Honda (HMC) Launches Five-Door Civic Hatchback In U.S.

Honda Motor Company, Ltd. ( (NYSE:HMC) ) has introduced its first five-door Civic hatchback in the U.S. The features include a turbocharged four-cylinder engine, the passenger room of a sedan and a SUV-like cargo space. The front seats have 42.3 inches legroom and 39.3 inches headroom whereas for back passengers, the legroom is 36 inches and the headroom, 39 inches.

The car’s engine has a capability to generate upto 180 horsepower and is fuel-efficient too. This helped the brand to attain the U.S. government fuel economy ratings as high as 31 miles per gallon in city-driving and 40 miles per gallon on the highways. The company has also earned five out of five stars for passenger protection in both frontal and side-crash tests.

Honda’s first introduced model in the U.S. back in 1969 was a N600 hatchback. Over the years, Civic hatchback has been developed with combined small size, lightweight design and spunky power.

Honda has several other car launches, scheduled to help the company boost its sales. Previous to this, in Mar 2017, Honda launched the Clarity Electric and Clarity Plug-in Hybrid, as well as the Civic Type R and Civic Si. It also launched the BR-V crossover, exclusively for Asian markets in Jan 2016, started selling the Honda Odyssey and Odyssey Absolute premium minivans in Japan from Feb 2016 and also delivered the first 2017 Acura NSX supercar in May 2016.

Further, Honda started selling the Clarity Fuel Cell sedan in Japan from Mar 2016 and in the U.S. from Dec 2016. In Jun 2016, Honda started selling the 2017 Acura MDX, 2017 Accord Hybrid and 2017 Honda Ridgeline in the U.S. In Jul 2016, it sold the 2017 Acura TLX in the U.S. and in September, the all-new Freed and Freed+ compact minivans in Japan as well as the 2017 models of the HR-V crossover, Civic hatchback and Acura RLX in the U.S.

In October, the company initiated the sales of the 2017 Civic Sedan and Civic Coupe. It also launched the remodeled CRV in the U.S. in Dec 2016 and showcased the planned production model, WR-V, which will be put up for sale exclusively in South America from first-half 2017.

Honda Motor Company, Ltd. Price and Consensus

Honda Motor Company, Ltd. Price and Consensus | Honda Motor Company, Ltd. Quote

Price Performance

Honda’s share has outperformed against the Zacks categorized Automotive-Foreign industry in the last six months. The company recorded a decline of 3.92%, while the industry has witnessed a decrease of 4.16%.

Zacks Rank & Stocks Pick

Honda currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).

Better-ranked companies in the auto space include Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. (NYSE:FCAU) , Lear Corporation (NYSE:LEA) and Volkswagen (DE:VOWG_p) AG (OTC:VLKAY) . All three hold a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

The expected long-term growth rate for Fiat Chrysler, Lear Corp. and Volkswagen is 22.38%, 7.13% and 16.78% respectively.

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