Honda Automobiles: 2017 Honda Civic Hatchback Press Kit

The Civic Hatchback shares its front-end styling and wheelbase with the current Civic Sedan, but from the B-pillars rearward it is utterly unique. The rear roofline is taller than the Sedan’s to provide class-leading cargo space, while the rear overhang is shorter, adding to the vehicle’s Euro-style sportiness. Along with the choice of 16, 17 and 18-inch wheels, the Hatchback’s unique color palette and aerodynamic aids such as a standard rear roofline spoiler make it recognizable at a glance. Available LED headlights with an auto high beam (HSS) feature and automatic windshield wipers on the Sport Touring trim further define the new model.

Exterior Styling
With just the right balance of form and function, utility and athleticism, the 2017 Civic Hatchback perfectly complements the current Sedan and Coupe body styles for Honda. Like those cars, which were introduced for model year 2016, in front the new Civic Hatchback features a chiseled appearance capped with Honda’s distinctive “wing fascia and premium LED lighting (including available LED in-line headlights and integrated side-mirror mounted turn indicators on the Sport Touring trim). Fog lights come on all but the base LX model. Like other Civic models, the acoustic windshield is flush mounted to the cowl for improved aerodynamic efficiency and interior quietness; side glass is likewise flush with the roof pillars.

With its long wheelbase and flowing roofline, decisive body-side character lines and short front and rear overhangs, the Civic Hatchback’s side profile is at once purposeful and powerful, sophisticated, sporty and innovative. Stainless steel side window trim (black on Sport trims) and the three alloy-wheel choices, from 16 to 18 inches in diameter – the largest ever available on a Civic (excluding Si models) – contribute to the substantial presentation.

In back, the Civic Hatchback uses its own interpretation of Honda’s characteristic LED “light pipe taillights, a substantial flush-mounted rear window, and a wind-cheating spoiler mounted just above the window. On the Sport Touring trim, an additional rear lip spoiler rides just above the tailgate. The piece de resistance for the Euro-inspired Civic Hatchback is the large tailgate, sized to allow easy loading of bikes and backpacks, sports and camping equipment, electronics, musical equipment and even certain appliances.

Body and Exterior Summary

All Models

• 61-percent high strength steel body structure (21-percent ultra-high strength steel)
• Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure with crash stroke front frame design
• Class-leading aerodynamic performance
• Class-leading forward visibility
• Advanced Noise, Vibration and Harshness (NVH) countermeasures
• Acoustic-glass, flush mounted windshield
• Sound-absorbing undercovers
• Projector-beam halogen headlights with auto-on/off
• LED daytime running lights (DRL)
• LED turn signals
• LED taillights
• Smart wipers
• 46.2 cu. ft. maximum cargo capacity*
• Capless fueling system
• Rear roofline spoiler

Sport

• Fog lights
• Aero kit
• Black side window trim
• Steering wheel-mounted Paddle Shifters (CVT only)

EX and EX-L Navi

• Fog lights
• Heated side mirrors
• Variable intermittent wipers
• One-touch power moonroof with tilt
• Smart Entry and Push Button Start/Stop
• Remote engine start

Sport Touring

• Steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters
• LED headlights
• Auto high beam (HSS)
• Fog lights
• Side mirror-mounted LED turn signals
• Heated side mirrors
• One-touch power moonroof with tilt
• Rain-sensing windshield wipers
• Smart Entry and Push Button Start/Stop
• Remote engine start
• Aero kit
• Black side window trim

Exterior Dimensions
The 2017 Civic Hatchback shares its 106.3-in wheelbase with the Civic Sedan for excellent ride comfort, outstanding second-row seating roominess and easy ingress and egress. A shorter rear body overhang compared to the Sedan reduces the overall length by 4.4 inches (177.9 in vs. 182.3 in, respectively), adding to the Civic Hatchback’s sporty appearance. A slightly taller overall height compared to the Civic Sedan (up 0.8 in for the Hatchback LX, EX and EX-L Navi, and up 0.6 in for the Sport and Sport Touring) contributes to both interior roominess and cargo storage capacity. Like the Civic Sedan and Coupe, flat under-covers and extensive aerodynamic detailing help to minimize drag and maximize fuel efficiency.

2017 Civic Hatchback vs. 2016 Civic Sedan Exterior Dimensions

(See the Specifications and Features document for all data.)

