The Honda Civic is so popular that the brand diversified it across numerous body styles—most notable, the sedan and the hatchback. However, with the different types of Civics available, if you're shopping for a used Honda Civic for sale near Ruston as a replacement for your current vehicle or as a secondary vehicle, how do you know which type to go with? Why would you go with a sedan over a hatchback, or vice versa? Why is one potentially better than the other for commuting or recreational activities?
Let's outline how one or the other can benefit your daily driving, as well as features and functions that might appeal to you based on convenience and amenities. Hopefully, you'll soon have an idea of which Civic body type best represents your driving preferences and give you a good idea of which to shop for between the Civic Sedan and the Civic Hatchback.
Differences in Design
The most obvious difference between these two models is in the exterior design. Both versions of the Civic have been around since the 1970s, so it's not like one precedes the other or is the "real" version of the Civic. Both have been offered for some time in different regions with their respective designs. The Civic Sedan originally had a four-door notchback design with a trunk, seating up to five people across two rows. Over time, the newer generations, the Civic Sedan adopted a slickback design with a notched trunk for access to the cargo area.
The Civic Hatchback originally started as a three-door subcompact but eventually grew and evolved into a five-door hatchback that seats five people across its two rows. In this way, both the Civic Sedan and Civic Hatchback are very similar. But the difference between the two when it comes to their exterior design is that the Civic Hatchback has a hatchback lift to access the cargo area, making it easier to store and retrieve items. This feature also impacts how much cargo capacity you have with the Civic Hatchback.
Differences in Cargo
As stated, the notchback trunk and the hatchback lift change the dimensions of the cargo capacity for both iterations of the Civic. With the Civic Sedan, the notchback design affords you up to 14.8 cu.ft. of space in the trunk. It's a good amount of space if you're a solo driver and need a decent-sized trunk for small amounts of sports equipment or groceries; the Civic Sedan has just enough space to provide you with what you need to carry your personal belongings around easily.
The Civic Hatchback, however, offers up to 24.5 cu.ft. of cargo volume, thanks once again to the larger cargo area made available via the hatch lift. If you have a small family and need extra space, the Civic Hatchback is perfect in that regard, as it affords you the additional carrying capacity. So, while both are roomy in their own right, if aesthetics aren't much of a factor as much as cargo capacity is, you'll prefer the Civic Hatchback, which is more versatile for Ruston shoppers who value cargo volume.
Differences in Fuel Economy
You might think that the Civic Hatchback is the easy option for shoppers looking for a good compact, thanks to its cargo space and lifting hatch, but there is more to shopping for a compact than just cargo capacity. There is also a measure of performance to consider, and the Civic Sedan and Civic Hatchback have different fuel economy ratings despite sharing the same powertrain—and the Civic Sedan has a slight advantage.
Both the Civic Sedan and Civic Hatchback feature the same powertrain lineup: a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder and a 1.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder. While both are configured in front-wheel drive, with the 2.0-liter 4-cylinder, the Civic Hatchback's fuel economy tops out at an EPA-estimated 30 MPG in the city and 38 MPG on the highway with an automatic transmission, and 26 MPG in the city and 36 MPG on the highway with a manual transmission. The 1.5-liter 4-cylinder for the hatchback offers 31 MPG in the city and 39 MPG on the highway with an automatic, and 28 MPG in the city and 37 MPG on the highway with a manual.
By comparison, the Civic Sedan with the 2.0-liter 4-cylinder and automatic transmission provides an EPA-estimated 31 MPG in the city and 40 MPG on the highway; with the 1.5-liter 4-cylinder, it gets 33 MPG in the city and 42 MPG on the highway. You get additional range out of the Civic Sedan, and by a considerable margin if you compare it to the fuel economy of the manual transmission version of the Civic Hatchback. So if fuel economy is important to you, especially if you commute regularly, then the Civic Sedan will be a huge boon for you at the gas pump.
Differences in Color Options
Colors can be a big selling point for vehicles where personalization and style are defining factors. Some people might not care about the color, but for those of you who do, there are slight differences between what the Civic Sedan and Civic Hatchback have to offer in terms of exterior color options. For the newer model year options, the Civic Sedan has seven color options, while the Civic Hatchback has eight.
With the Civic Hatchback, you have Lunar Silver Metallic, Boost Blue Pearl, Crystal Black Pearl, Meteorite Gray Metallic, Platinum White Pearl, Rallye Red, Smokey Mauve Pearl, and Sonic Gray Pearl. The Civic Sedan has similar colors, but it features Aegean Blue Metallic instead of Boost Blue Pearl, and it does not have access to Smokey Mauve Pearl. So, if color options are important to you, consider the differences between the two Civic models here.
Differences in Available Variants
When it comes to trim options, the current generation of Civics is quite similar, save for the performance variants. The Civic Sedan is available with the special Si model, while the Civic Hatchback is available with the special Type-R model. These high-performance variants are not common; unless you're specifically looking for a Civic with exceptional output and handling, neither variant is likely going to be on your shopping radar. However, if you are interested in a high-performance version of the Civic, there is one for both the sedan and the hatchback.
Which Honda Civic Style Is Right for You?
Other than the differences mentioned here, both the Civic Sedan and Civic Hatchback share more in common than not. They have the same interior layout and material options, the same comfort and convenience amenities, as well as the same infotainment suite and safety systems. The big question is, given these differences, which one do you think appeals most to you for your daily travels?
If you're shopping for a used Civic to save money and get the most out of your drives but are still having trouble figuring out which of these models best appeals to you, don't hesitate to reach out to us here at Ryan Honda. We can help provide you with key insights into the Honda Civic, its body styles and trims, and which configuration would work best for your budget and driving preferences.
