The excellent 2020 Honda Civic Hatch Sport is the product of nearly a half-century of evolution.
You can feel it in the high-performance turbocharged engine, in the absorbing cockpit design and in the pinpoint handling that makes commuting in the Civic a pure pleasure.
Chattanooga drivers should give it a look, especially now that the Civic Hatch has been modernized with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay phone interfaces. The Civic Hatch exterior has been refreshed for 2020 with a new grille and front bumper design.
After weeks of driving mainly SUVs, motoring in the Civic hatch was a delight. Its light weight combined with 180-horsepower engine results in a nimble driving experience on Chattanooga roads and freeways. Our White Orchid Pearl tester was provided for a one-week test drive by the manufacturer.
Civics are available locally at Economy Honda on Lee Highway, which had eight Civic Hatches in digital inventory this week, including one in top-level sport touring trim like our tester.
FAST FACTS
* Model: 2020 Honda Civic Hatch Sport Touring * Exterior color: White Orchid Pearl * Interior color: Black * Engine: 1.5-liter, turbocharged, four-cylinder * Horsepower: 180 * Transmission: CVT * Fuel economy: 35 mpg highway, 29 mpg city * Local Dealer: Economy Honda Superstore, Lee Highway * Price (as tested): $29,780
WHAT IS IT
The Honda Civic Hatch Sport is a compact, five-passenger car. Civics are also available in sedan and coupe variants.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
Our tester has a sticker price of $29,780. Honda Civic hatches start at $23,050 with a CVT (automatic) transmission.
WHAT WE LIKE
The Civic Hatch Sport is available with a six-speed manual transmission. That's a plus for driving purists. We also like the potent turbocharged engine, comfortable leather seats, and excellent fuel economy (35 mpg highway).
ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT
The rear design is too busy for our tastes, with too many lines competing for attention. At the Touring trim level, the Civic also becomes a bit pricey at nearly $30K.
DRIVING EXPERIENCE
Just few years ago, a car as lavishly equipped at our tester would have been considered a luxury car. Despite its sporty character, the Civic hatch is highly civilized, quiet and comfortable. The hatch makes it just as handy as a small SUV.
The power-train is frisky with a CVT, and a true fun-mobile with the available manual transmission.
BOTTOM LINE
Buyers who want the utility of a small SUV should check out the 2020 Honda Civic Hatch Sport, which offers a vast cargo area in a fun-to-drive package.
Online: In the market for a new vehicle? To access hundreds of Mark Kennedy's Chattanooga Test Drive columns visit www.timesfreepress.com/testdrive.
Contact Mark Kennedy at mkennedy@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6645. Follow him on Twitter @TFPCOLUMNIST. Subscribe to his Facebook updates at www.facebook.com/mkennedycolumnist.