Key Body Specifications

(See the Specifications and Features document for all data.)

High-Strength Steel
Multiple steel grades are used in the Civic Hatchback’s body construction to help achieve excellent overall vehicle dynamics, optimize safety performance, and lower noise, vibration and harshness (NVH). Materials range from five different grades of steel, including premium hot-stamp steel and ultra-high-strength steel used in the unibody, to aluminum for the front bumper beam. All were chosen to achieve the best combination of strength, rigidity, dynamic performance and light weight. In total, 61 percent of the Civic Hatchback’s body structure is composed of high-strength steel.

Body Materials

Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™)
As an integral part of the 2017 Civic Hatchback structure, Honda’s proprietary Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body-structure enhances occupant protection and crash compatibility in frontal collisions. ACE utilizes a network of connected structural elements to distribute crash energy more evenly throughout the front of the vehicle, thus reducing the forces transferred to the passenger compartment. ACE channels frontal crash energy to both upper and lower structural elements, including the floor frame rails, side sills and A-pillars.

Crash Stroke
The ACE™ structure used on the Civic Hatchback features a crash stroke technology, developed by Honda engineers in the company’s advanced safety research laboratory in Raymond. Ohio. With the crash stroke structure, in a frontal collision the lower section of the front vehicle frame hinges to direct the engine down and rearward, helping direct crash energy into the vehicle’s floor while also minimizing cabin intrusion. This crucial piece of safety engineering effectively adds 80 mm (3.2 in) of additional energy-absorbing “crash stroke to the front of the vehicle.

Besides helping the Civic Hatchback aim for the highest ratings in the rigorous federal crash tests, the crash stroke structure enabled designers to develop the body design to feature a short front overhang and short hood-line for a unique and exciting appearance, excellent outward visibility and improved handling.

Body Rigidity
The benefits of the Civic Hatchback’s unibody stiffness are numerous, including the ability to tune the suspension for superior ride and handling performance. The rigid body structure also directly results in a quieter and more comfortable ride experience for the passengers, with less NVH felt over a wide range of driving conditions. Some key advancements in body structure include the following (see the Safety Driver Assistance section for more information):

Under the Hood

• A lower stiffener, located behind the engine on the front bulkhead, improves ride comfort.

In the Unibody

• Certain connection areas — where the A-pillars meet the floor sills, and the B-pillars meet both the floor sills and roof rails – have been reinforced to improve handling performance. This has also contributed to reduced idle vibration and booming.
• Large body panels are shaped using computer aided engineering (CAE) to reduce booming.
• Gussets positioned inside the rear quarter areas of the unibody reduce road noise.
• An internal rear structural ring stiffens the unibody for improved handling.
• Short-pitch welding places spot welds 20 mm (0.8 in) apart in critical areas of the unibody, compared to 40 mm to 45 mm (1.6 in to 1.8 in) traditional spacing, increasing stiffness and durability.

Underneath the Vehicle

• The floor panel is made of 590-MPa high-strength steel to provide a lighter yet stronger overall structure.
• Floor cross-members positioned under the driver and front passenger’s seating area improve ride comfort.
• A lateral cross-member and damper structure, located between the rear wheels, improves handling.
• A cross-car brace, located at the front of the vehicle, improves handling.

Aerodynamics
The 2017 Civic Hatchback was designed to have class-leading aerodynamic performance, which helps improve both fuel efficiency and interior quietness. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) was used to measure the car’s efficiency during the design phase, followed by scale-model wind tunnel testing and finally by full-scale wind-tunnel testing. Detailed management of underbody and engine-room airflow, along with specific wheel designs, net further reductions in drag.

Specially shaped components at the front of the vehicle guide airflow through the radiator and into the engine’s cold-air intake, while channeling the remaining airflow over, around and under the vehicle. Along with the narrow A-pillars and flush-mounted glass, these contribute to the Civic Hatchback’s efficient passage through the air.

Behind the B-pillars, the body design is completely unique to the Civic Hatchback. Its higher rear roofline and shorter rear overhang lend an aggressive, sporty appearance while simultaneously increasing its versatility for carrying sports equipment or other cargo. A spoiler located at the rear edge of the roofline, above the rear window, helps airflow separate more cleanly, further improving aero efficiency.  

