CIVIC
FL1
The turbo hatch that takes a heavy-commuter brief and quietly turns it into something you actually want to drive.
The Civic came in as an underdog. It walked out as the benchmark.
We all saw the success story of the tenth-gen Honda Civic in Bangladesh, coming in as an underdog and going head to head with the Toyota Allion / Premio. The peppy 1.5L turbo compensated for the power, or lack thereof, from the 1NZ-FE that came in the Toyotas, and the Civic, with its turbo, sits high in terms of what is otherwise missing in the country, thanks to the tax bracket.
With the 11th-generation FE1 Civic sedan introduced around mid-2021, the jingles have not stopped for Honda. They have now launched the new FL1 Hatchback, which we had for the day to test, and here is our insight on it.
“Hatchback” undersells it. The FL1 is closer to a liftback, a higher roofline than the sedan, but leaning on the last-generation Civic's shape, minus the funky lines. The brief was the daily commute. The result wants to be driven on the way there.
Hatchback in name. Liftback in spirit.
The FL1, although wearing the “hatchback” tag, is better considered a liftback than a traditional high-roof small car. It sits taller than the sedan, yet leans closer to the last-generation Civic, minus the funky styling and groovy lines.
The 11th-gen hatch keeps a less in-your-face look than the previous Civic: more muted, more mature. The front fascia is borrowed wholesale from the sedan, DRLs and LED lights defining the optical bits, with the honeycomb mesh and Honda logo in the middle. The biggest changes live out back: a more rounded design language and fatter tail lights, due diligence paid to the full rear hatch opening up.
Overall the language is minimal, yet carries a sporting element, sharp contour lines around the body and inflated fender arches, where those 19-inch wheels live.
Seats fold straight from the boot, and the hatch opening is larger than the sedan's. Carrying things is the least of your concerns.
Tucked under inflated fender arches. The contour lines do the rest of the talking.
It never fails to be recognised as a Civic, just a more mature one.
Everything sits exactly where you expect it.
The hatchback keeps the same interior cues as the sedan. You'll find everything in expected positions, and since the car is aimed at heavy commuters, Honda did not overcomplicate the knobs and buttons that driver or passengers actually touch.
Expect satisfactory materials throughout, but it's a Civic, not an Accord, so don't expect genuine leather or wooden trim. The seats are roomy and half-and-half: leather bolsters with fabric saddles. They're heated and manually operated, which is a bit of a bummer, but they get the job done well.
Knob-controlled, with air through a honeycomb mesh between screen and controls. Gets cold enough to tackle Dhaka weather.
Amazing for a commuter, tighter than the sedan, but it works.
The back seats are amazing for a commuter, tighter than the sedan's, but comfortable, with enough legroom for a six-foot human. A centre armrest with cup holders folds down, doubling as an extra seat when raised.
Seats fold straight from the boot, and because the hatchback's opening is larger, carrying stuff should be the least of your concerns, with 702 litres to spare.
On the road, it's honestly a treat.
Steering is responsive and the handling is fantastic, arguably better than the sedan, which already feels tight, thanks to the athletic nature of the suspension. The six-speed automatic is crispy for a CVT, but it is a CVT at the end of the day; the sluggishness remains.
Engine response is great. The L15 turbo, a crowd favourite from the last generation, retains all the good bits and adds refinements, namely better throttle response for this generation.
The crowd favourite, refined. Crisp off-boost response; the CVT is the only thing keeping it honest.
Details that earn the badge.
The turbo era, generation by generation.
10th gen. The 1.5T underdog that went toe-to-toe with the Allion / Premio and won hearts.
11th gen sedan. Cleaner, more grown-up. Kept the jingles going for Honda.
The hatch / liftback. Same maturity, more practicality, and the better drive.
The ceiling the FL1 quietly nods to. Same silhouette, wilder intent.
Your shortlist is the Allion/Premio, or this.
In the reconditioned Japanese market, your options narrow down to the Allion / Premio, or the Civic, where the latter does just about everything better. It's a great car both to drive and to be ridden around in, and everything is easy to get familiar with.
| Model | Engine | Drive Feel | Parts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civic FL1 | 1.5 T VTEC | Best in class | Good |
| Allion 260 | 1.5 2NR-FKE | Smooth, soft | Excellent |
| Premio 260 | 1.5 2NR-FKE | Smooth, soft | Excellent |
| Mazda Axela BP | 1.5 Skyactiv-G | Sporty | Scarce |
The missing puzzle piece, found.
When it comes to maintenance, the popularity of the last generation means there's no scarcity, everything is available, both officially and in the gray market. The FL1 takes the commuter brief seriously and then quietly over-delivers on the drive. That's the whole argument.
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