The Honda Civic Hatchback is available in five trim lines, all of which receive a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine and a CVT transmission, while the Sport model gets a six-speed manual gearbox with the option of the CVT.
The LX is the base trim, equipped with 16-inch alloys, projector headlights, single-zone climate control, Honda Sensing, a rearview camera, and a five-inch color radio system with Bluetooth hands-free. The Sport is similarly equipped but gets a more powerful engine tune, the option of a manual gearbox, 18-inch alloy wheels, sporty interior and exterior styling cues, and the Honda LaneWatch blind spot camera. The EX upgrades infotainment to a touchscreen setup of seven-inches with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and also equips a power sunroof, dual-zone climate control, and keyless entry. The EX-L Navi adds leather upholstery, heated front seats with power driver’s adjustment, and as the name suggests, navigation. The Sport Touring tops the line-up with a 12-speaker audio system, heated rear seats, LED headlights, and a power front passenger seat adjustment.
The cheapest model in the Civic hatch line-up is the LX trim, carrying a base MSRP of $21,450 before tax, registration, license, and a $920 destination charge. Four further trims exist, the Sport with a sticker price of $22,250, the EX at a price of $23,750, the EX-L Navi priced from $26,250 and topping the range, a fully-loaded Sport Touring trim at $28,750. Prices took a slight bump for the 2019 model, however with initial demand now subsiding, dealers should be commanding less of a markup and buyers are likely to find several enticing incentives or alternative lease options available.
While numerous accessories can be equipped to the Civic Hatchback as standalone items, Honda offers few packages and necessary optional extras.
Adding to the Civic's performance, a Honda Factory Performance (HFP) package equips sporty underbody spoilers, a tailgate spoiler HFP badging, drilled brake rotors, black 17-inch alloys, and Sport pedals. Available on all trims, the HFP package costs $2,999 on the LX, EX, and EX-L Navi trims, while the Sport and Sport Touring models offer slight variations to the package (19-inch HFP alloys) for $2,499.
In the way of key standalone options, the LX can be equipped with foglights for $425 and a wireless phone charger for $305, the latter available across all trims. On the EX an auto-dimming rearview mirror is available for $182 (standard from the EX-L Navi), while worthwhile options on the EX-L Navi and Sport Touring are limited to the wireless charging pad.
High levels of safety and a potent turbocharged engine on all models make the Civic Hatch enticing in all trims, but two stand out above the rest. The EX-L Navi offers excellent value for money, equipping smartphone integration and a touchscreen infotainment system, along with dual-zone climate, keyless entry, and a power sunroof for added convenience. However, there's no option for a manual transmission on the EX, which is why for driving enthusiasts we recommend the Sport trim. It doesn't get access to Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, but the six-speed manual is joyous to row, and there are an extra six horsepower and 15 lb-ft of torque to go with it. If you're willing to sacrifice the niceties of smartphone integration and accept single-zone climate control, the Sport is huge amounts of fun for a relatively budget price.