Here to threaten the Mazda 3, all-new 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback makes world debut

This is the all-new 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback, unveiled to the public for the first time just moments ago via an online presentation. Pretty?

As you would deduce from its rather clear-cut name, this is the stubby stablemate of the 2022 Honda Civic (FE) sedan.

Exterior - Casts its own shadow

Much of the drama happens at the back, and sloping boot aside, this 11th-gen Civic Hatchback's rear-end is fittingly simple, with a clean rear bumper and tail lights linked by a single strip running low across the bootlid.

It's a bit of a departure from the previous generation. Last time, the FK-series Civic Hatchback was pretty much a squished version of the Civic FC's (sedan) rear, but evidently this time the Hatchback casts its own shadow.

Also read: 11th-gen, all-new 2022 Honda Civic (FE-series) debuts - looks like a downgrade?

Different variants will see subtle changes too, like varying bumpers and details, as well as a range of wheel choices from 16- to 18-inches.

American customers get a choice of 8 colours with two of them being new - Boost Blue Pearl and Smoky Mauve Pearl. The colour selection differs in Japan.

And don't forget too that this model also foreshadows the incumbent Civic Type R. Our guess on how that looks is as good as yours, but we gave it a shot anyway as above.

Also read: Rendered: 2022 Honda Civic Type R - The king of front-wheel drive?

Dimensions - Airy, shorter overhang

Giving this Civic Hatchback a sleeker look are its sharper A-pillars. They've been moved rearward by 50 mm, which also nets an 87-degree front visibility, up from the previous car's 84 degrees. The rear track has also been widened by 12.7 mm.

Meanwhile, there's a new lightweight composite hatch and repositioned hinge mechanism, allowing a roof height reduction of 50-mm in the hinge area.

The Civic Hatchback's rear overhang and overall length is 12.4 cm shorter than the Civic sedan. Here's the Civic Hatchback's dimensions in full and how it compares to its predecessor:

Interior - Now-familiar look

The 'generous cargo space' has been made more easily accessible thanks to a 40 mm wider lower hatch opening and low lift-over height, and there's standard 60:40 split-folding rear seats too. Boot space is 452 litres.

Other than that, what's been said about the sedan's interior can be said here as well. The front half of the Civic Hatchback's cabin is pretty much a carbon copy of the sedan, single-piece air-cond vents and all.

Also read: All-new 2022 Honda Civic begins USA sales; Corolla rival starts from RM 90k

Naturally some of the goodies carry over, including the electric parking brake (EPB), digital instrument cluster, as well as a large touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity.

Round the back, legroom has been extended by around 3.6 cm while headroom remains the same from the outgoing car.

Throughout the model, reductions in noise, vibration and harshness are further augmented with the use of structural adhesives, spray-in foam in the pillars, and additional sound deadening in the firewall and under the floor.

Performance - The manual lives on

Huzzah! Honda hasn't killed off the stick-shift dreams yet as a six-speed manual is offered alongside a CVT. 

Drivetrain remains traditionally front-wheel drive, and the engines mirror those in the sedan, at least for the United States:

Also read: Here's why the manual transmission still matters

The Japanese-spec car meanwhile comes with a 1.5-litre VTEC turbo four-cylinder mill with 182 PS and 240 Nm.

Meanwhile, the Civic Hatchback's new body structure shows a 19 percent improvement in torsional rigidity over the preceding model. The stiffer structure supports improvements in ride, handling and refinement.

Honda also said that a full-hybrid Civic e:HEV and performance Civic Type R will follow in 2022.

Also read: All-new 2022 Honda Civic Type R to launch next year, alongside hybrid Civic e:HEV

Safety - Honda Sensing, tougher bodyshell

Benefits from the improved Honda Advanced Compability Engineering (ACE) body structure and redesigned front airbags carry over to the Civic Hatchback.

In addition, the sharper Honda Sensing suite (now with Traffic Jam Assist and Low Speed Braking Control) makes an appearance here too.

Also read: From foggy roads to congested cities, Honda Civic’s Sensing is one of the best

Honda Civic Hatchback prices and availability

Manufactured at Honda's Greensburg, Indiana plant for the first time in the nameplate's history, the Civic Hatchback will be going on sale in certain markets later this year.

Also read: Surprise! All-new 2022 Honda Civic FE could debut in Malaysia in 2021

Although some of our ASEAN neighbours will see it on their roads, this isn't a model that will come to Malaysia. Recall that the outgoing 10th-gen Civic Hatchback, the FK, was sold in both Indonesia and Thailand but not in Malaysia.

Also read: Here’s why you can’t buy a Honda Civic Hatchback in Malaysia

For us, we have the regular 11th-gen Civic sedan to look forward to, and we might also see the all-new 2021 Honda HR-V.

Also read: 

Start saving up: Your guide to the all-new 2022 Honda Civic before its Malaysian launch!

Worth trading in your X50? Guide to the all-new 2021 Honda HR-V, mulled for Malaysia