Spy Photos: 2012 Honda Civic

An updated version of this model then:

http://www.honda.co.uk/cars/civic5door/

Agreed: It's likely not for the U.S.. Wish it were though...

It's a bit early to judge, but I doubt this five door will come state side. As long as it doesn't take to the current Insight's suspension setup we can probably rest easy. Hopefully it will retain the two tier dash of the current Civic.

Keep it in Yurrup! Sedan and coupe only in the NA pls.

This is definately hitting Europe but the U.S.??? Subaru, Mazda, Volkswagen, Hyundai, Kia, and plenty more all have compact 5-door hatchback variants of their models, wby Honda doesn't bring a Civic hatch here is beyond me....well, as long as they don't give it that cartoonish style like the Insight, Crosstour, and CR-Z

The current Euro Civic looks so different, even in fascia, from the dowdy US models that it's really not possible to draw many inferences about what a US sedan might look like. However, the front end looks like it slopes more and is lower, which surprises me given Europe's obsession with pedestrian safety.

Yeah, keep that thing off our shores. We have enough ugly hatchbacks and ugly Hondas here.

I wish they did offer the Euro version in the US. It's the right size for tight city living. Not every American lives in suburbia in the middle of the country where butts are as wide as doorways.

Of course, if they shipped it here, they'd have to add about 2-inches of bumper to the front and back and then it wouldn't look the same anymore. So yeah, they can keep it in Europe for that reason alone.

Glad to know that they're downsizing it though. I hope the rest of the industry follows suit.

Wow Honda just cant get it right...keep that crap box in europe!

Oh my friggin gosh....can any of you posters read? The article clearly says this is the European hatchback model that likely won't make it to the states. Do we only look at the pictures? Idiots.

And Motortrend seems to think it would be unlikely for this model to shrink in size because Honda was already too far along in the design and engineering process when the economy took a downturn to make any major changes. But they understand the problem with increasing the size and mass. Maybe Honda is starting to get it back together.

They should leave the black cladding on. It's the car Robocop would drive.

Looking at the european pics, I hope this thing DOES come stateside. Either way, I ain't buying it. From ugly to fugly. The only plus side is that counting Civics could be the next big thing in treating insomnia. The new Elantra looks a bijillion times nicer.

This one's message to roughly half of you: Have you ever heard of suspending judgment until sufficient evidence has been gathered? Oh, what am I saying? Of course not. There are plenty of ugly hatchbacks. True. Don't make the false assertion that this car is ugly, or needs to be kept "off our shores", just because it's a hatchback. I know, the word "Scirocco" is so hard to spell.

To the other half of you: Thanks for making the world less of a human-infested sh*thole by using the ol' grey matter. Sincerely.

To those posting the negative comments: thank you for proving once more that the USA is full of ignorant idiots.

Can they hire someone with an eye for a change. At this point I'm not even expecting much from the next Accord.

If you want to buy a sedan or coupe, go buy one somewhere else. Let those who enjoy hatches appreciate the Civic for what it hopefully will be when it is sold here in the States. Keep believing what marketing wants you to believe about the aesthetic virtues of the ubiquitous 3 box sedan setup. We wagon/hatchback drivers will be whizzing by you while you unpack your boxes at the IKEA parking lot.

it is worthless.

@albook

Can "YOU"read? The caption says "This vehicle, with its five-door hatch shape and funky rear door handles, is the European version that HAS NEVER made its way to US soil." It did not say that it won't likely make it to the States, although most can assume that. By using "HAS NEVER", they were saying that up until this point, it has never made it to the US, but it doesn't mean that it won't make it to the US.

I personally don't believe that it will make it here, but who knows? Times are a changing and with higher gas prices, new EPA regulations, and an economy that is still uncertain, I'm sure we will be seeing more wagons and hatchbacks here in the States. This has already began to happen. The Honda Fit, which came to the US in 2006, is nothing more than a re-badged Honda Jazz that had been available throughout the rest of the world for years. Now, Acura is offering US buyers the opportunity to purchase the TSX sports wagon (disappointing as it may be) which, up until this point, was only available in the European market. Ford has ridded itself of the NA Focus and now will offer the 5-door hatch in the States and they also brought the Fiesta back to NA. It will be available as a 5-door hatchback as well.

