Choosing a compact car gives us the benefits of maneuverability, good fuel economy, and just enough comfortable space for passengers and some cargo. However, when you need more space, some models like the Honda Civic have adjustable backseats that allow you to extend your trunk's cargo space. How do you put the rear seats down in a Honda Civic? Here's what our research has found.
To lower the rear seat-backs of the Honda Civic sedan, you'll need to pull the two release levers that you will find inside the trunk. Alternatively, to lower the seat-backs of the Honda Civic hatchback, you'll need to press down on the release buttons at the top of the rear seats' backrests.
Would you like to have a more detailed guide on how to put the back seats down in a Honda Civic? Do read on, because we've also included the Honda Civic's available cargo space and other features and benefits.
How Do You Put The Seats Down In A Honda Civic?
For over half a decade now, the Honda Civic has reigned as the best-selling compact car in America, leading even against the popular Toyota Corolla. Aside from a zippy engine with good fuel economy, the Civic also excels in passenger comfort and cargo space.
Sometimes, however, we may find ourselves in need of a larger cargo space to haul some big items. Fortunately, the Honda Civic comes with adjustable rear seatbacks that fold down to expand the cargo space. So how do you do it?
Although the steps are slightly different between the sedan and hatchback versions, the process is very easy.
Honda Civic Sedan Back Seat Fold Down
Here are the steps on how to fold down the rear seat-backs of the Honda Civic Sedan.
- Open the trunk.
- Locate the two backseat release levers near the top of the trunk.
- Pull on the levers gently until you feel a click.
- Push the rear seat-backs forward until they lie flat against the seat cushion.
As a reminder, make sure that the folded rear seat-backs do not press against the front seats. Because the front seats have weight sensors, the pressure from the folded rear seat-backs may cause the supplemental restrain system (SRS) to malfunction.
You may need to adjust the front seats so that they do not get in the way of the folded rear seat-backs.
Moreover, Honda reminds us never to drive with the rear seatback down and the trunk open to prevent the car's own exhaust gas from entering the cabin.
Finally, secure all the cargo in the trunk or extending into the cabin. Hard acceleration and braking may cause loose cargo to fly backward or forward, thus possibly causing cargo damage or even human injury.
If you want to return the rear seat-backs to their normal position, then you only need to push them up and back until the seat-back hooks lock into their designated latches.
Here's a short video on how to fold down the rear seat-backs of the Honda Civic sedan:
Do Honda Civic Hatchback Seats Fold Down?
Folding down the rear seat-backs of the Civic hatchback is very similar to how you would do it in the sedan version. This time, however, there is no trunk to hide the release levers. The two release levers can be found near the headrests of the two outboard rear seats.
You can pull the release levers and push down the rear seat-backs in one continuous motion. Like the sedan version, the Civic hatchback has a 60/40 rear seat split, so you will need to push down two rear seat-back panels.
Again, Honda gives us a few safety reminders when folding down the rear seatbacks.
- Ensure that the folded rear seat-backs do not press against the front seats.
- Never drive with the rear seat-backs down and the tailgate open.
- Secure all items in the cargo area and those extending into the passenger area.
Check out the first 3 minutes of the video below to see how to fold down the rear seat-backs of the Honda Civic hatchback:
How Big Is The Trunk Of A Honda Civic?
Although the car's exterior design may not make it obvious, the 2022 Honda Civic's trunk or cargo space is above average for a compact car. The sedan version has 14.8 cubic feet of trunk space, while the hatchback version has 24.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats.
Honda's main specifications page for the Civic does not disclose the actual available cargo space with the rear seats folded down. However, other automotive review sites have estimated the hatchback's cargo space behind the front seats to be 46.3 cubic feet.
With 46.3 cubic feet of cargo space, the Civic hatchback's maximum cargo space is almost the same as a Toyota Highlander with the 3rd-row seats folded down. That's quite a lot, considering that the latter is a mid-size crossover SUV.
So how much space exactly is this, you might be thinking. Check out this video to see what 46.3 cubic feet of cargo space look like:
As we saw from the video, the Honda Civic hatchback's cargo space can accommodate two hockey bags with the rear seats upright. However, with the rear seatbacks folded down, you can carry both hockey bags plus three golf bags.
How Do I Manually Open My Honda Civic Trunk?
