2017 Honda Civic Hatchback Concepts, Release Date and Specs

Aug 21, 2016 03:50 PM EDT

It is confirmed. The tenth-generation of Civic Hatchback is coming to North America this fall. Just last week, a production model was caught being loaded onto a ship. Now, it is finally coming to U.S. shores to join the latest Civic coupe and sedan.

In a press release, General Manager for American Honda Motor Co. Jeff Conrad said the 2017 Honda Civic Hatchback will be added to the new and improved Civic lineup. The Honda official also described the car as "sporty, stylish and versatile" Civic Hatchback.

Meanwhile, take note that the expected fall 2016 release is only for continental U.S. Other markets in North America like Canada will see the 2017 hatchback next year.The Civic hatchback is set to return on Canadian roads after a 10-year hiatus.

Interestingly, Honda said the forthcoming Civic Hatchback will be the basis for the next Civic Type-R, which will be released in the U.S. for the first time. It is reported that this hot hatchback will have 340 horsepower.

As for the interior features, the next Civic Hatchback is expected to have a bigger central touchscreen to replace the confusing split-screen arrangement of the previous model. Honda decided to change the design after several car owners complained about the cluttered touchscreen layout.

Additionally, the 2017 Civic Hatchback will offer 36 inches of rear seat legroom with a total of 122 cubic feet of interior space. Honda's active safety features will be available on the car, including forward collision warning, lane keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control and more. It will also support both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The hatchback will be available in LX, Sport, EX, EX-L, and Sport touring trims. All of these models come with 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. The hatchback will also offer six-speed manual or CVT automatic transmissions, becoming the first Civic model to have the turbo engine with a manual transmission.

For the LX, EX, and EX-L models, they will have the same engine output at 174 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque, as per report from Auto Blog.

On the other hand, the top-of-the-line Sport Touring model will be powered with 180 horsepower and 162 lb-ft. of torque. It will also have other premium features like heated rear seats, LED headlights and Honda Sensing suite.

As we mentioned earlier, 2017 Honda Civic Hatchback will be become available on October in North America. We estimate the base trim model would cost around $21.500.