It has been rumored that Honda ordered a total revamp of the Civic unlike any before. That could very well include a 5-door hatch in the mix. And why not? As someone else pointed out, most other manufacturers already have them. So it's about time Honda follows suit?

I wish this car would come to NA. I would buy it in an instant. I will never understand the redneck hate for hatchbacks, but as a wise man once said, I suppose haters gonna hate. Massive sedans are so BORING.

The current Civic coupe is cute-- better looking than the sedan-- but it should have been a hatchback.

I think the big box car manufacturers limit their models because they have, up to now, gotten away with it. It saves them money and if people still keep buying them, why change?

Back in the 50s and 60s car models had many iterations. For example, a mid fifties Chevy had:

2 door sedan
4 door sedan
2 door hardtop
4 door hardtop
2 door convertible
2 door stationwagon
4 door stationwagon
Nomad wagon
And maybe other variants that I don't remember

@ the_enthusiast

Are you done? Nothing can be more ignorant than making a blanket statement about all Americans based on one car blog page and less than 20 responses.

The anti-American slurs really have to come to an end. I can understand, though don't condone, if you were from Iraq, but, I would hope, if you were the intelligent citizen from another country you felt you were, you'd calm your anger level before you blurt out a response like that.

Americans not understanding hatchbacks is no less intelligent than Europeans not understanding underarm deodorant; a toothbrush with toothpaste; shower curtains to block the water from drenching the entire bathroom. Stuff like that.

@ frank908

LMAO @ Europeans not understanding underarm deodorant; a toothbrush with toothpaste; shower curtains to block the water from drenching the entire bathroom. Stuff like that.

"Civic 2012"

Instant hard on.

"Instant hard on."

wow. hopefully you're joking.

the_rider:

Its ok you can like the Civic. 1487 has a hard on for anything made by GM.

I guess any hope I had of the civic returning to its cooler roots have been crushed.

@ frank908

Im american, so your point is voided. Issue here is that people judge before seeing the finished product. It's happen with american vehicles, japanese, german, etc. We judge way too early, and most of people in this country hate hatchbacks for no valid reason. Stupidity all around us without a clear excuse.

I say wait and see what the final product looks like, then judge.

PS: i love watching people like you get all butt hurt about comments like my first.

That thing is buried in cladding ... impossible to tell anything ...

@the_enthusiast: In my experience, people don't like to by hypocritical. Yet here you are.

@greenpony

Sorry to disappoint, but im not "hurt" at all. I just like to prove a point, which i believe you missed completely. Moving on...

It's great how everyone hates a car that hasn't really shown its face yet.

I think the Civic would be fine if it just stayed the same size. right now it is in a good place in terms of interior space and exterior dimensions. keep in mind that it is about as large as the Accord was 3 generations ago. update the powertrain and transmission, and the interior, and the Civic will be another best seller.

its also time for Honda to get a full hybrid system out there. its enough of this mild-hybrid-plus garbage in the Civic, Insight, and CR-X. if they actually put out a really full hybrid system, the CR-X and Insight might actually get good fuel economy like a hybrid-only model is supposed to. the hybrid Civic is just another one of those hybrid add-ons, but it could also use some full hybrid help.

I want to like this but not promising and surprising given the styling direction of honda's more recent offerings (CRZ, Grosstour, Odyssey).

Oh, and those rear door handles may look interesting, but it happens to be a DIRECT RIP-OFF of Daewoo Matiz Creative's 2010 model:

http://www.carsoftheworld.eu/images/news/GM%20Daewoo%20Matiz%20Creative%20_2009VIII_2.jpg

so what...lets see how the finished product looks like..

google search: Daewoo Matiz Creative 2010 and you'll see the inspiration for the door handles..
I used to expect more from Honda.. not so much these days

alex, those types of door handles have been out way, WAY before the Daewoo Matiz. Just saying.

@ the_enthusiast:

"alex, those types of door handles have been out way, WAY before the Daewoo Matiz. Just saying."

thanks for the heads up. Appreciate.

I'd love to see the CR-Z in the US, and I like the interior design of the UK versions better.

Now if only the US version could get the fuel economy that the UK versions have.

Of course, the Oil Industry won't allow the US to have a Civic that gets 34City / 46Hwy.