Like most of Honda's current models, the Honda Civic has an electronic trunk release function. With a soft touch of a button in the cabin, on the key fob, or near the trunk's Honda badge, you can open your Civic's trunk.
As the trunk now operates by power, the function depends largely on the car's 12-volt battery. So what happens if your Civic's battery loses all of its juice? Can you still open the Civic's trunk with a dead battery?
Yes, you can. Honda gave Civic owners a way to open their car's trunks manually, even without battery power. All you need to do is to get in your Civic's cabin using your mechanical key and find the manual trunk release lever or keyhole.
Check out this video on how to open the Civic's trunk even with a discharged battery:
How Much Weight Can A Honda Civic Haul?
In the previous sections, we discussed the Honda Civic's cargo volume. However, you may also be wondering how much weight it can carry. After all, some smaller items may be heavier than other bigger pieces of cargo.
The 2022 Honda Civic sedan can haul a maximum weight of 850 pounds (385 kg.). This is enough for five 150-pound passengers plus 100 pounds of cargo.
What Engines Come In the 2023 Honda Civic?
The 2023 Honda Civic offers three different engines to power its different trims.
Honda Civic Sedan Engine
- Sport - 2.0-liter I4 16-valve DOHC i-VTEC
- EX - 1.5-liter I4 turbocharged 16-valve DOHC VTEC
- Touring - 1.5-liter I4 turbocharged 16-valve DOHC VTEC
Civic Hatchback Engine
- Sport - 2.0-liter I4 16-valve DOHC i-VTEC
- EX-L - 1.5-liter I4 turbocharged 16-valve DOHC VTEC
- Sport Touring - 1.5-liter I4 turbocharged 16-valve DOHC VTEC
Honda Civic Type R Engine - 2.0-liter I4 turbocharged with intercooler 16-valve DOHC VTEC
The 2.0-liter DOHC i-VTEC engine powers the entry-level Sport trims of both the sedan and hatchback versions. This four-cylinder, naturally-aspirated engine produces a respectable 158 h.p. and 138 lb.-ft. of torque for a comfortable yet capable ride.
The 1.5-liter turbocharged engine, in turn, powers the two higher trims of the sedan (EX and Touring) and hatchback (EX-L and Sport Touring) versions. Although smaller in displacement, the turbocharged four-cylinder engine delivers 180 h.p. and 177 lb.-ft. of torque.
The 2.0-liter intercooler turbocharged engine provides the grunt for the sporty Type R version. This powerplant produces 315 h.p. and 310 lb.-ft. makes the 2023 Civic Type 3 the most powerful production car that Honda has made for the American market.
Is The New Honda Civic Fuel Efficient?
The 2023 Honda Civic is one of the most fuel-efficient cars in the compact car segment, traveling approximately 3 to 4 miles more than its direct competitors for every gallon of fuel.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection (EPA), the Civic's EX trim with a 1.5-liter turbo engine and continuously variable transmission (LL-CVT) can reach 36 miles per gallon on a combined city and highway driving condition.
Moreover, the entry-level trims with the 2.0-liter naturally-aspirated engine and M-CVT can also reach a competitive 33 miles per gallon combined fuel economy.
Honda Civic 2022 Safety Rating
Aside from delivering good passenger comfort and excellent cargo capacity, the Honda Civic also scores high in terms of safety.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave the 2022 Civic an overall safety rating score of 5 out of 5 stars. Moreover, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave the 2022 Civic its highest Top Safety Pick Plus (+) award.
How Much Is A Civic?
The 2023 Honda Civic comes in a few models and trims to cater to different target markets. If you're in the market for a new compact sedan, then we're here to help you window-shop online with the Civic's starting prices.
- 2023 Civic Sedan
- Sport - $24,650
- EX - $26,050
- Touring - $29,650
- 2023 Civic Si Sedan - $28,100
- 2023 Civic Hatchback
- Sport - $25,450
- EX-L - $27,750
- Sport Touring - $30,550
- 2023 Civic Type R - $42,895
These starting prices are accurate as of December 2022.
Wrapping Up
To fold down the rear seat-backs of the Honda Civic, you will need to pull on the designated release levers and push the seat-backs down to their lowest possible position. The release levers are in the trunk of the sedan version and on the seat-backs themselves in the hatchback version.
Thank you very much for reading. We hope we were able to guide you on how to fold down the Honda Civic's backseat.
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