M/T=Fun!
Completely redesigned in 2022, the 2024 Honda Civic Hatchback continues with handsome styling that forgoes sharp edges and a busy design for a more mature and finished look that hints Euro. The quick take is the 2024 Honda Civic Hatch 1.5T Sport Touring 6MT offers spirited driving with more-than-reasonable performance in a well-built compact sedan. Expect the Civic to remain Honda’s best-selling passenger car, and its second best-selling model overall coming in behind the CR-V crossover.
Two Engine Choices
Honda gives drivers options of two 4-cylinder engines for the front-wheel drive Civic Hatch. Standard on the LX and Sport, the 2.0-liter non-turbo puts out 158 horsepower (hp) and 138 pound-feet (lb.-ft.) of torque. Opt for the EX or Sport Touring models and the turbocharged 1.5-liter ups the performance to 180 hp and 177 lb.-ft. of torque. All four trims come with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) with paddle shifters, but Clean Fleet Report had the opportunity (and treat) to drive the Civic Sport Touring with the 6-speed manual (6MT) that is also an option on the Sport model.
Running on 87 octane, the EPA rates the Civic 1.5L turbo at 28 mpg city/37 highway/31 combined. In 294 miles driving through Southern California we averaged 33.2 mpg combined. While always nice to beat the EPA numbers, we could have done far better if we laid-off taking glee in the slick shifting manual. Fuel economy numbers reported by Clean Fleet Report are non-scientific and represent the reviewer’s driving experience using the dash gauge computer. Your numbers may differ.
If you opt for the 2.0L non-turbo 4-cylinder and CVT, fuel economy estimates are 31 mpg city/40 highway/35 combined.
Hitting the Road
The 1.5L Civic Touring performed exceptionally well with fun performance. Zero-to-60 times around 7.4 seconds felt peppy and were plenty for almost all driving situations. The slick shifting 6-speed manual was a blast to power through the gears, especially since Honda has eliminated turbo lag for a linear throttle response. The beauty of a manual transmission is being able to completely control the RPM, which is especially fun when carving mountain corners.
The 3,036-pound Civic handled calmly on the highway with a stable, confident ride that smoothed-out bumps, but road noise was noticeable on certain surfaces. The high rigidity of the stiffened chassis made for tight and predictable handling. The electric power steering, with good road feedback, is programmed for a neutral feel, with the steering weight providing for a good connection with the road.
The MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear suspensions were augmented by stabilizer bars front and rear. The 235/40 Continental Conti Pro Contact all-season tires, on 18-inch wheels, provided good traction with little tire slippage when cornering hard. Stopping was solid with anti-lock brakes, electronic brake distribution, brake assist and ventilated front and solid rear discs.
Aerodynamically Efficient Exterior
First launched in 1972 and now in its 11th generation, the 2024 Civic went through a complete exterior re-imagination in 2022. There are fewer sharp edges and an eye towards aerodynamics, with increased efficiency being a key part of the clean redesign. The LED head and driving lights are sleekly integrated next to the small upper grille, which sits above a slightly larger grille and LED fog lights in the outer fascia corners.
The nose, front bumpers and hood are smooth—designed to direct air flow down the smooth sides and over the roof. The roof, with a power sunroof, peaks above the driver’s head and then slopes into the hatch that ends with a diminutive integrated lip spoiler. The C-shaped LED tail lights, connecting the hatch to the rear fenders, sit above the rear bumper and fascia, all optimized with airflow in mind.
Our Civic Hatch Sport Touring, painted in Sonic Gray Pearl, had body color-keyed bumpers, door handles, shark fin antenna and power exterior mirrors. Chrome was kept to a tasteful minimum, found around the windows and on the badging. Exterior pallet options includes Rallye Red, Boost Blue Pearl, Platinum White Pearl, Lunar Silver Metallic, Crystal Black Pearl, Smokey Mauve Pearl and Meteorite Gray Metallic.
Interior Details
Front visibility is excellent due to the rake of the hood, narrow A-pillars and hidden rain-sensing windshield wipers. The low-slung dash, with a unique and attractive honeycomb mesh panel incorporating the air vents, is covered in soft touch materials with gloss black trim.
Clean Fleet Report’s Civic Hatch Sport Touring had a solid black interior with tasteful chrome touches around the display hood, the controls for the dual zone automatic climate system, the door handles, center console, sport pedals and on the steering wheel.
The seats, center padded armrest, door armrests, shift knob and steering wheel are trimmed in leather, with the seats, shift boot, armrests and steering wheel getting contrasting top stitching. Honda has improved cabin quietness by using urethane spray foam in key places, and sound insulation on the underside of the hood, floor, fenders, carpet and dashboard panel.
The heated front seats use multiple internal structures to provide improved support across the entire body, with the driver getting 8-way and the passenger 4-way power adjustments. The tilt and telescoping steering column has good range, giving the driver plenty of options to find a comfortable driving position.
The rear leather trimmed seats are made for grown ups, holding two comfortably but three for short jaunts. The padded folding armrest, with cup holders, is part of the 60:40 rear seat that, when in the pulldown position, provides a large and accommodating cargo space that rivals some midsize sedans. The trunk opening is tall and wide, with a low sill, making loading items easy. Overall, the interior build and material quality are at a high level.
