- Styling tweaks front and rear, plus new wheel designs
- 6-speed stick now available on Sport Touring model
- EX, Sport, and Sport Touring add more features
- All models get more sound deadening
- On sale now
- Prices start at $22,580 (including $930 destination)
The Honda Civic is the most popular passenger car in the brand’s lineup, and the hatchback variant has been treated to a round of updates for 2020. The great news for enthusiasts is the wider availability of the 6-speed manual transmission—bucking an industry trend. There are additions to the standard-equipment list for some models, and all Civic hatchbacks benefit from additional sound deadening. Prices of most models inch up by a few hundred dollars.
Giving it more stick
Taking the best news first, the Civic’s delightful 6-speed manual gearbox, which used to be offered only on the relatively bare-bones Sport trim level, can now also be had on the top-spec Sport Touring version. That means Civic hatchback buyers now can combine the joys of stick-shift driving with the luxury of leather and heated seats. In both the Sport and the Sport Touring, shifting for yourself saves $800 and also nets you a 2-mpg better highway fuel economy rating.
A continuously variable automatic remains available for those models and is standard elsewhere in the lineup which includes LX, EX and EX-L in addition to Sport and Sport Touring. Regardless of transmission, all Civic hatchbacks are powered by a turbocharged 1.5-liter four; that engine makes 174 horsepower in the LX, EX, and EX-L, and 180 horses in the Sport and Sport Touring, thanks to their freer-flowing exhaust.
More niceties
The Sport adds standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and its infotainment system doubles its speaker count to eight. Keyless entry and pushbutton ignition are now included as well, along with remote start (with the CVT only). There’s also new seat upholstery and a new interior trim design. The EX upgrades to a power driver’s seat, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and a leather-wrapped shift knob. The EX-L version suffers the lineup’s only major downgrade, losing its navigation system, which is now exclusive to the Sport Touring. The Sport Touring adds Homelink integration, and its standard LED headlights have an improved beam pattern.
RELATED: Changes to the 2020 Honda Civic
The 2020 Civic hatchback presents a slightly different face to the world, with a revised grille and lower fascia and darker headlamps. The rear bumper design has also been tweaked. New wheel designs, in black or dark gray, are found on all models. The 2020 Civic hatchback also receives improved sound insulation in the floor, fenders, and cargo area.
What’s the price of the 2020 Honda Civic hatchback?
The price of the Civic LX hatchback inches up by $200, to $22,580 (all figures are with $930 destination). The Sport manual is now $23,680 while the Sport automatic is $24,480, both representing an increase of $500 over 2019. The Civic EX hatchback now rings in at $25,080, up by $400, while the EX-L drops to $26,280, a decrease of $900. With its new manual gearbox, the Sport Touring is now more affordable, at $28,980; the automatic version is $29,780, which is $100 more than before.
All Civic hatchbacks come standard with forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, and adaptive cruise control, which were added to the equipment list last year. The 2020 Honda Civic hatchback is on sale now.
RELATED: See why we think the Honda Civic is one of the 10 Coolest Cars Under $25,000
