For Buyers: I Recommend That You To Test Drive the 2023 Honda Civic Hatchback
The Honda Civic hatchback checks almost all of the boxes for the teen who wants their first car, the college student who needs to fill their backseats in a pinch, the fresh graduate who may need to transport a 55 inch tv, the couple that is expecting their second child, the commuter that travels 50 miles a day, and the older couple that wants something inoffensive.
What is a hatchback? A hatchback is sometimes described as a five door car, where the fifth door is designated as the trunk; the trunk has an upward opening mechanism similar to that of a traditional SUV. This mechanism provides greater access compared to traditional sedans; with the rear seats folded down you gain similar utility levels to that of a SUV. With a hatchback, the car keep the streamline look of a sedan while having the storage flexibilities of a SUV.
The Honda Civic Hatchback is about 178 inches long, has a cargo capacity of 24.5/46.2 cubic feet (with rear seats up /down), combined mpg of 35 mpg (CVT), standard Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and 7-in infotainment system.
The drawbacks: the base entry Civic has a 2.0 liter engine that produces 158 horsepower, and is mated to a CVT or a 6-speed manual. The base trim can achieve a 0-60 miles per hour of 8.8 seconds; and it comes with cloth seats, and manual seat adjustments. The EX-L trim upgrades to leather-trimmed seats, and to an 180 horsepower turbocharged engine that can achieve a 0-60 miles per hour of 7.5 seconds. This higher trim begins at $28,150 , with a $2,300 delta from the base trim.
The competitors that I would take a look at are: 1. The 2023 Toyota Corolla Hybrid Sedan: this car has a combined mpg of 52, and starting price of $22,800. The cons are 0-60 mph in 9.8 seconds, and a trunk 13.1 cubic feet. I would recommend this for a dedicated commuter vehicle.
2. The 2023 Toyota Prius: this car has a starting price of $27,450, combined mpg of 57mpg, and cargo space of 20/38 (seats down/up). This model would had been the car that I would recommend over the Honda Civic Hatchback, had it not been its first model year.
Ever since the beginning of the pandemic, the car marketplace had to adapt through a series of challenges - from low demand to high demand, to parts shortages, and through rising interests rates. The car market still adapting to potential on going interest rates which ultimately affect the end consumer. The good news for consumers is that in a world where the average cost of a new car purchased in March 2023 is approximately $48,000, a new car buyer still has an option of buying a car like the Honda Civic Hatchback.