The Honda Civic has been a mainstay in the US market for decades. For 2019, the Civic Hatchback carries over without exterior visual updates. Like its cohorts, which include the Volkswagen Golf, Chevrolet Cruze Hatchback, Toyota Corolla Hatchback, Nissan Versa Note, and Subaru Impreza Hatchback, the Civic Hatchback trades some length for vertical space and features the additional versatility of a rear door. The Hatchback offers one engine choice, a turbocharged 1.5-liter inline 4-cylinder engine, cranking out 174 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque. The Sport and Sport Touring grades kick horsepower up to an even 180. You can choose from either a 6-speed manual transmission or a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). Power goes entirely to the front wheels for all trims. As far as fuel economy, expect numbers as high as 31 mpg city, 40 highway, and 34 combined. Inside, the steering-wheel buttons are simpler to operate, the cupholders are larger, and the fan and volume adjustments now sport physical switches. One reason to get the Civic Hatchback over its sedan counterpart is the amount of cargo space. The hatchback features a maximum of 25.7 cubic feet behind the rear seats, besting the sedan’s 15.1, and that expands to 46.2 cu ft with the split-folding rear seat folded. The LX, Sport, EX, EX-L Navi, and Sport Touring trims return for 2019. The LX trim comes standard with 16-inch alloy wheels, a 5-inch color LCD infotainment system, LED daytime-running lights, automatic climate controls, projector-beam headlights, and USB connectivity. For a nicer 7.0-inch infotainment system, fog lights, a power moonroof, remote engine start, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, navigation, leather upholstery, and LED headlights, look to the EX trim. The EX-L Navi builds on the EX trim with leather-trimmed seats and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. The Sport and Sport Touring trims come with their own unique styling, including 18-inch alloy wheels, sport pedals, an underbody spoiler kit, and a center-mounted dual exhaust. Every Civic Hatchback includes the Honda Sensing Suite of safety features. This includes automatic emergency braking, road-departure mitigation, adaptive cruise control with low-speed follow, and lane-keeping assist. The EX and higher trims come with LaneWatch, which uses a camera mounted on the right-side mirror to improve visibility. The Civic Hatchback excelled in its most recent Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) tests, including perfect scores in all crash-test categories and a Superior rating for front crash prevention. It also earned a 5-star overall rating from the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The Honda Civic Hatchback takes the Civic family’s award-winning formula of good styling, competitive features, and dynamic handling, and shapes it into a vehicle that’s both practical and stylish.