For years US car buyers have stayed away from hatchbacks and wagons, but times are changing. Today if you want a compact hatchback you now have more options than the VW Golf or Mazda3. After abandoning the hatchback segment years ago, Honda has finally brought back the Civic Hatchback and it’s great! Honda gave me the keys to a 2017 Civic Sport with a manual transmission. Here are five things you should know about the 2017 Honda Civic Hatchback:
5The perfect combination
Related: 2017 Honda Civic Si arrives tomorrow at $24,775
The last Civic Hatchback was only sold as a small Euro-sourced Civic Si, which found very few takers. The new Civic Hatchback is almost the best all-around choice in the new Civic lineup, with its sporty handling, turbocharged engine and versatile cargo space. Of course we wish Honda would reconsider its choice to not make a Civic Si Hatchback, since an extra 25 horsepower and some suspension upgrades would make it a true GTI rival. If not, then at least give us a manual transmission with the Sport Touring model. The top spec Mazda3 can be equipped with a manual transmission and even though most buyers will still opt for the CVT, a manual Sport Touring would make the Civic Hatchback an even better option.
Pricing:
The 2017 Honda Civic Hatchback starts at $20,575 for the base LX, if you want the Sport it starts at a reasonable $22,175, while the top spec Sport Touring starts at $28,300.
