► Eleventh-generation Civic hatchback unveiled
► Overhauled interior and e:HEV hybrid powertrain
► UK prices expected to start from around £30,000
The eleventh-generation Honda Civic broke cover a few months ago, and now the company is gearing up for the hatchback’s UK launch. It’ll go on sale in Autumn 2022, becoming a fresh rival for the likes of the Toyota Corolla, Ford Focus and Volkswagen Golf.
Honda hasn’t released any official prices for the new Civic, but a spokesperson for the brand told CAR Magazine that it’ll start from around £30,000. The line-up will be simple, too – from launch, there’ll be just two trim-levels (Sport and Advance) and a single hybrid powertrain.
That might sound like a lot of money when you compare it to its biggest rival, the hybrid-only Toyota Corolla, which has a starting price of £26,365. However, Honda assures us that UK buyers will get better value for money by opting for the Civic.
In what way, exactly?
There’s plenty of standard equipment for a start. Even the most basic Sport specification comes with part-leather upholstery, climate control, a 10.2-inch LCD digital gauge cluster and a 9.0-inch infotainment screen complete with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The touchscreen has been moved higher up the dashboard than the previous Civic’s, which means you don’t have to divert your eyes too far from the road to operate it. The unit also features a faster processor and uses the same slick menu setup as the Honda Jazz. It’s a much better package than the outgoing Civic, which was frustratingly slow at times.
Honda’s equally proud of the Mk11 Civic’s suite of driver assistance technology. Included is a 100-degree wide-view front camera with enhanced recognition tech, which improves the car’s ability to identify pedestrians, road lines and motorcycles. Sonar sensors also feature for the first time, while the previous car’s Blind Spot Information and Traffic Jam Assist systems have been improved.
Will it drive well?
Most likely. All of the most recent Civics have delivered an engaging driving experience – and, on paper, it looks like the Mk11 model will continue that trend. Stand-out features include an 18mm wider rear track, revised front dampers and new low-friction ball joints and suspension mounts which will allow the suspension to articulate without binding.
Also new is the Civic’s 2.0-litre e:HEV hybrid powertrain, which will be the only engine available from launch (although the sporty Type R variant will arrive in January 2023). It’s a series hybrid system, a bit like the powertrain fitted to the Toyota Corolla, but it doesn’t feature a gearbox. Instead, the engine generates electricity to feed a pair of electric motors.
The electric motors do most of the propulsion, with the petrol engine bumbling away quietly in the background, topping up the battery pack mounted between the rear shock towers with electricity. However, when you hammer the throttle, the combustion engine sends direct drive through a clutch to the front wheels to help the car accelerate.
The powertrain has combined output of 181bhp and 258lb/ft of torque. Interestingly, that latter figure is just 37lb/ft short of the FK8 Civic Type R, which explains why the standard Mk11 Civic has a 0–62mph time of 7.8 seconds. That’s a tenth of a second quicker than the flagship version of the Corolla and more than a second quicker than the 153bhp Focus.
Honda says the system is efficient, too. The Civic has a claimed WLTP fuel economy figure of 60.1mpg, while emissions are as low as 108g/km of CO2. That’s nearing PHEV-levels of eco-piety – and it should equate to cheap running costs when the car reaches the UK.
There’s also four drive modes to choose from, with a new individual mode allowing various settings to be customised to the driver’s liking. One final noteworthy point on the driving side of things – all UK Civics will get some rather tasty Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres as standard from the factory, so it should cling to the road like a limpet.
How practical will it be?
More so than the previous-generation model. Honda has increased the car’s wheelbase by 35mm, which means rear seat passengers get an extra 35mm of legroom. We recently spent some time with a pre-production model and found that headroom was reasonable on the standard model, but much more restricted with the optional panoramic sunroof fitted.
Boot space stands at 410 litres for the standard Sport model, while the more expensive Advance specification gives away six litres of capacity. Either way, the opening is wide, which will make it easy to load bulky items. Honda also swapped the old car’s metal tailgate for a resin replacement, which is 20% lighter than the same panel on the hatchback.
What about the Civic Type R?
It’s on the way. Honda is planning to launch its new hot hatchback in January 2023 and, purists rejoice, it won’t feature the same e:HEV hybrid system as the standard Civic.
We pressed a couple of Honda spokespeople for details – and they all but confirmed the new car will be powered by a revised (and more powerful) version of the outgoing Type R’s turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine. It’s also expected to have a manual gearbox.
Expect an output upwards of 320bhp. That should be enough to allow the lighter, front-wheel drive Type R to keep pace with the four-wheel drive Volkswagen Golf R. It should also be plenty enough to blow the doors off the Hyundai i30 N and Ford Focus ST.
