Are you looking for a fuel-efficient, budget-friendly commuter car that will last longer than anything else you own? Buy a Honda Civic. But which Civic trim level is the best one to buy? For 2021, there are two different body styles – hatchback and sedan – and each one has its own set of trim levels.

There are also the Civic Si and Civic Type R trim levels if you want more performance. But what if you don’t care about that? Then we suggest getting the Honda Civic Hatchback Sport Touring trim. Here are five reasons why it could give you the best value.

The Civic Sport Touring is available as an automatic

While any car enthusiast can easily scoff at the thought of buying a “normal” Civic, as opposed to the Si or Type R, we think it’s worth noting that the Sport Touring trim is available with a six-speed manual transmission, in case you like to “feel” your car when you drive it.

But if you don’t care, it’s also available with a CVT, which yields better fuel economy figures and is more comfortable for the daily drive. As an added plus, opting for the automatic transmission means that you’ll also get a remote start feature, which is great if you live in a snow state or a hot state, like Arizona.

The Civic Sport Touring has leather and heated rear seats

Since the Civic Sport Touring is the highest trim for the hatchback body style, you’ll get a few luxurious features that you don’t get on the other trims including the Si and the Type R. A couple of nice features include the leather seating surfaces and the heated seats.

However, in the Sport Touring, not only are the front seats heated, but the rear ones are too. Ooh, luxurious!

The Sport Touring trim comes with a 540-watt premium sound system

To be honest, Hondas aren’t exactly known to have the most “banging” sound systems on the market. While other automakers, like Toyota, are utilizing third-party outlets like JBL, Honda has decided to stick to its own standard sound systems, which sound pretty good.

However, in the Sport Touring trim, you’ll be treated to 540 watts of premium sound, which is much better than the 160 and 180-watt versions that come with the lower trims. It might not be the best system out there, but it’s better than the others in the Civic lineup.

The Civic Sport Touring gets better fuel economy

We can’t talk about a Honda Civic without discussing fuel economy, after all, that’s its strong point. And therein lies the hidden beauty of the Civic Sport Touring: it’s powered by the same turbocharged 1.5-liter, four-cylinder engine as the lower trims.

What that means is you’ll get 180 hp and 162 lb-ft of torque (177 with the manual) in addition to an EPA-estimated 29 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway. That’s much better than the Civic Si (26 city/36 hwy) and the Civic Type R (22 city/28 hwy), and while it’s down on power compared to those two trims, the Sport Touring is still fun to drive and it will save you money at the pump.

It’s a subtly styled hatchback and it’s wingless

Lastly, the Honda Civic Sport Touring trim level only comes in the practical hatchback body style with a mild body kit and machined-finish 18-inch wheels. Looks are subjective, but we happen to like the subtle look of it and think that it looks better without the gaudy wing that comes on the Type R. If you want the more sporty, but covert look, then the Sport Touring trim is a great compromise.

But what about pricing?

The 2021 Honda Civic Sport Touring has a starting price of $28,600, which increases by $800 for the automatic transmission. We know what you might be thinking: The Civic Si costs a few grand less and has more power. And if that’s the case, you would be correct.

However, while the Civic Sport Touring costs more, you’ll get a more luxurious interior, a more comfortable ride, and better fuel economy. And if those are features that are important to you, then look no further.