The new 5-door is powered by the same 1,7 litre VTEC powerplant already in service in the Civic sedan, but other than that it is a very different vehicle from its more conservatively-styled stablemate. It has been conceived to meet the demands of the modeAs well as being the tallest, the hatch also gets the longest wheelbase of any Civic model, yet is 173 mm shorter overall than the sedan.
This long wheelbase/short overhang combination means there’s a hint of the monobox in the Civic’s profile, but while the large windscreen and short bonnet are placed well forward, the hatchback design has far more stylistic appeal than vehicles of that ilk.
One of the first things you’ll also notice is the flat floor and “walk-through” design, allowing front occupants easy access to the rear. The cabin is laden with features to make it user-friendly, and these include electric windows and mirrors, air conditioning, remote central locking, and a radio/CD front loader with four speakers.
With 96 kW at 6 300 revs/min to back up 155 Nm at 4 800 revs/min, this 1 688 cc single overhead camshaft engine is the equal of most 2,0 litre rivals. With independent suspension all round, electrically assisted power steering and all-wheel disc brakes, both manual and automatic versions of the Civic 5-door have been engineered to offer an sporty, satisfying and safe driving experience.
The end result is that both versions of the Civic 5-door offers an involving and satisfying driving experience. With Honda’s well-established ability to produce cars with great handling and steering (195/60xR15s) on alloys are the last line in communicating your intentions), the long wheelbase and short overhangs respectively endow it with stability at speed and dexterity in dense traffic. Add to that the response and willingness of the single-cam VTEC engine and you have a vehicle with the ability to perform strongly on a variety of roads whether laden or unladen.