The Honda Civic has been a top seller in the U.S., especially among first-time car buyers, since being introduced way back in the 1970s, For 2022, the popular Civic gets a rehaul with a redesigned body, nicer and roomier cabin, added features, and better fuel economy, all at an affordable price.
Base Price: $28,300
As Tested: $29,690
Horsepower: 180
Mileage: 31 mpg city/38 mpg highway/34 mpg combined
Now in its 11th generation, the 2022 Honda Civic is available in sedan and hatchback styles. The sedan comes in LX, Sport, EX, and Touring trims with starting prices ranging from $21,900 to $28,500. The Hatchback comes in LX, Sport, EX-L and Sport Touring trims with starting prices ranging from $22,900 to $29,400. Performance-oriented Si and Type R models are also available. Front-wheel-drive is standard; all-wheel-drive is not offered. There’s room for five passengers.
For those who like driving a stick, the manual transmission is no longer offered on the sedan, but a six-speed manual is still available on the hatchback.
The 2022 Civic gets the same base engine: a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter four-cylinder that makes 158 horsepower and 138 pound-feet of torque. It provides enough power for everyday driving, but for quicker performance, you’ll want the available 1.5-liter turbo-four that produces 180 horses and 177 pound-feet. Both engines are paired with a standard continuously variable automatic transmission, unless you opt for the six-speed on the hatch.
The turbo has lively performance and a smooth ride. The Civic is quick off the line with no noticeable turbo lag. It can go from zero to 60 in about seven seconds, which is speedy enough for merging and passing at freeway speeds. The CVT shifts quickly and smoothly. Steering is accurate, brakes are responsive, and the Civic stays planted when cornering. Choose from Eco, Normal and Sport driving modes. Some engine and road noise is noticeable in the cabin. Visibility is good all the way around. All in all, the Civic is easy and fun to drive – just what you want in a compact car.
Fuel economy is great for the class, and is even a little bit better than the outgoing model with an additional one to two mpg across all trims. EPA ratings for my tester are 31 mpg city and 38 mpg highway with a combined rating of 34. I got 33 mpg during my week with a mix of city and highway driving.
The updated cabin is now one of the nicest in the class. Materials are of good quality, including modern-looking piano-black accents. Seats are comfortable and supportive. Adults have enough room in both rows, although legroom is hampered in the rear middle seat due to the large hump on the floor. Newly standard is a seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system.
Standard features include push-button start, rearview camera, partial digital instrumentation, infotainment system with seven-inch touchscreen, four-speaker audio system, Bluetooth, USB port, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, automatic high-beam headlights, and a rear-seat reminder.
Available features include proximity keyless entry, remote start, automatic climate control, dual-zone automatic climate control, leather seating, power front seats, seven-inch driver information display, 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster, nine-inch touchscreen, eight-speaker audio system, 12-speaker Bose premium audio system, navigation, a satellite radio, HD Radio, voice recognition, another front USB port, two rear USB ports, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, wireless device charging, universal garage door opener, auto-dimming rearview mirror, rain-sensing windshield wipers, and a moonroof.
All 2022 Civics come standard with the Honda Sensing suite of driver assistance technologies including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, lane keeping assist, road departure mitigation and traffic sign recognition.
Available driver assistance technologies include blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, and front and rear parking sensors.
My Touring trim comes standard with a larger touchscreen infotainment system. One peeve is that there’s no physical tuning knob for audio. C’mon, Honda – add a darn knob! At least there’s a volume knob and physical controls for climate.
The sedan has 14.8 cubic feet of trunk space which is good for the class. Lower trims have a second row that folds down in one unit while upper trims have rear seats that split-fold 60/40.
The good:
Lively performance
Fun to drive
Comfortable ride
Great fuel economy
Nice interior
Lots of standard and available features and tech
Standard Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
Above average trunk space
The not-so-good:
No volume knob on infotainment system
Pricing info:
My tester starts at $28,300. Morning Mist Metallic paint is $395. Destination fee is $995 bringing the grand total to $29,690.
Bottom line:
The redesigned 2022 Honda Civic should maintain its spot as one of the best and most popular compact cars. It’s well-equipped and fun to drive, and won’t break the bank. No wonder the Civic has been so popular for about 50 years.
