The Honda Civic sedan, a grande dame in the compact car class, fortifies its status for 2022 with a whole new version built on its established foundation of affordability, reliability, fuel efficiency and fun.
Contemporary styling, chassis and powertrain improvements, added safety features, and infotainment tech enrichments are among the benefits bestowed upon the all-new Civic sedan.
Civic’s new exterior is distinctly more sporty-looking yet still within the parameters of its traditional subtlety, a standard that has kept Civic sedans looking good over the decades, long after their newness has expired.
The snazzy but simple and uncluttered design of the 2022 Civic interior is immensely appealing. A highlight is the honeycomb-patterned mesh panel running the length of the dashboard, providing flair and concealing the air vents.
There are four Civic sedan trim levels: LX, Sport, EX, and Touring. Pricing with a $995 destination charge included starts at $22,695 for the LX. Its standard features include LED headlights, automatic high beams, automatic climate control, tilt and telescoping steering wheel, driver’s seat with manual height adjustment, 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with four-speaker audio, and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay capability.
The Civic Sport trim is similarly equipped but adds a smart key, three-mode drive system, upgraded audio, sporty wheels and tires, and other touches such as sport pedals and chrome exhaust tips. It’s priced at $24,095.
Power for LX and Sport models is provided by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine making 158 horsepower and paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT).
Fuel economy ratings for the LX are 31 mpg city, 40 mpg highway, and 35 mpg combined. Numbers for the Sport model are 30/37/33 mpg.
The EX trim goes for $25,695 and the Touring for $29,295. Their engine is a 1.5-liter, 180-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder paired with a CVT, but in Touring usage the transmission is tuned for zippier response.
Fuel economy ratings are 33/42/36 mpg for the EX, and 31/38/34 for the Touring.
All models have front-wheel drive.
The EX trim’s added standard features include a power sliding moonroof, heated seats and outside mirrors, dual-zone automatic climate control, and blind-spot monitoring.
Every 2022 Civic sedan comes standard with an expanded Honda Sensing suite of driver-assistive and safety technologies.
I drove the full-boat Touring model, whose additional features include power front seats, SiriusXM radio, navigation, 9-inch touchscreen with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integration, Bose premium audio, digital and customizable instrument display, front and rear parking sensors, wireless phone charging, leather seats, LED fog lights, Sport driving mode, and low-speed braking control.
In spite of an increase in special features, pricing for the 2022 Touring trim stays the same as last year’s model.
Everything on my Touring tester came as standard equipment except its fascinating Morning Mist Metallic paint, a $395 surcharge.
Operating the Civic’s infotainment and climate control functions is a nice tactile experience thanks to large sturdy controls trimmed with metal. Touchscreen operation is facilitated by rapid responses. There’s a physical knob for volume adjustment, but not for tuning. Civic designers redeemed themselves by putting tiny left and right push button tuning controls right next to the touchscreen’s tuning arrows.
Though the Touring model has an eight-way power adjustable driver’s seat, it lacks lumbar, which it needs.
The new Civic Sedan has a higher level of ride sophistication than its predecessor, treating passengers with care by absorbing bumps, dips, and irregularities in road surfaces, and quashing unwanted noise. The passenger at the wheel wins the trifecta of also being entertained by Civic’s precise steering and agile handling.
Both 2022 Civic engines are carryovers from last year, but the capable turbo in the EX and Touring gets a 6-horsepower boost along with 15 extra pound-feet of torque.
2022 HONDA CIVIC SEDAN TOURING
Base price, including destination charge: $29,295
Price as driven: $29,690
Mary Lowry is a member of the Motor Press Guild and a member and past president of the Northwest Automotive Press Association. She lives in Snohomish County. Vehicles are provided by automotive manufacturers as a one-week loan for evaluation purposes only. Manufacturers do not control content of the reviews.
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