IT’S A BEST BUY BECAUSE:
The new 11th-generation Honda Civic gets a more subdued, sophisticated look and a generous helping of new safety and technology features, while continuing to offer outstanding practicality, refinement, and everyday driving fun.
BUT…
The Civic is a bit pricier than some class competitors, and the seating position might be uncomfortably low for some drivers.
WORTH NOTING:
A new version of the Civic’s sporty Si model debuts for 2022 with a 200-hp variant of the turbo 1.6 engine; the Si comes solely as a sedan with a 6-speed manual transmission. The high-performance Civic Type R model is slated to return to the lineup in the near future as well.
WHAT IS IT?
The Civic is Honda’s mainstream compact car, and it’s been redesigned for 2022. Four-door sedan models launched first, with 4-door hatchback models following shortly thereafter. The 2-door coupe body style does not return; it was discontinued after the 2020 model year. Trim levels ascend through Honda’s traditional LX, Sport, EX, EX-L, Touring, and Sport Touring models, though not all are offered on both body styles. Powerplants carry over from the previous-generation Civic. The base engine is a 158-hp 2.0-liter 4-cylinder. The step-up choice, standard on EX models and above, is a 180-hp turbocharged 1.5-liter four. Sedans come solely with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), but the hatchback offers a 6-speed manual transmission as an option to the CVT. Standard on most models is the Honda Sensing suite of safety features, which includes lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, forward collision warning and mitigation, and adaptive cruise control.
WHAT’S NEW?
Save for the carryover engines, almost everything is new on the 2022 Civic. Honda says the body structure is more rigid than the previous generation’s, and the suspension and steering tuning have been updated for improved ride and handling. A wireless charging pad, digital gauge cluster, 9-inch high-definition touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity, 12-speaker Bose premium sound system, and Honda’s Traffic Jam Assist system are among the newly available features.
FUEL ECONOMY
The base 2.0-liter engine is EPA-rated at 31 mpg city/40 highway in the LX sedan, and 30 city/37 highway in the Sport sedan. The turbocharged 1.5-liter engine is rated at 33 city/42 highway in the EX sedan and 31/38 in the Touring sedan. Choosing the hatchback body style and the hatchback’s available manual transmission will exact small penalties in EPA ratings—the manual-transmission hatchback with the 2.0 engine is the hardest hit, with an EPA rating 26 city/36 highway. In Consumer Guide® testing, a Touring sedan averaged 30.3 mpg in 65-percent city driving.
VALUE IN CLASS
In a world moving toward crossover SUVs, the new Honda Civic feels more “car-like” than ever—and that’s a big part of its appeal. It’s a sensible daily commuter that manages to deliver an engaging, enthusiast-friendly driving personality, along with excellent all-around refinement.
| BASE PRICE RANGE | $21,700 – $29,400 |
| BODY STYLES | 4-Door Sedan, 4-Door Hatchback |
| AVAILABLE ENGINES | 158-HP, 2.0-Liter 4-Cyl.; Turbocharged 180-HP, 1.5-Liter 4-cyl. |
| DRIVE WHEELS | Front-Wheel Drive |
| BUILT IN | USA, Canada |
| EPA FUEL-ECONOMY RANGE | 26-42 MPG |
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