As one of the most popular cars in America for the past 50 years, the 2022 Honda Civic had a lot to live up to. Now in its 11th generation, the Civic offers fresh, simple and timeless styling. It's economical, fun to drive and full of the latest technology. It's garnered accolades and awards from multiple publications and testing outlets. In short, the 2022 Honda Civic resets the benchmark for the compact sedan segment.
Price and value
As with all past Honda Civics, the new sedan is an excellent value — no matter the trim level you choose. The MSRP range for the 2022 Honda Civic is $22,550-$29,150. It is available in five trim levels, with a suite of standard features that includes Sport Mode, Apple CarPlay integration and LED headlights. Some of the major differences in trims are noted below.
- LX: $22,250
16-inch wheels
158 horsepower 2.0-liter engine
Automatic climate control
- Sport: $23,950
18-inch wheels
Paddle shifters
Leather-wrapped steering wheel
- EX: $25,550
180-horsepower 1.5-liter turbocharged engine
One-touch power moonroof
Heated front seats
- Si: $27,500
200-horsepower 1.5-liter turbocharged engine
6-speed manual transmission
Helical limited-slip differential
- Touring: $29,150
180-horsepower 1.5-Liter turbocharged engine
Leather-Trimmed Seats
Bose Premium Sound System
From sporty and dynamic to luxurious and soothing, Honda has done a great job offering high value trims across the board. Honda's standard warranty package is right in line with the rest of the industry. Buyers get a 3-year/36,000-mile limited warranty and a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty, but no complimentary maintenance plan.
Performance
The 2022 Honda Civic Touring is impressive. The engine might be small, but it's responsive and a pleasure to drive — especially with its different drive modes. The Civic strikes the perfect balance of performance, economy and fun. Whether you're cornering down a back road or leisurely commuting home, it delivers.
Engine
We were curious how the new 1.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine would perform, and we were impressed. The tiny engine produces 180 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque, which feels underrated. It's responsive, torque-y, economical and a joy to exercise, no matter our driving mood.
Fuel efficiency
The new sedan offers excellent fuel efficiency. The Environmental Protection Agency rates it at 31 mpg in the city and 37 mpg on the highway. In our week of combined testing, we averaged just over 34 miles per gallon. Impressive numbers, especially considering how responsive the powertrain is.
Drivetrain
Keeping with tradition, the new Civic is front-wheel drive. The transmission is a continuously variable automatic — one of the best CVTs we've experienced. It feels like a traditional automatic, providing good power whenever you need it.
Acceleration and handling
The Honda Civic may not be the fastest car out there, but it is punchy. Car and Driver clocked the Civic going 0 to 60 mph in 7.3 seconds. As enjoyable as the engine is to wring out, the Civic’s handling might be its showstopper. It feels taut, composed and well matched to the Civic’s excellent chassis. The suspension is also right in the sweet spot — not too firm, not too soft, but just right.
Braking
As with the other driving dynamics of the Honda Civic, the car’s brakes were good. The brake pedal was easy to modulate and provided ample stopping power in a natural and progressive way. A collision mitigation braking system comes standard.
Interior comfort and convenience
The Civic’s interior is genuinely beautiful. It's much more streamlined than previous Civic generations, with simple, clean horizontal lines. A honeycomb pattern mesh cleverly disguises the air vents and lends a unique and classy feel to this economy car. Every seat is so comfortable and spacious, you’ll wonder how the Honda engineers squeezed it all in.
Seats
Honda has always done a nice job with their seats, but the ones in the Civic might just be perfect. They're supportive, with just the right amount of cushion and bolstering. They’re so comfy, you may want to lounge out in the garage. The Touring trim’s leather feels high quality, and we appreciated the perforation during our hot test days. They aren’t ventilated, but the heated seats worked well.
Climate control
Air conditioning in 4-cylinder vehicles can sometimes leave the driver and passengers sweating. This is not the case in the new Honda Civic. In fact, it’s one of the best air conditioners we've ever experienced. With no tint on the windows and a black leather interior, we thought it would be a downright oven. We were wrong. Despite 100 degree temps outside, just a few minutes of air completely cooled the cabin. As a bonus, the fan noise isn’t loud. While the dual-zone automatic climate control was a welcome feature, we do wish for rear vents.
