Used 2022 Honda Civic

The Honda Civic has been one of the top three best-selling passenger cars in the U.S. since 1973, with over 12 million sold. And the current Civic, a regular KBB Best Buy award winner introduced in 2015, has been the best-selling model in America with first-time buyers.

With this all-new 2022 Honda Civic, the company says it has revisited some “timeless design concepts” from previous Civics. Such as a low hood, front fenders, and beltline, which create an expansive greenhouse and a superb outward view.

The front-wheel-drive (FWD) Civic chassis has been revamped, significantly more rigid than before, and now sporting a wheelbase that has grown by 1.4 inches, which helps to create a roomier back seat and a smoother ride. While the new Civic hatchback could have been made to look more like a wagon, Honda instead gave it a coupe-like roofline while retaining good rear headroom.

The two engines are a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder with 158 horsepower, or a turbocharged 1.5-liter 4-cylinder with 180. Both mate to a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT).

The 2022 Honda Civic hatchback, however, can be ordered with an optional 6-speed manual transmission in the Sport and Touring trims.

Compared to last year’s Civic, the EPA fuel economy has improved a bit. Moreover, Honda says the suspension has been tuned to be sporty but comfortable, with upgrades that improve steering response and reduce shock over bumpy surfaces like railroad crossings. At the back, the track has been widened a half-inch for added stability, while new bushings significantly reduce noise and vibration coming into the 5-seat cabin.

The Civic hatchback is based on the same chassis, but shorter in the back by 4.9 inches.

The sedan-only 2022 Honda Civic Si has a 200-horsepower version of the turbocharged 1.5-liter 4-cylinder. This eager engine is fitted exclusively to a short-throw 6-speed manual transmission with a helical limited-slip front differential, and the chassis is complemented by a sport-tuned suspension and available summer tires.  The front springs of the Si are 8 percent stiffer than those of a regular Civic sedan, while the rears are an astounding 60 percent firmer.

With its updated looks, improved structure, and thoroughly modern set of safety and convenience items, the highly refined 2022 Honda Civic looks well prepared to carry on this compact Honda’s impressive sales legacy.

The 2022 Honda Civic sedan and the Civic Si are built in Alliston, Ontario, Canada. The 2022 Honda Civic hatchback is built in Greensburg, Indiana.

Look for the sportiest version of the new Honda Civic, the track-ready Type R, to arrive in 2022. Like the Si, it’s fitted exclusively with a manual gearbox.

KBB tested a Touring and a Sport, both sedans.

The view out is excellent, aided by the low cowl and wide-set windshield pillars. What’s more, with the Touring trim’s leather upholstery, digital gauges, 9-inch infotainment system, and 12-speaker Bose audio system, this compact Honda feels like it has moved up a class in quality.

The turbocharged 1.5-liter engine is outstanding. It’s quiet and smooth, and the power (180 horsepower) arrives in a pleasantly linear fashion. You can shut off the fuel-saving stop/restart function, and the responsive continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) is among the best we’ve sampled. It doesn’t exhibit any of the droning sensation common with early CVTs, and the shift paddles are there for whenever you’re in a sporty mood.

Sport mode, which is selectable via a rocker switch on the center console, makes the new Civic come alive and feel much more responsive. In Sport mode, engine rpm is increased at various speeds compared to Eco and Normal.

In a sense, we see the roomier new 2022 Honda Civic as an anti-SUV. It’s practical, with enough room inside for four tall adults and a kid squeezed in the middle of the back bench. It also has a 14.8 cubic foot trunk, which compares favorably to the 13.1 cu ft trunk in the Toyota Corolla.

But at the same time, the new Honda Civic feels low, wide, and fun, eager to carve corners in the same manner as expensive German cars. This new Civic sedan relishes twisty roads, aided by good steering feel and excellent grip, but at no apparent sacrifice in ride quality.

The same goes for the new 2022 Honda Civic Sport, which shares its suspension tuning with the Touring, but is powered by the naturally aspirated 2.0-liter engine with 158 horsepower.

