Top 7 Reasons the 2018 Honda Civic Hatchback EX is a Must-Buy (with a Few Hilarious Drawbacks)

The 2018 Honda Civic Hatchback EX is a popular car that strikes the balance between practicality and performance. It’s compact yet spacious sporty but fuel-efficient and packed with features that make everyday driving a pleasure. But like all cars it’s not without its quirks—and that’s where things get fun. Whether you’re a longtime Honda fan or someone just looking for a solid ride here’s why this car should be on your radar—and a few reasons that might make you laugh at its oddities.

The 2018 Honda Civic Hatchback EX: The Overview

The Civic is Honda’s tried-and-true model that has become a favorite among compact car enthusiasts. It’s reliable stylish and handles with finesse. The hatchback version of the Civic EX comes with a turbocharged engine Apple CarPlay Android Auto and tons of interior space—all wrapped up in a sporty design. But before you think it’s perfect let’s dig into the details.

Powertrain and Performance: Turbo Fun with a Touch of Lag

The 2018 Honda Civic Hatchback EX is powered by a 1.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine that delivers 174 horsepower. That’s pretty impressive for a compact car. The turbocharged engine gives it a nice boost when you're accelerating onto the highway or just trying to get ahead at a stoplight. It’s also paired with a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) which helps with fuel efficiency. You’ll get around 31 mpg in the city and 40 mpg on the highway, which makes it a great choice for long commutes or road trips.

Pros of the Powertrain

• Turbocharged engine gives a fun burst of speed.
• Great fuel efficiency, perfect for those tired of frequent trips to the gas station.
• The CVT shifts smoothly without the jerky feel of traditional automatics.

But…The Turbo Lag

Now here’s where things get interesting. Turbocharged engines often come with something called turbo lag—and the 2018 Civic Hatchback is no exception. Imagine pressing the gas pedal expecting to rocket forward... and then nothing. Pause. And THEN you get the burst of power. It’s like the car's saying "Oh right I’m supposed to be fast!" before zooming off.

Alex Collantes a Civic EX owner notes “It's like asking your dog to fetch and he just stares at you for a second before realizing you threw the ball.”

Interior: Comfort Meets Practicality (but Where's My Armrest?)

Step inside the 2018 Honda Civic Hatchback EX and you’ll be greeted by a modern driver-centric layout. The materials used inside are of decent quality—not luxury but not cheap either. It’s got a 7-inch touchscreen for your infotainment needs with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto included as standard. There’s even a power moonroof for those moments when you want to feel the wind in your hair (or let out the funky air from that gym bag in the back seat).

Pros of the Interior

• Spacious rear seats—there’s enough room for even tall passengers.
• Flexible cargo space—with 25.7 cubic feet of room behind the rear seats it’s ideal for weekend getaways or large grocery hauls.
• Easy-to-use infotainment system with smartphone integration.
• Comfortable seats with good support for long drives.

The Quirky Drawback: Where’s My Armrest?

Now here's a funny one—there's an armrest in the front but it's positioned oddly. It's more like "half an armrest" than a full one. If you're tall you might find yourself awkwardly trying to lean on it only to miss it by an inch or two. It's like Honda wanted to remind us to sit up straight.

One reviewer even mentioned “It’s like they were designing the interior and someone just said ‘Eh let’s put it here… close enough right?’”

Technology Features: High-Tech With a Few Hiccups

For tech lovers the 2018 Civic Hatchback EX has some great offerings. Aside from the Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration there’s also a remote engine start feature which lets you start your car from afar—a great feature for those freezing mornings. The EX trim also includes Honda Sensing a suite of driver-assist technologies like lane-keeping assist and adaptive cruise control to help make your driving experience safer and more convenient.

Pros of the Technology

• Remote start—you’ll love this during extreme weather.
• Honda Sensing Suite—includes advanced safety features that are typically found in more expensive cars.
• Automatic climate control—no more fiddling with knobs just set it and forget it.

The Quirky Drawback: Touchscreen That’s a Tad Overeager

While the 7-inch touchscreen is nice sometimes it feels like it’s a bit too sensitive. You might be trying to adjust the volume but end up changing the station or skipping to another song altogether. It’s like the touchscreen has its own overachieving personality.

“Sometimes I just want to lower the volume a bit but my car thinks I want to go on an entirely different road trip!” says Alex.

Driving Experience: Sporty but Not Too Sporty

You’d think with that turbocharged engine the 2018 Civic Hatchback EX would be a firecracker on the road. And while it’s quick and responsive it doesn’t feel as sporty as the looks suggest. The suspension is tuned more for comfort than for corner carving which means it soaks up bumps well but won’t make you feel like a racecar driver on twisty roads.

