2020 Civic Hatch Sport Touring
Honda continues winning ways with its small cars
Honda started selling cars in the USA with the tiny N600 in 1969. In 1974 they offered us their first Civic. Its CVCC engine met the then-new emissions standards with ease. Meanwhile many other companies struggled to achieve the same results. The two small Hondas that stick in my mind are my 1993 Honda Civic del Sol VTEC, and Honda’s fabulous S2000 sportscars. Both cars featured a manual transmission that was a delight to drive. The S2000 is in my top three of all-time great shifters.
So, it was with great interest when I heard that Honda is making their slick six-speed manual shifter available in all trim levels of the 2020 Civic. Prices start at $19,750 for the Civic Sedan. The two-door
Coupe is only $20,950, while the more practical Hatchback starts out at $21,640. My Platinum White 2020 Civic Hatch Sport Touring is $28,980 with the $930 destination and handling charge included. If High-Performance is your game, you owe it to yourself to consider the 305hp Civic Type R. It’s a bargain at $36,300.
In addition to being able to enjoy the extra control the Civic’s six-speed standard transmission allows, there are some other items new for 2020. A mild refreshing adds a new grille, revised front and rear bumpers, and different headlights and fog light trim. There is more sound deadening, eight speakers in the base sound system and push button start/stop for the top two Civic trims.
Speaking of trims, you can differentiate a Civic’s trim level by the dashboard. There is an exclusive brushed black treatment for the Civic Sport Touring and EX-L. Meanwhile, a new painted pattern trim graces the Civic LX and EX. My Civic Sport trim sports a geometrical pattern.
Honda’s engines are well known for their ability to standout in their class. The basic model gets a 2.0-liter four that makes 158 hp and 138 lb-ft of torque. It gets 30 city/38 highway, according to the EPA. Midrange trim levels get a 1.5-liter four-cylinder with 174 hp. And 162 lb-ft. While the 1.5-liter turbocharged engine in my Sport Touring boasted 180 hp and 177 lb-ft of torque. There is a small price to pay at the gas station. Mine was rated at 29 city/37 highway for at combined score of 29 mpg.
I really enjoyed my time driving the Civic. The interior is comfortable, functional and the controls are all easy to use. I found the seats to be very supportive for this class of vehicle. The acceleration was not up to its Type R brother’s antics, but still was sufficient to carve my favorite corners with ease. Thanks to the SPORT trim, the ride was a bit firm and yet there was more lean in corners than I expected.
Honda really piles on the equipment. For just under $29,000, my tester had leather trimmed seats, a premium audio system with 12 speakers, and the utility of a fold down seat and a hatchback. Safety items include adaptive cruise control, collision mitigation braking system, lane keep assist system, and road departure mitigation.
Overall, the Civic remains one of my top four choices when asked “What should I get my new driver-in-the family for a new car?” As it turns out, I would also recommend it for all ages. If you enjoy a stick shift, for 2020 your Civic can have this fun feature throughout the trim levels.