While the Civic Sport isn’t quite as quick as the Touring, its engine does have a higher redline (6,750 rpm vs. 6,500 for the Touring). Also impressive in the Civic Sport are its sporty appearance and grippy fabric covering the seats. Further underscoring its sporty flair are a leather-covered steering wheel and shifter.

Like the Touring, the Honda Civic Sport is quiet, comfortable, and refined, yet its black window trim, side mirrors, badges, and 18-inch alloy wheels should make it appeal to a younger demographic.

KBB also sampled a pair of 2022 Civic hatchbacks, a Sonic Gray Pearl Sport Touring model with a 6-speed manual transmission, and a Boost Blue Pearl Sport Touring model with a CVT.

These new Indiana-built Civic hatchbacks have the same light, rigid and agile feel as their Civic sedan siblings, but the no-cost 6-speed manual transmission deserves special mention. First, because it’s available. Second, because it’s so darned good. The Civic shift linkage is precise, the throws are short, and the light-effort clutch is easy to modulate. While we understand that people who commute on crowded freeways will likely opt for the CVT automatic, we appreciate that Honda continues to offer a manual transmission in the Civic.

While some may consider a manual a relic, Honda’s 6-speed transaxle is a great example, and we all know that manual gearboxes get the driver more involved in the art of driving. It even has an automatic stop/restart function that shuts off the engine to save fuel at stoplights. The engine starts right back up as soon as the clutch pedal is engaged.

On the other hand, the CVT in the Civic hatchback has its own appeal. It can be left in Econ or Normal, the modes in which this transmission smoothly and efficiently finds the right ratios for the turbocharged 1.5-liter, a smooth 4-cylinder that can sound slightly grumbly at low rpm. In Sport mode, the paddle shifters work more crisply, and engine rpm is kept slightly higher for more immediate throttle response.

You won’t go wrong with either Civic gearbox. But the manual can’t quite match the outstanding EPA fuel economy numbers of the CVT. That stated, the Civic hatchback with either gearbox feels much like the Civic sedan from the driver’s seat, but it’s blessed with more rear cargo room (24.5 cubic feet) than many subcompact crossover SUVs. And it gets even roomier when the rear seats are folded flat. As a result, the Civic hatch is a bit more practical than the sedan, and there’s even a pull-out cargo cover to keep gear away from prying eyes.

Honda has simplified the Civic’s interior for 2022. Clean straight lines dominate the airy cockpit, which offers an excellent outward view and an instrument panel with a digital tachometer and an analog speedometer.

The Civic Touring’s instrument panel, however, is an all-digital 10.2-inch LCD screen that’s customizable. It can look traditional with round gauges and requisite pointers, or thoroughly modern with bar graphs flanking the center section of the full-color screen. That center section is a driver information center that shows a variety of information ranging from the current music selection or trip computer info to the status of the various safety and driver-assist systems.

The interior of the new Honda Civic sedan and hatchback is understated but handsome. One of the most notable elements is a honeycomb metal mesh strip spanning the width of the dash. It provides a dividing line for the audio, information displays, and climate controls, while also concealing air vents that would otherwise clutter the look of the dash.

As for the new Civic’s seats, Honda says they are based on a new-generation frame that provides plenty of support while enhancing occupant comfort on long drives. Our KBB staffers concur.

The Civic sedan has a trunk volume of 14 cubic feet. The Civic hatchback has 24.5 cu ft behind its rear seat, which splits 60/40 and folds forward to add even more cargo capacity. Compared to that of the last Civic hatchback, the width of the hatch opening has increased by 1.6 inches.

Like the 2022 Honda Civic sedan, the new 2022 Honda Civic hatchback has a standard 7-inch touchscreen or an optional 9-inch screen, the latter with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto.

The new Civic Si, owing to its sporting abilities, has body-hugging sport seats with built-in headrests and larger supports for the shoulders and thighs. The seat cushion has been raised by 0.5 inches at the front, for reduced leg fatigue on long drives.

