The long awaited 13 years since the last Civic hatch is now over: The 2017 Honda Civic Hatch is here. Last year I was contemplating waiting for the car, but went with the Fit instead.

Honda continues to surprise me. I would have thought that the Civic's hatch would be bigger than the Fit, as it is a larger vehicle. Alas, it seems I am incorrect.

The Fit has 470/1492L of hatch space, or 12% more space.Am I reading this correctly?

Here are the US specs, taken from the US Honda Site: Honda Civic 25.7 / 46.2 cu ft vs Honda Fit 16.6/52.7 cu ft (rear seat up / rear seat down), 12% more space in the Fit.

The Civic seems to have a better engine, a 1.5L turbo 174hp, 167fp torque. The Civic weights 2815lb vs the Fit's 2513 lb, or 300 lb more. That could be two more people. The Civic seems to have also taken styling cues for the center console from the HRV, possibly restricting right knee wiggle room.

Alas, the new Civic Hatch also eschews the volume knob. Maybe next year.

I suppose if you wish to have a larger hatch you'll need to go up to the HRV.

 

Unless they are going to incorporate the Magic Seat design into the Civic, including the fuel tank under the driver's seat, they're going to lose a lot of space in the cargo area due to a higher floor.

 

Is nobody going to mention the Civic's butt ugly rear end or it's overall ugliness on the outside design? No? OK I won't.

 

You know, I did a test drive on a Civic Hatchback about a month or so ago. The ride was fine for an AT (didn't have an MT when I was there, dang) but that rear end, esp. the spoiler ... ick. I just stared at it for a few min and then just said nope.

But then I remember saying nope in '93 when I saw another Civic hatchback, but I eventually bought one and wound up really liking how it looked (love the one you're with maybe?) so never say never, I guess.

 

On the review I saw on YouTube of the new Civic hatchback it noted that the back seats do not fold flat. The way the Fit seats lay down completely makes it a very utilitarian vehicle.

 

Review actually mentions cargo volume compared to Fit, and the Sport model does have a knob for volume who crave it...

 

I'm with woof. Honda lost their mojo on the new Civic. Looks like a design by committee. I'm afraid their inspiration was the Pontiac Aztec...

YMMV,

DaveGee

 

There are downsides to the fits layout, i have a BONKERS 200 mile per day commute and i have to refuel daily or every other day. a 20 gallon tank would be nice. Obviously this isnt an issue for city driving

 

You need to move.

I feel that way about the 2015 Fit.

New Hondas suck, currently window shopping a number of replacements for my 2012. I wanted to keep it a decade but have quickly fallen out of satisfaction with it.

 

Let's put it this way.
When I bought my 2016 Honda Fit EX, and then heard about the upcoming release of the Honda Civic Hatch...I really expected to be jealous.

Well...the Civic Hatch looks good, but I'm not at all jealous.
For what I want?
The Fit is a better choice.

I like the versatility of The Fit...the magic seats.
And with the EX model, I'll take the keyless entry and the push button start.

Also I really like the traditional blue colored accented gauges of The Honda Fit, there's nothing wrong with the Civic gauges but they appear to me to be very generic looking.

Also while my initial impression of The Honda Civic Hatch exterior look is very, very good. I think I have mixed feelings about the rear end.
That very horizontal rear window, and dual spoiler set up, gives it a very "Prius" look. That's OK...but that's the look as it struck me.

Also, just a quick impression from the video, but why does Honda continue to make low height center consoles? That seems like a pretty slick set up, but appeared once again not unlike The Fit to be a low cushion design not conducive to resting one's elbow or arm. Has Honda decided more elbow room is more desirous than the ability to rest one's elbow or arm?

All all in all, I'll admit, since I can't afford to make the change, that I'm kind of glad The Civic Hatch doesn't really impress me more.

Looking at it? I think I can remain very satisfied with my Fit.

But I would also admit, that if a larger vehicle with more intrinsic engine power is your goal? The Civic Hatchback might have greater appeal.

 

1.5T in the fit and I'd be happy

 

I Love my 2016 Fit EX.

 

Personally, I would take the 2017 Civic hatch over the 2017 Fit. The new DiT engine is nice.

 

Someone soon will shoehorn the Civic's 1.5T into the Fit, or at least try. That would not be good for fuel economy, I think, but it would be lovely to drive.

 

Why not? If its fuel efficient in the Civic, it'd be efficient in the Fit too.

 

I went to my Honda dealer recently to check out the new hatchback. I don't like the styling personally. Well let me correct this. I just prefer clean styling more than all these crazy lines. The front and side is good...but that rear is a bit too crazy.

That aside, the interior is very comfortable. When I sat inside I was quote impressed. Also the shiftier felt great. (Was a manual surprisingly in show room)

But...when I saw he price it was way too much. The price was something like $26,500-$26,900 CDN. Which is a bit too much for a Civic. I rather jump into an Accord...which I do own a 2017 Accord Sport lol

At the end....I still like the Fit more. Also the Fit is way more rare in Canada. Civics are everywhere...especially since it's the #1 selling car here.

 

Grill blacked out coming soon.
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