Like the Civic Sedan and Coupe, the Civic Hatchback features the flattest underbody of any gasoline-powered Honda production vehicle. A molded under-panel is positioned directly beneath the front fascia, smoothly starting the rearward flow of air underneath the vehicle. An aluminum under-tray is positioned underneath the engine and transmission and features a cooling duct that allows ambient airflow to the hydraulic engine mount. Dual side under-panels further smooth airflow.

Lateral strakes located in front of the wheels and tires (8.5 inches wide in front for all trims, and 3.5 inches wide in the rear for EX and above trims) help deflect airflow around the tires for additional aerodynamic efficiency gains. Even the stamped steel exhaust silencers are aerodynamically shaped, eliminating the need for an under-cover at the rear of the vehicle. This reduces parts count, complexity and weight while helping to ensure optimal aerodynamic efficiency.

Softzone Technology
Like the Civic Sedan and Coupe, the new Civic Hatchback employs selectively applied “soft zone technology. In the Hatchback, separate parts are combined to create specially tempered areas, or soft zones, within an high-strength steel part to provide appropriate energy pathways necessary to absorb crash forces.

Side crash area
Located where the B-pillar joins the lower sill, a new built-in soft zone is designed to bend during a side collision, channeling crash forces away from the passenger compartment and into the B-pillar and lower sill. The soft zone’s rated material strength is 780 MPa high-strength steel, compared to the much stronger 1500 MPa hot-stamp steel of the overall B-pillar and lower sill.

Rear crash area
As in the Civic Sedan, the rearward ends of the two rear unibody frame rails of the Hatchback each contain a pair of soft zones designed to fold in a controlled manner in the event of a rear impact, helping to attenuate crash energy. Special attention was paid to the location and design of body stiffeners in order to preserve safety performance despite a 5.9-inch shorter overhang compared to the sedan. 

T-Direction Welding
Applied to the forward edge of the front door hinge pillars, just behind the front wheel openings, a new “T-direction welding technique is anticipated to help the 2017 Civic Hatchback earn top ratings in the rigorous Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) narrow offset frontal collision test, based on Honda internal testing. Instead of using lateral overlapping welded joints on the hinge pillars, which would be negatively affected by the wheel moving rearward and striking the pillar in an offset frontal collision, the hinge pillars instead use a longitudinal welded seam designed to withstand the sheer forces generated in such a collision.

Class-leading Forward Visibility
The A-pillar section on the 2017 Civic Hatchback is 18 mm (0.7 in.) narrower than on the previous-generation Civic, reducing the obstructed area by 11.6 percent, resulting in a 7.9 degree improvement in forward visibility. As a result, the new Hatchback offers a class-leading 84.3 degrees of forward visibility (the angle made by drawing lines from the driver’s eye point to the outboard edges of the A pillars). Safety performance is maintained through the pillars’ shape, the precise design of load pathways during a frontal collision or rollover and the use of 1500 MPa hot-stamped ultra-high-strength steel.

Walk Away Door Lock
Included on EX and above trims, the new Walk Away Door Lock feature automatically locks as follows: (1) when the driver leaves the vehicle; (2) when the key holder’s distance from the vehicle exceeds 6.5 feet for two seconds; and (3) when no other key is detected inside the vehicle. An audible buzzer sounds and the hazard lights flash to confirm that the vehicle has locked. The Walk Away Door Lock feature is programmable, and may be turned on or off as the driver prefers.

Power Side Mirrors
The Civic Hatchback’s body-colored power side mirrors are aerodynamically optimized to reduce wind noise and minimize turbulence. EX and above trims add heated side mirrors and the Sport Touring trim further adds integrated LED turn indicators. The side mirrors can be manually folded for greater convenience in tight parking situations.

Honda LaneWatch™
The Civic Hatchback EX and above trims include Honda’s LaneWatch™ display that uses a camera located at the bottom the passenger-side exterior mirror to display a wide-angle view of the passenger side roadway on the Display Audio screen. The image appears when the right turn signal is activated, or when a button on the end of the turn signal stalk is pressed. (See the Safety Driver Assistance section for more information.)

Noise, Vibration and Harshness (NVH) Countermeasures
Extensive noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) countermeasures position the Civic Hatchback at the top of its competitive set. Strategically placed body sealants, acoustic separators inside the A-, B- and C-pillars, and a sound-insulating acoustic windshield are key.