In addition to sport pedals and red stitching, the Si interior has a 7-inch color instrument panel with a digital tachometer on the left and a physical speedometer dial on the right. The Si also comes standard with a 12-speaker Bose audio system; Honda says it’s the best factory system in Civic Si history.

The exterior of the 2022 Honda Civic has taken a dramatic turn. Some might say this new Civic has the look of a baby Accord. One thing’s for certain, the simplified and refined body lines create a far more sophisticated-looking compact sedan. The nose is blunted and pedestrian-friendly, with built-in impact-absorption areas.

The Civic’s A-pillars have been moved back two inches, making the hood longer and giving the windshield a slightly more upright look. The windshield pillars are thin and the cowl is low, giving this Honda an airy and open cockpit reminiscent of earlier Civics while also creating a dash-to-axle ratio like that of a rear-wheel-drive car.

Similarly, the headlights and taillights get a minimalist treatment, which helps to emphasize the more planted stance of the new Civic. A bold character line running the length of the new Civic helps further in this regard, visually lowering the beltline while improving the outward view, particularly for those in the back.

The new Civic Si is characterized by functional aerodynamic aids. These include a hidden front spoiler and a gloss black rear one, both of which add downforce at speed. Gloss-black trim also adorns the Si’s mirrors and window surrounds. In back, the Si has a pair of large oval-shaped exhaust outlets.

Honda says the look of the new Civic hatchback has been inspired by European Sportback designs. The mesh grille has a slightly concave shape, and the coupe-like profile helps us see that the new Civic hatchback has noticeably less rear overhang (by 4.9 inches).

This sleek roofline has been made possible by a lightweight composite hatch and revised hinges, which allow for a roof height reduction of nearly 2 inches. The center high-mounted stop lamp (CHMSL), which spans the width of the hatch, helps emphasize the new Civic hatchback’s wide rear track.

For an enhanced outward view, the 2022 Civic hatchback has larger side windows and small corner windows in the C-pillars. These add to the airy feeling of the Civic hatchback’s rear bench seat, which offers 1.4 inches more legroom than the previous Civic hatch.

Two new paint colors are available on the 2022 Honda Civic hatchback: Boost Blue Pearl and Smokey Mauve Pearl. Also, the Civic Si can be ordered in an exclusive bright color called Blazing Orange Pearl.

7-INCH COLOR TOUCHSCREEN
The Civic LX, Sport, and EX get a 7-inch color touchscreen, the largest standard screen in Civic history. It includes a volume knob (yay!) and a tuning knob (double yay!), and it also features a bottom row of buttons that allows you to control the music or select media sources such as Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. The top Civic, the Touring, gets an even bigger 9-inch screen, but it does not have a station knob.

BOSE PREMIUM SOUND
Touring models are available with a premium Bose sound system designed specifically for the new Civic and featuring digital signal processing. The 12-speaker system, the first application of Bose audio in a Civic, features an 8-inch woofer in the rear deck.

The 2022 Honda Civic LX and Sport sedan are equipped with a 158-horsepower 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine and a CVT. Both of these Civics have 10 standard airbags, the HondaSensing safety suite, and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto.

The Civic LX sedan’s base model gets 16-inch steel wheels (with covers) and 215/55R-16 tires. Other standard equipment on the LX includes a digital instrument panel, 7-inch color touchscreen, folding rear seat, LED headlights and taillights, push-button starter, and automatic climate control.

The Civic Sport is distinguished by 18-inch alloy wheels shod with 235/40R-18 tires. Additional Sport hardware includes shift paddles, a leather-wrapped steering wheel (and shift knob), grippier fabric on its seats, and black window molding.

The 2022 Honda Civic EX and Touring sedans both get the turbocharged 1.5-liter 4-cylinder engine with 180 horsepower and a CVT. New Civic hatchbacks can be ordered with the 2.0-liter or the turbo 1.5, with either the standard CVT or an optional 6-speed manual transmission in the Sport and Touring models).

