First Look: Honda Civic Hatch

We all know what an amazing car the Honda Civic is and has been. No we wait in anticipation for the Honda Civic Hatch arriving on Australian shores from mid June this year.

Designed to meet European standards, the stylish and functional Civic hatch will compete in the fast-growing small car segment.

Honda Australia spokesperson, Mr. Lindsay Smalley, said the new Civic Hatch is sure to surprise and delight. “The all-new Civic Hatch is a stylish and practical offering in the small segment. It embodies style as well as substance.

“Its flowing character lines, improved aerodynamics, dynamic ride and handling along with clever packaging are what our customers can look forward to,” Mr. Smalley said.

The all-new Civic Hatch – that debuted at the Frankfurt Motor Show last year – has an elegant and seamless design, a lower and wider stance along with improved aerodynamics and fuel efficiency. Quality cabin materials give the new Civic Hatch a luxurious feel, while clever features such as the hidden rear door handle and Honda’s unique ‘Magic Seats’ bring practicality to the versatile hatch.

The Civic Hatch will be available in two variants – the VTi and VTi-L. Both variants receive an improved 1.8 litre four cylinder i-VTEC engine delivering maximum power of 104kW at 6500rpm and 174Nm of torque at 4300rpm. From the outset, the engine was designed to function as part of a high quality, easy-to-handle powertrain with improved operation at every stage of the drive, including start-up, shifting, acceleration and deceleration.

Safety is of course paramount and the all-new Civic Hatch achieves a five-star ANCAP safety rating with six airbags (front, side and full length curtain), Honda’s Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body structure, Vehicle Stability Assist, Honda’s G-Con technology, tyre deflation warning system and a reversing camera for the VTi-L (displayed in the Intelligent Multi-information Display).

The inclusion of Honda’s Eco Assist system, Econ Mode and improved aerodynamics contribute to the combined urban/extra urban fuel consumption figure of 6.1l/100km for the manual transmission and 6.5l/100km for the automatic transmission*.

The all-new Civic Hatch has an elegant exterior design, seamlessly unifying all surfaces including the wheel arches and the body. It is lower and wider with an aerodynamic monoform profile. A new brake-light cluster and rear combination lamp design further add to its form and functionality.

The interior combines futuristic design with versatility, raising practicality and utility to a new level. The cockpit feel envelops the driver. Two interface zones improve functionality and the full-colour Intelligent Muilti-information display (i-MID), the same system as in the Civic sedan range, allows personalised wallpaper. New tactile surface materials have been used to improve the quality and feel. The Civic Hatch also boasts multiple storage compartments, USB and iPod connectivity, Bluetooth audio streaming in the VTi-L and a new tilt and telescopic steering wheel with easy operating controls, finished in extra-smooth leather with more comfortable stitching in the VTi-L.

The all-new Civic Hatch has a new colour palette – Yellow Topaz, Alabaster Silver, Crystal Black, Deep Sapphire Blue, Milano Red, Polished Metal and White Orchid. All have a black interior, with the VTi receiving cloth and the VTi-L receiving leather trim and heated front seats.

Pricing for the all-new Civic Hatch will be announced closer to its Australian launch date.