If you're looking for a reliable and efficient used vehicle, the Civic is absolutely worth considering. With a low cost of maintenance, stellar fuel economy, and a great variety of infotainment and safety tech, the Civic has a lot to love. It has also been offered in multiple body styles over the years, including coupe and wagon models—but, far and away, the most popular options have been the sedan and hatchback versions.
As your local Honda dealer, we here at Hudson Honda want to help you find a used Honda Civic for sale near North Bergen that will perfectly suit your needs. That's why we've put together this guide to help you choose between the Civic sedan and hatchback. Both are great compact cars, but each one has a unique set of pros and cons, so we want to help you determine which one would better suit your needs.
Sedan vs Hatchback
Before we dive into comparisons, let's give a few basic definitions. A sedan is a car with four doors and a trunk in the back that's completely separated from the passenger space by the rear row of seating. A hatchback, on the other hand, has an open cargo area that's not sealed off from the rest of the cabin, akin to what you'd find in an SUV. However, compared to the average SUV, a hatchback typically has better fuel economy, a lower center of gravity, a lower price, and better ride quality, making it more appealing to driving enthusiasts, commuters, and more.
Cargo Volume
Because of its open cargo area, a Civic hatchback has more volume for storing groceries, camping equipment, and other goodies than a Civic sedan. Even with all of the seats upright and in use, the hatchback has more volume in the back because its rear cargo area is taller than the trunk of the sedan. Fold the rear seats down and you get an even more spacious cargo hold that can be used for taking bulky items, large luggage, and even big dogs around North Bergen and beyond. On top of that, the hatchback's liftgate has a wider opening than the sedan's trunk lid, so it's easier to get items inside in the first place.
Cargo Security
The Civic hatchback's open cargo space is convenient when you're bringing home a new piece of furniture, but it becomes a liability when you park your car and walk away for a while. Passersby can easily see what you have in your car through the windows, which might make you a target for thieves looking to break into vehicles and steal valuables. The sealed trunk of the Civic sedan keeps prying eyes at bay and is also physically harder to break into since the metal surrounding it is tougher than glass.
Safety Tech
Keeping cargo in a separate enclosed area can also keep you safe while you're on the road. You don't have to be an expert in physics to know what happens when you bring your car to a sudden stop: anything that's not secured in place will fly forward thanks to the sudden change in momentum. If you have heavy items or something with sharp edges sitting loose in the Civic hatchback's open cargo area, it could jolt forward and cause problems.
Anything inside the Civic sedan's trunk, on the other hand, will be stopped by the divider between the trunk and the rest of the cabin. Now, this doesn't mean that the hatchback is inherently unsafe (as you can absolutely secure your cargo in a hatchback by making use of tie-downs or cargo covers), but the process is more effortless in the sedan since you don't have to take any extra steps or precautions to avoid danger in this kind of situation.
Body Size
When it comes to dimensions, the Civic's sedan and hatchback versions definitely have a lot in common, which isn't surprising since they share a platform. The figures for wheelbase, width, and height are either identical or very similar, depending on the generation. However, when it comes to length, there is a noticeable difference: the hatchback is slightly but significantly shorter. This can come in handy when looking for a parking spot on a crowded street, but it's a drawback when it comes to legroom in the second row.
Fuel Economy
In order to accommodate the larger cargo area, the Civic hatchback has a different shape from the Civic sedan, and it tends to weigh more (though the exact difference in weight changes from generation to generation). These factors both contribute to the hatchback having slightly lower fuel economy figures than the sedan. If you're on the fence about which body style you prefer and want to get the best possible fuel economy, this might be a point in favor of the sedan.
But if the hatchback is a better fit for your needs overall, don't let this be a dealbreaker. The difference is pretty small—generally only 1 or 2 MPG. For example, a 2020 Civic sedan with a 1.5L turbocharged I-4 engine gets an EPA-estimated 32 MPG in the city and 42 MPG on the highway for a combined fuel economy rating of 36 MPG, while a 2020 Civic hatchback with the same engine gets an EPA-estimated 31 MPG in the city and 40 MPG on the highway for a combined rating of 34 MPG—still highly efficient compared to other used vehicles you might be considering.[a]
Sporty Variants
Most drivers can skip past this section, but if you're an enthusiast looking for exceptional road performance, you'll want to consider getting a more athletic variant of the Civic. While all trims offer solid driving dynamics, the Civic's Si and Type R variants go above and beyond with exclusive styling, manual transmissions, and powerful engines that can bring your experience to the next level.
The Civic Si is the more affordable performance variant—and in recent years, you'll only find it available as a sedan (or a coupe). The Type R is more expensive and more powerful—and ever since it entered the US market for the 2017 model year, it's been available exclusively in a hatchback. If you're choosing between these models, it might make more sense to consider your budget and need for speed first and foremost, but if your joyride is going to double as a daily driver, the Type R's cargo space is worth keeping in mind as well.
Price Differences
You don't need to be shopping for a performance variant in order to consider a difference in price, however. Over the years, the sticker price of the Civic hatchback has pretty consistently been a bit more expensive than an equivalent Civic sedan. While a difference of around a thousand dollars might not mean much to some drivers, it could be enough to tilt the scales for another. It all depends on your priorities and your budget.
However, when shopping for a used model, things are a little more complicated. While original MSRP can be a factor in a used car's price, it's just one among many; other factors include current condition, previous owner history, age, and mileage. So it can make sense to look at both sedan and hatchback models with an open mind and see which individual model is the best deal.
Civic Sedan or Hatchback? That's Up to You!
Both the Civic sedan and the Civic hatchback have a lot to offer drivers, and most of the things that make the two different can be viewed as either a pro or a con, depending on your perspective. As the old saying goes, "That's why they make both chocolate and vanilla!"
At the end of the day, it's not about figuring out which body style is objectively better; it's about figuring out which is the better choice for you. If you're still undecided after reading this guide, feel free to take the short trip over from North Bergen to visit our showroom. You can see our lineup of pre-owned Civic sedans and hatchbacks for yourself, ask our team any questions you may have, and take a test drive or two.