Cargo space and cabin storage
Ample storage is yet another better than expected feature in the new Civic. The trunk and its 14 cubic feet are plenty for everyday use. The new center console design, between the passenger and driver, is large. A bin in front of the shift lever is perfect for storing phones, keys and snacks. The center armrest is soft and comfortable, with ample storage underneath for all of your sundries and small bags.
Infotainment system
Standing tall over the otherwise minimalist horizontal dash is the 9-inch infotainment screen. The infotainment system was easy enough to use, but wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are what make this one stand out. While we do wish the screen didn't stand quite so tall over the dash, it did offer nice colors and great resolution. The Touring trim’s Bose stereo system sounded excellent, with great bass, midrange and treble notes.
Exterior appearance and functionality
The Civic’s new exterior boasts a clean, more grown-up appearance that is bound to age well. While some might find the styling to be a bit anonymous, we appreciate the more classic approach — especially when standing next to the busy and frenetic previous generation.
Our tester was finished in a beautiful Morning Mist Metallic paint. Other eye-catching colors available are Aegean Blue Metallic, Lunar Silver Metallic, Meteorite Grey Metallic, Rallye Red, Platinum White Pearl and Sonic Gray Pearl.
Wheels
The touring trim comes standard with 18-inch alloy wheels with gloss shark gray inserts. Shod with 235/40 RE-18 Goodyear Eagle Sport all-season tires, the Civic handled well and road noise was reasonable, even on the highway.
Lights and turn signals
Adding to the Honda Civic’s impressive value play is the lighting. The Civic Touring trim comes standard with automatic high beams, automatic on/off headlights and LED fog lights, headlights and tail lights. With LED lights all around, the Honda Civic offered excellent nighttime luminescence, as well as sharp turn signals and daytime running lights.
Cameras and side mirrors
We're always grateful for high-resolution cameras and Honda's multiview camera didn't disappoint. The system was a great help in parking and backing up into tight areas. The side mirrors were easily adjustable and offered open clear views down the sides of the vehicle.
Front and rear windshield
The overall visibility was also excellent in the Honda Civic, especially due to its flat, horizontal belt line and large, rectangular windshields and surrounding windows. While it was not cold enough to test defrost features, we are certain that the HVAC’s performance will work quickly on cold mornings.
Safety
The 2022 Honda Civic Touring is one of the safest vehicles on the road today. With excellent technology, great visibility and a host of standard safety features, the Civic is a good choice for those who prioritize safety.
Features
The Civic’s list of safety features is long and impressive, especially considering the price point. The list includes:
- Adaptive cruise control
- Collision mitigation braking system
- Lane keeping assist system
- Road departure mitigation
- Traffic jam assist
- Driver attention monitor
- Rear cross-traffic monitor
- Vehicle stability assist
Awards and ratings
Love for the 2022 Honda Civic is widespread and growing by the day. And it has the awards to prove it. It earned a five-star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety also awarded the Civic its highest rating as a 2022 Top Safety Pick+.
Other awards include the U.S. News 2022 Best Compact Car For the Money; 2022 Kelley Blue Book Best Buy Award; Wards Auto 10 Best User Experiences; and the 2022 North American Car of the Year award by the North American jury of automotive journalists.
Final impression
We walked away from our week with the new 2022 Honda Civic Touring impressed. It's a car that just about anybody will enjoy and be charmed by. For the money, it will be tough to find a better commuter or daily driver. Because of its excellent value proposition, we would recommend the Touring trim that our tester was.
If you haven't yet considered or checked out the new Civic, you're missing out. Find one on KSL Cars today.
FAQs
Is the Honda Civic good for families?
For small families, definitely. If you have two kids, even in child seats, they'll be happy in the back seat with all the space. The only drawback is the lack of air vents. The trunk is also spacious and will have no problem accommodating most strollers, diaper bags or large Costco grocery runs.
KSL Cars does not endorse any vehicles. The views or opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer and do not reflect the views or opinions of KSL.com or its employees.
