seat(EX-L trim onwards

How intuitive is the 2023 Honda Civic Hatchback’s infotainment system?

The infotainment system of the Civic saw a ground-up upgrade for the current model year and the 2023 Civic is expected to arrive with a similar setup as well. As standard, the car gets a 7-inch touchscreen display that integrates features such as Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and Bluetooth among others. The graphics on the screen might look a bit dated as per today’s standards but the user interface is fluid and navigation through the menu options are a breeze. The base model gets a standard four-speaker audio setup but the Sport and the EX-L get an upgraded 8-speaker system. The top-end Sport Touring gets a premium 12-speaker Bose audio system that delivers excellent surround effects with a crisp sound output. Also, satellite radio, HD radio, and navigation system are offered as optional extras on the lower trims but come as standard on the Sport Touring trim.

Some of the most notable infotainment features available with the 2023 Honda Civic Hatchback include:

• 7-inch touchscreen infotainment display
• Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
• USB input
• Bluetooth connectivity
• Satellite radio
• Navigation
• 12-speaker Bose audio system(optional)
• Qi wireless charging pad

For the 2022 redesign, Honda did away with the flashy and aggressive design of the Civic. Instead, the car now looks more mature with a subdued front-end design. It gives the same premium feel you’d get inside the car too. The front grille now comes with a unique and enlarged honeycomb design which is flanked by the sleek LED headlamp units. The front bumper gets a sizable and blacked-out air dam which allows the radiators to cool down. The side profile of the car looks sleek with tasteful creases on the doors while the window pillars are blacked out. 

The rear profile looks quite appealing too with the LED tail lamp units and that large hatchback liftgate. In terms of dimensions, the Civic is longer than most of its rivals, giving it a sedan-like appearance from the front and side. It also has a commendable wheelbase at 107.7 inches and weighs 2,957 lbs. The ground clearance is also slightly better than its rivals here at 5.7 inches. The dimensions are improved over the previous generation’s model and the 2023 model won’t see any changes in this aspect.

Toyota has practically nailed it when it comes to the exterior design of the Corolla. It looks quite aggressive, especially with those sharp headlamp units’ designs. However, it’s the shortest one here in terms of wheelbase and length, which translates to the cramped rear seat space on the inside of the car. The Mazda3 looks the best, hands-down. Moreover, the design accentuates the car’s athletic traits almost perfectly. However, the side profile remains smooth without any creases or character lines present. From the rear too, the circular LED tail lights strongly suggest the car’s character, making the car stand out too. The Subaru Impreza has started to show its age on the outside too, as it does on the inside. The overall design of the Impreza is quite forgettable but it matches closely with the Civic in terms of dimensions.

Some standout exterior features include:

• LED headlamp and tail lights
• 18-inch alloy wheels
• LED fog lamps
• Automatic rain-sensing wipers
• Sunroof
• Heated exterior mirrors
• All-LED headlamps
• Fastback-style roofline

The 2023 Honda Civic Hatchback has not hit the roads yet and both the NHTSA and the IIHS have not tested it yet. However, the 2022 Civic’s ratings are out, and it scored respectable safety ratings from both organizations. Hence, we can expect a similar result with the upcoming 2023 Civic too. Impressively, the Civic comes standard with ADAS tech that includes automatic collision detection and mitigation, lane keeping assist, traffic sign reader, automatic high beams, and driver attention monitor. 

Some of the standout safety features include:

• Automatic collision detection and mitigation
• Lane keeping assist
• Traffic sign reader
• Automatic high beams
• Driver attention monitor
• ACE body construction
• Hill-start assist
• Electronic Brake Force distribution

2023 Honda Civic Hatchback vs 2023 Toyota Corolla Hatchback

The Toyota Corolla Hatchback has been an arch nemesis of the Civic for a long time now. However, the rivalry has brought some impressive results, especially in the design aspect. The Civic beats the Corolla by a mile in terms of interior design, comfort, and cabin space. Whereas, the exterior design is where the Corolla shines, especially with the young car shoppers in the class. Moreover, the Corolla is more powerful and surprisingly more fuel efficient than the Civic too. 

2023 Honda Civic Hatchback vs 2022 Mazda Mazda3 Hatchback

Both the Mazda3 and the Honda Civic look mature enough when compared to each other. However, the Mazda3 is more suited for performance lovers on a budget due to its impressive power figures and acceleration times but it compromises on the fuel efficiency department. Moreover, the Mazda3 lacks rear seat legroom too due to its shorter wheelbase and overall dimensions than the Civic. On the inside, the Mazda3 has a different approach to design while the Civic is more feature-packed and feels more premium as well. 

2023 Honda Civic Hatchback vs 2022 Subaru Impreza Hatchback

The Subaru Impreza has been hustling in the segment for a long time now and its Symmetrical AWD layout is among the few things keeping it alive. The car lacks both in terms of performance and fuel efficiency when compared to the Civic, and it looks heavily dated too in front of the Civic as well as other rivals in the segment. However, it gives the Civic tough competition when it comes to interior comfort as well as practicality due to its standard AWD layout. 

Absolutely yes! The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback has shown us that affordable city cars don't need to feel like budget vehicles anymore. The Civic oozes a premium feel the moment you set your eyes on it and it just gets better after you enter the cabin. The car is a delight to drive around the corners as well as out on the highways due to the impressive suspension tuning and capable handling. Moreover, the Civic offers a turbocharged motor to woo the enthusiasts but there are a few better options available in the segment at lower price tags. Overall, the Honda Civic would be a worthy addition to your driveway.