LOOKS

Updates to the Civic’s design improve the looks both inside and outside the car.

On the exterior, a sportier look is offered, with a sharp lighting design that highlights the elongated head lamps and larger grille.

Exterior features include 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights and taillights, rain-sensing wipers, and heated power door mirrors with turn indicators.

Moving inside, you’ll fight both a better designed and more upscale appearance in the 2022 Civic vs. its predecessor’s design. Comfort is also improved for 2022 for driver and passengers.

Like all compact cars, the interior of the Civic wil be tight for families or those who transport a lot of passengers, especially in the rear. But it is among the more roomy compacts out there, if this is the class you’re choosing. Some may find it too small and seek an upgrade to the Honda Accord or other larger sedans. 

Materials on the interior are high-end for the segment, but not quite at the level of some competitors.

Standout interior features include leather-trimmed seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, dual-zone automatic climate control, heated front seats, 60/40 split fold-down rear seats, and more. The one-touch power moonroof was a strong feature on the Civic I tested, and you also get wireless phone charging in a convenient location up front.

You shouldn’t expect a ton of cargo space in any compact car, but among the segment the Civic’s numbers do hold up well.

HOW’S THE RIDE?

There are two choices to power your 2022 Honda Civic. The first option is a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine, which comes standard and offers 158 horsepower and 138 lb.-ft of torque. If you seek more juice, step up to the 1.5-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder engine and its 180 horsepower and 177 pound-feet.

All Civics will come in front-wheel drive only, and all sedans come with a CVT automatic transmission. Hatchback buyers still have the option of a six-speed manual transmission, but it’s been cut from the sedan lineup. Paddle shifters can help drivers try to replicate the manual experience.

My test vehicle (a Touring trim level) had the upgraded engine, and I recommend the upgrade. The driving experience was stout and better than most rivals in the compact car class. What smaller vehicles lack in space, they often make up for in terms of drivability and that's the case here. In my view, the Civic’s drive quality is only beaten in this segment by the Mazda3, which is tuned for more power.

There is some road noise that gets into the vehicle on the highway, but it’s not overly bothersome. The Civic gets you moving well for a small vehicle; braking is quite responsive; and handling is another strongpoint. 

 
TECHNOLOGY, SAFETY

The Civic’s impressive infotainment system is centered around a 9-inch color touchscreen featuring Honda Navigation, voice recognition and a multi-view rear camera.

The system was well-designed, and featured reliable voice commands that were understood by the vehicle without any struggle. There are also helpful on-screen hints for commands if you’re not sure what to say.

Touch controls for the infotainment setup are also very easy to learn and well-placed, as are the steering wheel controls. Navigation was effective, even when I got diverted by construction, always offering new routes.

Among other tech features were a Bose premium audio system with 13 speakers, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration, a Driver Attention Monitor, Bluetooth connectivity for streaming music and phone calls to the vehicle, satellite radio (free for three months) and more.

Moving on to safety, the Civic also gets this part done very well, with lots of standard features offered.

Beyond the bevy of air bags throughout the vehicle to keep you protected, safety features include: Rear Cross Traffic Monitor, Vehicle Stability Assist, Anti-Lock Braking System and a Tire Pressure Monitoring System, plus a LATCH System for Child Seats.

Also standard is the Honda Sensing package, which features advanced systems such as Adaptive Cruise Control, Collision Mitigation Braking System, Lane Keeping Assist System, Road Departure Mitigation, Blind Spot Information System, plus Front and Rear Parking Sensors

These are all great features that can save lives, but be aware that some of them can be overly sensitive at times.

MPG

The official fuel mileage numbers on the 2022 Civic are 31 city/38 highway/34 combined. In my testing, On paper, these are among the best numbers in class.
However, in real world testing,I only averaged 28 mpg in my testing. Still strong numbers, but  a bit short of what I expected.

PRICE

The 2022 Honda Civic comes in four different trims – LX, EX, Sport, and Touring. The Touring model I tested was at the higher end of the range and priced just under $30,000. Base price starts around $23K.

This is a good middle ground for the segment. Some competitors undercut the price a bit, and some are more expensive. All in all, it’s about as affordable a vehicle as you’re going to find these days and still get a strong product. This is one of the reasons the Civic is among the most popular vehicles for younger car buyers becoming first-time owners (or adults buying cars for young drivers in the family).

Warranty is for 3 years/36,000 miles, and you get Honda Roadside Assistance. But it’s important to remember that Honda has a great reputation for reliability, which helps in overall cost analysis.

BOTTOM LINE

While its compact size may limit the number of interested buyers, those who don’t need a lot of passenger or cargo space have a lot to love in the 2022 Honda Civic, which should continue to be one of the auto industry’s top sellers due to its reliability, responsive driving profile and strong tech setup. In a competitive compact car segment, it holds its own with the 2022 redesign. 

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Matt Myftiu can be found on Twitter @MattMyftiu.