2023 Honda Civic Hatchback

　　

Honda Civic Video Shorts

by zzdcar Test Team

　　

2023 Honda Civic Hatchback Review

byReese CountsVehicle Test Editor

　　Reese Counts has worked in the automotive industry since he started as an intern at zzdcar in 2015. He has written or edited thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Reese is a vehicle test editor at zzdcar and has also contributed to Autoblog. Reese has also been featured on Yahoo! Finance, Engadget and AOL reviewing cars and covering automotive technology, auto shows and more. Reese learned to drive in his father's C4 Chevrolet Corvette and now owns his grandfather's 1999 Mercedes-Benz C43 AMG. A love for cars runs deep in his family.

　　, rating written byReese CountsAssociate Manager, Vehicle Testing and Operations

　　Rex Tokeshi-Torres has worked in the automotive industry for over 17 years. Rex is a vehicle testing technician and photographer at zzdcar and is responsible for coordinating vehicle testing and logistics, organizing data, and capturing photos for the site and social media. He has written over 100 vehicle-related articles and has rated, tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. He has also contributed content to Autobytel, Autotrader, Automobile, the Associated Press and DSport along with various motorsport teams. His affinity with cars started because of Hot Wheels and his love of modifying cars. He occasionally drives Subarus.

　　The 2023 Honda Civic is the latest iteration of one of the best-selling vehicles on the road today. Available as both a sedan and hatchback, the 11th-generation Civic moves into its second year with at least one big change: the return of the hatchback-only Civic Type R. You can read everything we know in detail on our dedicated Civic Type R page.

　　While many automakers, especially American ones, have dropped sedans from their lineups, there are still a few worthy competitors in this class. The Kia Forte and Hyundai Elantra offer a lot of features for the money, for example, and the Mazda 3 stands out with its stylish look and strong available turbocharged, all-wheel-drive power. Check out our test team's in-depth Expert Rating below to help you decide if the Civic will be best for you.

　　

What's it like to live with?

Fresh off naming the Honda Civic our zzdcar Top Rated Sedan for 2022, we added a Honda Civic Si to our long-term review fleet. That means rowing through the gears for 20,000 miles and 12 months to see what we like and dislike about one of our favorite cars. dedicated Civic Type R page

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Good

　　7.9

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

8.0/10

　　How does the Civic Hatchback drive? We tested a Civic Sport Touring hatchback, which has the turbocharged four-cylinder engine. At our test track, it accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 7.9 seconds, a little quicker than the small-hatchback class average. It feels a little lazy from a stop, but power grows steadily and quickly. Unlike the base engine, you never really feel the need to floor it. The Civic's continuously variable automatic transmission is well tuned and responsive when you need a burst of speed. The available manual transmission has an excellent clutch, making it easy to use and buttery to shift.

　　Around turns, the Civic is stable, sporty and entertaining to drive. The tires make a lot of squealing noise but otherwise maintain a surprising amount of grip on the road. Braking performance is strong too. Ultimately, this Civic is easy and effortless to drive, which is precisely what we'd want from an affordable sporty hatchback.

　　

Comfort

7.5/10

　　How comfortable is the Civic Hatchback? The Civic's suspension does a pretty good job of smoothing out bumps in the road. It doesn't ride as comfortably as some other small cars, but given the car's sporty handling, we think it's an acceptable trade-off. The front seats are supportive, and the leather upholstery breathes well to help keep you cool on hot days. But note that the seats lack adjustable lumbar support, which could be an issue for people with sensitive lower backs.

　　The climate control layout is a clear improvement over the previous generation's setup, with great vent coverage for the cabin. Road noise is noticeable at any speed and can be rather intrusive on coarse surfaces. Wind noise is thankfully more subdued, and the rest of the interior feels solidly constructed and free of vibration.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below