Engine Compartment Isolation
Measures to isolate sound and heat emanating from within the engine compartment include dedicated front, side and rear hood seals, strategically placed heat baffles, a hood insulator panel, an engine under-cover, and dedicated insulation within the instrument panel. Inside the vehicle, a one-piece molded insulated carpet liner adds further to exceptional heat isolation and noise reduction for the Civic Hatchback.

Acoustic Windshield
As in the 2016 Civic Sedan, laminated acoustic glass is used for the Civic Hatchback’s windshield to help reduce noise entering the cabin. Tuned specifically to attenuate wind-noise frequencies, the windshield glass uses an outer layer of 2.0 mm safety glass, a 0.7 mm thick middle layer of acoustic polyvinyl butyl (PVB), and a 1.8 mm safety-glass inner layer for a total thickness of 4.5 mm. This helps the Civic Hatchback place at the top of its class in wind-noise performance. The windshield also incorporates UV light-absorbing technology. In addition, the Civic Hatchback has 4.0 mm tempered front door glass and 3.5 mm tempered rear door glass. The one-touch power moonroof on the EX. EX-L Navi and Sport Touring trim uses 3.5 mm tinted and tempered glass.

Sound-absorbing Undercovers
Underneath the Civic Hatchback, along both sides of the passenger cabin, are absorptive undercovers (molded plastic on the LX and Sport, and fiber on the EX and above trims) that help mitigate road and wind noise. A special baffle plate located beneath the center of the floor pan, and felt fender inner liners on EX and above trims, further attenuate wind and road noise.

Body Sealing
The 2017 Civic Hatchback has a high level of body sealing to dramatically reduce the levels of noise inside the vehicle. This includes weld seals and other sealers to reduce vibration and the transmission of noise.

Additional measures include:

• Pillar separators seal the hollow A-, B- and C-pillars to reduce the transmission of noise from the floor area into the passenger cabin.
• Triple door sealing utilizes 360-degree molded door seals to reduce wind noise and improve isolation.
• Door gap seals at the rear door edges join triple-sealed door openings and lower door-edge seals in keeping wind noise from entering the cabin.
• Eight air-leak reduction moldings and clips at key locations where the side windows slide into the side doors help reduce the possibility of audible air leaks occurring in these locations.
• Along with internal bracing, acoustic hole seals fill open areas inside the door structures, significantly reducing the amount of wind and road noise and vibration that can reach the cabin. The same Thinsulate™ material that is used in the doors is also used to reduce sound transmission through the roof and the body A- pillars.

Auto On/Off Headlights
All Civic Hatchback models feature auto-on/off headlights for greater convenience. The headlights are multi-reflector/projector-beam units on all Civic Hatchback models except the Sport Touring, which has auto-on/off LED headlights described below.

LED Lighting
Like other Civic models, all Civic Hatchback trims incorporate a wide range of light-emitting diode (LED) exterior lighting features, including standard LED daytime running lights (DRL), LED one-touch turn signals, and LED taillights, brake lights, license-plate light and center high-mounted stop light.

Sport Touring Lighting
The Civic Hatchback’s Sport Touring trim includes LED low- and high-beam headlights. Arranged in a low, sleek and compact in-line display, the LED high beams provide a longer and wider range of visibility during nighttime driving. The Sport Touring trim also includes LED turn signals integrated into the side mirror housings.

The LED lighting has several advantages beside improved visibility. The LEDs are both mercury free and lead free, benefiting the environment. They require less power to operate than traditional incandescent lighting, which helps fuel efficiency. The versatility of the LED arrays also contributes to the Civic Hatchback’s sporty design. And finally, LED lights have a longer life and are maintenance free.

The Sport Touring trim also includes an auto high beam (HSS) function, a first for the Civic model. (See the Safety Driver Assistance section for more information.)

Windshield Wipers
The Civic Hatchback LX and Sport have 2-speed intermittent windshield wipers, while the Hatchback EX and above trims have variable intermittent windshield wipers. The Sport Touring trim has rain-sensing wipers. A new wiper motor assembly saves 3.08 pounds compared to the previous generation.