The cockpit design is driver-friendly with customizable digital gauges on the 9-inch high-resolution color touchscreen that is only available on the Sport Touring. All other trims get a 7-inch screen. Our Sport Touring model had the 12-speaker Bose premium audio system with a subwoofer. The touchscreen handled the 3D navigation and rear view camera. For entertainment there is AM/FM HD radio, SiriusXM, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (Sport Touring trim only, otherwise wired), four 2.5A USB ports and a 12-volt power outlet.
The Bluetooth with voice recognition worked very well, as did the steering wheel mounted audio controls and the Qi wireless phone charging. A wish list for the audio system would be to add a channel selection knob (which would join the volume knob), and it needed more channel pre-sets, especially for SiriusXM. Both of these would make the system more user friendly, convenient and would aid driver safety. There is no head-up display.
Safety and Convenience
All Civic models come standard with active and passive safety features. The driver and front passenger get front, knee and side air bags, while the rear passengers get side and curtain airbags, the latter activated by a rollover sensor. Honda Sensing, the company’s advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), include forward collision and road departure mitigation, lane keep assist, blind spot with cross traffic monitoring, and front and rear parking sensors.
Additional safety and convenience features include idle stop and go, automatic brake hold, one-touch power moonroof, remote keyless entry, security system, push button start/stop, sliding center armrest, a tire pressure monitoring system, remote engine start, an automatic dimming rearview mirror equipped with Homelink and an electric parking brake.
The Driver Attention Monitor is a helpful driving aid that detects a lack of attention by the driver. Warnings begin with a cup of coffee graphic, then visual flashes are followed by an audio alert and the steering wheel vibrating. If you are nodding off, this system could save your life.
The 2024 Civic Hatchback has been safety rated by theInsurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), earning its Top Safety Pick. The US Government’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarded its highest rank, a Five Star rating.
Warranties
All 2024 Civic models come with these warranties.
Powertrain – Five years/60,000 miles
New Vehicle/Basic – Three years/36,000 miles
Anti-perforation – Five years/Unlimited miles
Roadside Assistance – Three years/36,000 miles
Pricing
The 2024 Honda Civic Hatchback comes in six trim levels, with a choice of engines and options. All base prices below include the $1,095 destination charge.
LX 2.0L $26,045 (CVT)
Sport 2.0L $27,445 (6MT)
Sport 2.0L $27,445 (CVT)
EX-L 1.5T $29,745 (CVT)
Sport Touring 1.5T $32,545 (6MT)
Sport Touring 1.5T $32,545 (CVT)
Clean Fleet Report’s Civic Hatchback Sport Touring 6MT, with $395 in options and the $1,095 destination fee, had a MSRP of $32,940.
Observations: 2024 Honda Civic Hatchback Sport Touring 6MT
The complete redesign in 2022 took a bold direction, but not in the way you may think. Honda went the other way from being more radical and wild, to a design that made the Civic Hatchback more mature and professional. The exterior styling is clean and elegant by abandoning sharp edges and multiple scoops. The roomy and refined interior is as welcoming as anything on the market.
The 2024 Honda Civic Hatch 1.5T Sport Touring 6MT offers spirited driving with more-than-reasonable performance in a well-built compact sedan. The ride is accommodating, the cabin quiet, the fuel economy very respectable, and it is priced competitively. Our test car, which was fully optioned, came in at a respectable under $33,000.
The Civic Hatchback offers comfort for four, with the large rear seat passenger room making attaching a rear-facing child car seat easy. The hatchback adds more cargo space than the Civic sedan, swallowing-up gear for that long, fuel efficient road trip. The full suite of advanced safety systems are standard and robust.
Built in Greensburg, Indiana, (engine from America, transmission from India), the Civic carries with it the well-earned reputation of Honda quality. Personal note: I own a 1997 Honda Civic EX, with 190,100 miles, which I bought new. The engine hums like a sewing machine, and even with all those miles, still gets 30+ mpg and doesn’t burn or leak a drop of oil. I am sure you know someone with a similar Civic story.
Next up for Honda in 2025 will be the all-new Civic Hybrid that will join the Accord and CR-V hybrids currently at your dealer. Honda has high hopes for the 2025 Civic Hybrid, expecting it to account for more than 40-percent of Civic sales in North America.
The Honda Civic was one of America’s best-selling compact sedan in 2023 (hello, Corolla). To be more accurate, it has been one of the best-selling compact sedans in America for several years. To truly appreciate how good this car is, go into your Honda dealer and request a lengthy test drive that should include highway onramps and a few tight corners. You just may be driving home in one.
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Story and photos by John Faulkner
Our history with the Honda Civic:
News: 2023 Honda Civic Type R
Road Test: 2022 Honda Civic Sedan 1.5T Touring
Road Test: 2020 Honda Civic Sedan Touring
Road Test: 2016 Honda Civic Coupe Touring
Road Test: 2013 Honda Civic Natural Gas
News: 2011 Honda Civic Hybrid
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