- the new 2022 honda civic sedan is here with an attractive redesign and an improved interior.
- it features the same 2.0-liter and turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engines as before.
- honda says it will go on sale in the u.s. this summer.
honda civic generations tend to alternate between revolution and evolution. the outgoing 10th-generation car took big steps forward in terms of styling and performance, so it stands to reason that its successor features a more conservative redesign. given the new 11th-generation 2022 civic’s more mature looks, we think that’s a good thing. the new model boasts cleaner styling, carryover engines, and plenty of new features and upgrades that should result in a useful improvement.
honda has stretched the civic sedan’s wheelbase by 1.4 inches and widened the rear track by 0.5 inch. the tortured lines and weird angles from before are gone, replaced by a more flowing design that takes its front- and rear-end designs from the larger accord sedan. a hatchback model will be coming later, along with si and type r high-performance variants that will include zestier turbo engines and manual transmissions. (the sport model pictured here in red features honda performance development accessories.)
on the more mainstream side of things, the 2022 civic sedan’s powertrain lineup remains similar. a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter inline-four with horsepower is standard on lx and sport models, and a turbocharged 1.5-liter inline-four is again included on ex and touring trims. a manual transmission will sadly be relegated only to the eventual si and type r, as all non-performance civics will have a continuously variable automatic transmission for now. the base 2.0-liter has the same 158 horsepower and 138 pound-feet of torque but benefits from a new engine start-stop system, while the 1.5-liter engine gets a 6-hp and 15 pound-feet boost for totals of 180 hp and 177 pound-feet. epa fuel-economy estimates are up by between 1 and 2 mpg depending on configuration.
the new civic’s interior appears to be a significant step up, with an appealing design, nicer materials, and better technology offerings. a 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system comes standard and features volume and tuning knobs and plenty of hard buttons. the touring model features a larger 9.0-inch touchscreen along with a 10.2-inch digital gauge cluster. apple carplay and android auto are standard equipment, and the larger screen allows for wireless mirroring capabilities. an upgraded bose audio system is also included on the civic touring.
a full complement of driver-assistance features is standard across the board, and rear-seat side airbags are included for the first time on a civic. honda has yet to detail the civic’s standard and optional equipment but we do know the lineup includes lx, sport, ex, and touring trim levels. the lx has 16-inch wheels with hubcaps, the sport has 18-inch black wheels, the ex has 17-inch wheels with black inserts, and the touring has 18-inch wheels with grey inserts. eight exterior colors will be available, including three new ones: meteorite grey metallic, sonic grey pearl, and morning mist blue.
we expect pricing to rise slightly along with the 2022 civic’s more upscale demeanor, so look for the lx to start around $23,000 and the touring to crest the $30,000 mark. honda says the new civic will be arriving at u.s. dealerships this summer.