Pros of the Driving Experience

• Smooth ride quality—absorbs bumps with ease making it great for daily commuting.
• Precise steering—light but responsive making parking a breeze.
• Fuel-efficient without sacrificing too much power.

The Quirky Drawback: The Fake Sporty Feel

It’s almost as if Honda’s Civic Hatchback EX is going through a bit of an identity crisis. It looks like it wants to race but drives more like it wants to cruise. The turbo adds some fun but don’t expect it to corner like a sports car. It’s like wearing running shoes but then walking slowly because you don’t actually want to run.

Cargo Space: The Magic Hatchback

One of the best things about hatchbacks is their cargo versatility and the 2018 Civic Hatchback EX excels in this area. With 25.7 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats and up to 46.2 cubic feet when you fold them down it’s perfect for everything from grocery runs to road trips with friends. Plus the low cargo floor makes it easier to load and unload heavy items.

Pros of the Cargo Space

• Tons of room for a compact car.
• Fold-flat rear seats make hauling larger items easier.
• Low load floor—you won’t have to hoist your stuff as high to get it in the back.

The Quirky Drawback: Cargo Cover Shenanigans

The cargo area comes with a retractable cover but it’s not your typical cargo cover. Instead of pulling from back to front it pulls from the side. Yes the side. It’s as if Honda’s designers wanted to throw a curveball just to see if anyone was paying attention. It works but it’s just odd.

“I didn’t know cargo covers could be so unnecessarily fancy,” says Alex.

Safety Features: Advanced but Not Annoying

Honda has packed the Civic Hatchback EX with plenty of safety features like the Honda Sensing Suite mentioned earlier. This includes things like collision mitigation braking system lane-keeping assist and road departure mitigation. These features are designed to give you peace of mind and work pretty seamlessly without being too intrusive.

Pros of the Safety Features

• Lots of standard safety tech.
• Honda Sensing adds value and reassurance for drivers.
• Easy-to-use controls for adjusting safety settings.

The Quirky Drawback: Beep Beep Beep!

While the safety systems are generally helpful they can sometimes be a bit too eager to help. If you’re close to the lane line the lane-keeping assist system will beep at you like an overly concerned parent in the passenger seat. It’s a good thing overall but if you’re a confident driver you might feel a little micromanaged.

“It’s like my car is constantly telling me ‘You sure you want to do that? You REALLY sure?’” laughs Alex.

Reliability and Resale Value: It's a Honda So You’re Safe

One of the biggest selling points of any Honda is its legendary reliability and the 2018 Civic Hatchback EX is no exception. Hondas are known for lasting well beyond 100,000 miles with minimal issues and they also hold their resale value quite well. So if you’re looking for a car that’s not just great to drive now but also won’t leave you high and dry later on the Civic EX is a safe bet.

Pros of the Reliability and Resale Value

• High resale value—Hondas generally hold their value better than many competitors.
• Dependable engine and drivetrain—you can expect this car to last a long time.
• Affordable maintenance costs—it’s not going to drain your wallet on repairs.

The Quirky Drawback: Boringly Reliable?

It’s hard to find a drawback when it comes to reliability. Maybe it’s just too reliable? No real drama here no exciting breakdown stories to tell your friends about. But hey I guess that’s a good problem to have right?

Final Thoughts: Why the 2018 Honda Civic Hatchback EX Is a Smart Choice

All in all the 2018 Honda Civic Hatchback EX is a well-rounded car that combines practicality performance and technology in a stylish package. Sure it’s got a few quirks like the side-retracting cargo cover and the half-hearted sporty feel but those just add to its charm. If you’re in the market for a compact car with great fuel efficiency plenty of cargo space and a dash of turbocharged fun the Civic EX hatchback is worth a serious look.

As Alex Collantes puts it “It’s like that friend who’s always on time doesn’t cause any trouble but still knows how to have fun when it counts.”

Quick Summary of Pros and Cons

• Pros

  • Turbocharged engine for a fun boost
  • Great fuel efficiency (31 mpg city / 40 mpg highway)
  • Spacious and flexible cargo area
  • Tons of standard tech including Apple CarPlay Android Auto and Honda Sensing
  • Honda reliability and high resale value

• Cons

  • Turbo lag—it takes a second to wake up
  • Quirky half-armrest in the front seats
  • Touchscreen a bit too eager to respond
  • Not as sporty as it looks but still fun
  • Cargo cover pulls from the side for some reason

In short the 2018 Honda Civic Hatchback EX is an all-around great car with a few quirks that only make it more lovable. Happy driving!