Long Live the Manual: 2020 Civic Expands Availability of Six-Speed Manual Transmission

The 2020 Honda Civic Hatchback will roll in with a mild refresh that corrects a few design mishaps, but the change traditionalists will love is Honda expanding the availability of the manual transmission, despite most other manufacturers eliminating it.

On the outside, the 2020 Civic Hatchbacks front end gets a few mild updates, including updated fog light housings with new body-color crossbars, a revised grille crossbar, and smoked treatment on the headlights. Around back, the simulated rear air vents receive matching body-color crossbars. The entire lineup gets new dark gray or black wheels, and the Sport Touring trim gains revised LED headlights with wider and longer light beams.

Inside, Honda will distinguish each trim with new dash trim. The Sport trims will gain a geometrical pattern, the LX and EX models will boast a painted pattern, and the EX-L and Sport Touring will use a brushed-black pattern. The EX trim will also gain a few new features, including an eight-way power driver’s seat, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter knob. The Sport Touring model will gain HomeLink universal home remote.

The 2020 Civic Hatchback Sport will gain a slew of new tech, including a 7-inch touchscreen Display Audio System with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in place if the simpler 5-inch system in 2019. It will also gain standard keyless entry and ignition and unique cloth upholstery while models with the continuously variable transmission will get standard remote ignition.

Rounding out the changes is one that’ll make traditionalists smile, and that’s the addition of the six-speed manual transmission to the range-topping Sport Touring trim.

Pricing for the 2020 Civic Hatchback will be as follows:

• LX CVT: $21,650
• Sport 6MT: $$22,750
• Sport CVT: $ 23,550
• EX CVT: $24,150
• EX-L CVT: $25,350
• Sport Touring 6MT: $28,050
• Sport Touring CVT: $28,850