Smart Wipers
Laws in some states require drivers to turn on the headlights when the wipers are operating in the rain. In all trims, the new Civic Hatchback helps its driver comply with these laws by automatically illuminating the headlights when the wipers are activated in rainy conditions (with headlight switch in Auto).

Details include:

• A light sensor detects the ambient brightness and determines when to turn the headlights on or off, while also increasing the illumination of the wiper switch and instrumentation for good visibility.
• If rain is intermittent, the lights stay on for a predetermined interval before automatically turning off again.
• Operation is shown via an indicator on the instrument panel.
• The sensitivity can be controlled by a setting in the MID.

Rain Sensing Wipers
The Sport Touring trim includes rain-sensing wipers that automatically activate if water is detected on the windshield.

Smart Entry and Push Button Start/Stop
The Civic Hatchback EX and above trims include the upscale convenience of Smart Entry and Push Button Start/Stop. The system simplifies approaching, entering and operating the vehicle. To gain entry, the driver/passenger simply pulls either of front door handles while the remote in his or her possession. (See the Interior section for more information.)

Remote Engine Start
Remote engine start, on EX and above trims, enables the driver to start their vehicle remotely, thereby activating the climate control system with a target temperature of 72 degrees. The system will automatically operate the heater, front and rear defrosters, front heated seats (if equipped), heated side mirror, and air conditioning as needed.

The remote engine start feature is built into the key fob. To start the engine remotely, the owner presses the LOCK button and then holds the ENGINE button for a second. The vehicle’s hazard lights will flash, indicating that the signal has been received. When the engine is started remotely, the wipers, lighting and audio systems remain off, and the security system remains set. The engine will run for up to 10 minutes after remote starting and can be extended by another 10 minutes using the same procedure.

Tailgate
The Civic Hatchback’s manual tailgate features twin gas-charged hydraulic struts that ease opening and pull-down handle located on the left and right sides. The tailgate can be unlocked by pressing the unlock button on the keyless fob twice (first for driver’s door only, second for all other doors and the tailgate), or the dedicated tailgate button on the fob once. It can also be opened using the button inside the driver’s door. The rear aperture of the Hatchback body is specially reinforced to strengthen the tailgate opening, which is the largest opening on the vehicle body. This increased rigidity at this critical location improves ride and handling, as well as interior quietness. The tailgate automatically locks whenever the Civic Hatchback is locked.

Large Cargo Capacity
The 2017 Civic Hatchback has a wide and deep cargo area offering 25.7 cu. ft. (22.6 cu. ft. for Sport and Sport Touring trims) of storage volume with the second-row seats up, and up to 46.2 cu. ft.* of storage volume with the seats folded. This positions the vehicle at the top of its competitive set in total cargo volume. The storage area measures 31 inches tall, ranges from 40.5 inches at the wheel wells to 50 inches in width, and extends to 70 inches – nearly six feet – in length with the second-row seats folded. The floor and sides are carpeted to help protect cargo during transit, and also to help reduce road noise entering the passenger cabin. A removable floor panel hides the temporary spare tire, jack and wrench, and a cargo-area light provides illumination when the tailgate is open. (See the Interior section for more information.)

Side-Mounted Tonneau Cover
In a departure from the retractable cargo covers of most SUVs, crossovers and wagons, the retractable tonneau of the Civic Hatchback extends from side to side instead of front to rear. The primary benefit of this design is that when the second-row seats are folded down, the Civic Hatchback’s tonneau housing does not intrude on the storage area as does a traditional retractable cargo cover’s housing.

The user can change the tonneau operation from left to right or right to left, simply by removing the tonneau cover assembly and reinstalling it on the opposite side of the cargo area. The changeover takes just a few seconds, and no tools are required.

Body Exterior Features

(See the Specifications and Features document for all data.) 

Exterior Colors
The 2017 Civic Hatchback is available in seven exterior colors including three metallic colors, three pearl colors, and one solid color. In keeping with the Civic Hatchback’s strong Euro character, the color palette is bold and revealing, complementing the body’s performance-themed curves and angles. In particular, new to Honda and exclusive to the Civic Hatchback is Sonic Gray Pearl, a sports-oriented color that reflects the vehicle’s dynamic image and personality. The complete lineup of exterior and matching interior colors is shown below:

(See the Interior section for more information.)

^{*Based on SAE J1100 cargo volume measurement standard plus volume between front and rear seats with front seats moved forward.}