Honda’s most popular model – the Civic – gets a complete revamp for model year 2022 that promises a more mature and refined look and feel. The fundamentals still remain, giving the buyer a choice of either a 2.0 liter, or a peppier 1.5 liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine carried over from last year. Upgrades for the 2022 Honda Civic include more high tech features like a larger infotainment screen, wireless smart phone connectivity and an available driver-assistance package.
Just like its predecessors, the 2022 Honda Civic essentially has four trims to choose from ranging from LX, Sport, EX, Touring and Sport Touring. Each trim is offered in either a 4-door compact sedan, or a 5-door hatchback variant, which costs slightly more depending on trim. This is very similar to the approach the Mazda 3 has taken.
The EX trim is recommended for the best bang for the buck in which the price tag comfortably sits in the middle of all four trims and comes well-equipped with a power sunroof, dual climate control, heated exterior mirrors and heated front seats. Above all, the EX comes standard with the more powerful 1.5 liter turbocharged engine that gets an extra 22 horsepower.
The two four-cylinder engine variants are carried over from the previous generation. Base models get the standard 2.0 liter four cylinder engine making 158 horsepower while the upgraded 1.5 liter turbocharged engine bumps the power up to 180 hp. The 2022 Civic will also continue to be offered only in a front-wheel drive configuration. The only change is that the manual transmission has been completely cut from the Civic sedan lineup in favor of a continuous-variable transmission (CVT), but hatchback models will still continue to offer a 6-speed manual transmission in lieu of the CVT.
The 2022 Honda Civic continues its strong momentum in establishing exceptional fuel economy in its class with an EPA rating of 33, 42 and 36 mpg city, highway and driving respectively. Our test drive comes close, averaging 35 mpg from mixed city and highway driving.
Honda has taken a cleaner and simpler design approach in revamping the 2022 Civic’s interior with simple, refined contours and a honey-comb mesh design pattern that spans the dash to incorporate the air vents. The result is a more modern and contemporary design that will stay current for years to come. Other than cosmetic refinement, both passenger and cargo space remain relatively the same compared with previous generations.
Standard trims get a 7.0 inch infotainment touchscreen while a 9.0 inch unit is available as an optional upgrade. Just like its predecessor, both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay will be supported, but will contain a new graphical user interface that has proven to be more intuitive, smoother and more responsive. Other tech upgrades include a Bose stereo sound system, wireless smartphone charging pad, and the built-in Honda-Link satellite navigation.
While the all-new 2022 Honda Civic has a much more mature and refined look on the outside, it still has the young and playful driving charisma that has essentially established its personality from day one with light and nimble handling, low bucket seats and the raw dynamic driving experience from the four-cylinder engine. While most will miss the bio-mechanical experience of the 6-speed manual transmission, the CVT under test proved capable of quick gear changes and peppy acceleration. The recommended 2020 Civic EX sedan can be had for $25,715, but we like the looks and added practicality of the 5-door hatchback EX variant, which costs slightly more at $27,000. Buyers looking for longer term luxury and more tech features can opt for the Touring and Sport Touring trim priced at $29,315 and $30,000 respectively.
