The recently revealed Honda Civic sedan is set to get some company, the automaker set to unveil the next-generation Civic hatchback later this month.
The new Civic will make its global debut on June 23 at 9 p.m. EDT during the Civic Tour “Remix” virtual concert that will be livestreamed on YouTube.
But we’re getting a sense of what’s in store thanks to the teaser the Japanese automaker released today. And, beyond the obvious differences in a five-door layout, the 2022 Civic Hatchback appears to pick up on the same, basic mantra of the sedan with a design language Honda has described as “simple,” “clean” and “modern.”
“The Civic Hatchback builds on the sporty and youthful design of the 11th generation Civic Sedan while showcasing European-inspired exterior styling, enhanced five-door versatility, and an available, fun-to-drive 6-speed manual transmission,” Honda said in a statement released today.
Lots in common
One safely can bet the new Civic hatchback will share plenty of new technologies, both for infotainment and safety, with the latest Honda sedan.
Based on the teaser — and recent spy shots — we can expect the Civic Hatchback to pick up on key sedan design cues. That includes a “thin and light” body design that adopts a low hood and front fenders. The nose also features a small grille above the front bumper, a larger one below, giving the new Civic sedan a more planted feel — something one can expect to carry over. Subtle flaring around the wheels yield a more aggressive and premium feel, or so Honda designers contend. The windshield pillars, meanwhile, have been moved rearward two inches, the glass flowing into a coupe-like roofline that tapers into a short rear deck.
Even with the windshield pushed back, the new cabin offers reasonable space for both front and back passengers, especially considering competitors in the compact segment. The low instrument panel is accented by a honeycomb mesh and the cabin adopts more premium materials than the outgoing sedan.
We also expect to see the two models to largely align on technology. The sedan’s base trim now gets a 7-inch color touchscreen for an infotainment system that comes with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. There’s an upgrade to a high-definition, 9-inch touchscreen that is paired with wireless versions of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The 2022 Civic sedan became the first to offer a 12-speaker Bose premium sound system, and Touring models come with Qi wireless smartphone charging.
Si and Type-R also in the works
Expect to see the 11th-generation Civic hatchback appear in a variety of different configurations, including Si and Type-R performance packages.
In the base trim, Honda will offer at least one of the two 4-cylinder powertrains now available in the Civic sedan:
- A naturally aspirated 2.0-liter package making 158 horsepower and 138 pound-feet of torque and paired with an updated CVT;
- The other option is an updated 1.5-liter turbo-4 now making 180 hp and 177 lb-ft, up 6 and 15, respectively.
The Type-R not only will get a boost in power but Honda has confirmed a manual gearbox will remain on the option checklist.
U.S. production planned
The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback will be produced at the automaker’s plant in Greenburg, Indiana, marking the first time it’s been assembled in the U.S. While the ongoing semiconductor shortage is impacting industry production plans, the 5-door currently is scheduled to reach American showrooms later this year.
We’ll have more to report on the 2022 Civic Hatchback later this month.