Price hike for Honda Civic hatch
Honda announces pricing for its Civic hatch, but with prices up will the new model improve slow sales?Honda Australia has today announced pricing for its new Civic hatch range. Due to go on sale in May, the five-door model will retail from $22,390 (plus ORCs) – up to $2500 more than the model it replaces.
Selling alongside the recently-arrived Civic sedan line-up, the hatch will boast similar styling and specifications. Like its four-door sibling the Civic hatch will be offered in five trim grades: VTi, VTi-S, VTi-L, RS and VTi-LX.
The Thai-built Civic hatch range is powered by two four-cylinder petrol engines, the carry-over 1.8-litre atmo and an all-new 1.5-litre turbo. The engines make 104kW/174Nm and 127kW/220Nm respectively.
Engine choice is linked to model grade with the VTi and VTi-S only available with the 1.8. All Civic hatches feature Honda’s continuously variable transmission (CVT). This in part explained the price changes.
Honda Australia Director, Stephen Collins, says the brand is anticipating a strong sales performance from the new hatch.
“The arrival of the hatch body-style will ensure customers know the Honda Civic is well and truly back in the small car game,” Collins said.
“Our target is to win the hearts and minds of private buyers with the all-new Honda Civic, and the sedan has certainly done that.”
Honda Australia told motoring the private buyer share of Civic sales is in excess of 20 per cent.
Sales of the Civic have been less than impressive since the tenth-generation Civic sedan debuted Down Under in May last year (2016). The combination of ninth-generation hatch and new sedan saw Civic finish the year with 7028 sales or 3.4 per cent of its segment (Small Car under $40K). The figure represents barely 20 per cent of the segment leaders Hyundai i30 (37,772), Mazda 3 (36,107) and Toyota Corolla (40,330).
Three months into 2017, Honda’s small-car fortunes do not appear to be improving significantly. To the end of February, the Civic sold just 1703 examples against 6616 Mazda 3s and 6335 Toyota Corollas. The Hyundai i30, which is now on run-out, sold 4021 units in the same period.
Collins stated: “We knew when we launched the Honda Civic sedan that our customers were waiting for a complete rejuvenation of the Civic brand, and the early response from prospective Honda Civic hatch customers has been just as positive [as it was to the sedan].”
The new Civic hatch shares frontal styling and a wheelbase with the sedan, but is unique from the B-pillars back. Honda says the hatch’s roofline is taller than the sedan’s and the rear overhang shorter, adding to what it calls “Euro-style and sportiness”.
All Civic hatch grades feature a body-coloured spoiler across the top of the hatch and a black lower diffuser. The front grille is accented with a piano black finish, while the “sporty interior environment” boasts a dark roof lining and pillar trims on contrast to the sedan’s lighter hue.
Civic RS models add a centrally-mounted twin-outlet exhaust outlet, heavier aerodynamic elements and a dark chrome treatment for the exterior door handles.
The flagship of the Civic hatch range will be the turbocharged manual 2.0-litre Civic Type R that is due to arrive later this year.
2017 Honda Civic hatch pricing (excludes on-road costs, compared to ninth gen):
>> Civic VTi — $22,390 (new model)
>> Civic VTi-S — $24,490 (+$2340)
>> Civic VTi-L — $27,790 (+$800)
>> Civic RS — $32,290 (new model)
>> Civic VTi-LX — $33,590 (+$2500, replaces Civic VTi-LN)
2017 Honda Civic sedan pricing (excludes on-road costs):
>> Civic VTi — $22,390
>> Civic VTi-S — $24,490
>> Civic VTi-L — $27,790
>> Civic RS — $31,790
>> Civic VTi-LX — $33,590
Note: no manual transmission versions are available current Civic range
Updated: March 22
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