Having driven the delightful 2022 Honda Civic sedan just last fall we welcomed the arrival latest variation of the brand’s hallmark compact, the Civic Hatchback. Just like our tested sedan last fall, our 2022 Honda Civic Hatch was a Touring model with the 1.5-liter turbocharged engine and a CVT.
Now built in the United States at Honda’s Greensburg, Indiana plant the Civic Hatchback is virtually identical inside and out to the sedan in almost every way except at the back . Here, a sexy GT coupe roofline is well conceived in a way that looks somewhat exotic.
Its rear overhang is shortened by 5-inches, emphasizing its forward leaning character brought on with the 2022 restyling. The lines from the roof carve neatly and cleanly to the opening hatch. Unique LED tail lamps with a continuous piece across the deck connecting them nicely. The lower rear fascia also gets its own design with handsome dual exhaust finishers I find quite handsome.
Opening up the rear hatch reveals the same side-to-side roll shade from the previous generation Civic Hatch that allows easier access when stowed. Push it aside and fold down the seat and you have a Civic that is far more versatile than the sedan at gobbling up stuff from the big-box store.
The lift-over height is much lower than most compact crossover SUV’s making this an easier option to live with than most. Pulling the hatch closed is also pretty easy on the hands since it’s smaller and lower to the ground.
The rest of the cabin of our leather-lined Touring model was every bit as enjoyable and comfortable as the sedan we tested last fall. The new design and features for 2022 make this Civic the best yet and remains best-in-class when it comes to fit and finish.
Priced at $30,415, our 2022 Honda Civic Hatch Touring model came with the 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine good for 180 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque. Here it is mated to a continuously variable transmission (CVT) but it is available here with a six-speed manual for those who love to drive.
Power is generous when you ask for it but the CVT lacks much driver satisfaction, even in sport mode. There are steering wheel mounted paddle shifters that do give you some cute little simulated shift points, but it’s far from the real thing.
As tested it was rated at 30 mpg city, 37 mpg highway and 33 mpg combined. In my week with it I achieved 28 mpg combined, likely less as I turned off its annoying idle start-stop system at every opportunity. It will be nice when they stop killing the buzz with this stuff.
Handling was top of class with its sharp feel and reflexes given by the latest generation chassis and our tester’s 235/40R-18 rubber. Steering and road feel are precise as expected here and the suspension is impressively buttoned up tight over speed bumps and road imperfections.