The EX sedan has 17-inch alloy wheels and 215/50R-17 tires. Other notable standard features on the Civic EX include a moonroof, a blind-spot indicator, heated front seats, heated mirrors, illuminated vanity mirrors, and a 60/40 split-folding rear seat that features a fold-down center armrest with cupholders.

The Civic Touring sedan ups the level of standard equipment with power front seats, leather upholstery, paddle shifters, a blind-spot monitor, a rear cross-traffic monitor, and 18-inch alloy wheels shod with 235/40R-18 tires.

While the EX sedan gets a 7-inch touchscreen, the Touring is equipped with a 9-inch high-def color touchscreen, a 10.2-inch driver-information center, and a 12-speaker Bose audio system.

Other standard items on the new Civic Touring sedan include a wireless smartphone charger and a pair of rear USB ports. Front/rear parking sensors and slow-speed braking control detect objects in front of (or behind) this compact Honda. The braking control will apply the brakes if necessary to prevent a collision.

The trim levels for the 2022 Honda Civic hatchback are similar, but not identical. The 2.0-liter Civic LX hatchback gets 16-inch alloy wheels and automatic climate control, plus a 7-inch color touchscreen and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto. The 2.0-liter Sport Civic hatchback ups the ante with 18-inch alloy wheels and sport seats, plus a leather-wrapped steering wheel, paddle shifters (CVT only), a Sport driving mode (CVT only), and an 8-speaker audio system.

As a 1.5-liter EX-L model, the 2022 Honda Civic hatchback gets 17-inch alloy wheels, power driver’s seat, moonroof,  leather upholstery, blind-spot monitor, dual-zone automatic climate control, and heated front seats.

The top 2022 Civic Hatchback, the 1.5L Sport Touring model, gets a 10-inch digital gauge display, a 9-inch color touchscreen, and power front seats, along with a navigation system, leather-wrapped steering wheel, wireless smartphone charger, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, two rear USB charging points, and a Bose sound system with 12 speakers.

To cope with its added sporting abilities, the new Civic Si has 235/40R-18 tires and larger front and rear brakes than the standard Civic sedan, plus an Individual Drive mode that allows the Si driver to select the engine response, steering effort, and color parameters of the instrument panel.

The 2022 Honda Civic sedan doesn’t have many options. Each trim level has a unique set of features. You choose your Civic by looking at the standard features in the four available trim levels.

While this means, for example, that you can’t get the nifty 9-inch touchscreen on any other Civic model besides the Touring, Honda says its method of pricing is simple and transparent, as it’s tied directly to a trim level with an easily understood set of standard features.

That stated, the new 2022 Honda Civic can be ordered with a dealer-installed HPD accessory package. For $1,390, you get front and rear underbody spoilers, side skirts, a decklid spoiler, and a Honda Performance Development badge.

On the 2022 Honda Civic hatchback, a 6-speed manual transmission is a no-cost option with both engines (Sport and Touring). Additionally, Honda tells us the new Civic hatchback is available with 40 accessories. Sonic Gray Pearl Paint adds $395.

Grippy summer tires are available as an option on the new Civic Si.

With the 2022 Honda Civic, buyers have a choice of a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder in the LX and Sport, or a turbocharged 1.5-liter 4-cylinder in the EX and Touring.

The 2.0-liter, carried over from last year, puts out 158 horsepower at 6,500 rpm and 138 lb-ft of torque at 4,200 rpm. The turbo 1.5 puts out 180 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and a substantial 177 lb-ft of torque from 1,700 rpm to 4,500 rpm.

Both engines mate to a continuously variable automatic transmission, but the CVT in the Sport and Touring models is equipped with a larger torque converter to better handle the additional torque. The Sport and the Touring models also get paddle shifters and three selectable drive modes: Eco, Normal, and Sport.

The power levels are the same in the new 2022 Honda Civic hatchback, but both engines are available with an optional 6-speed manual transmission.

Both engines also are easy on gas. The 2022 Honda Civic EX sedan, powered by the 1.5, is best, returning EPA fuel economy of 33 mpg city/42 mpg highway/36 mpg combined. The thriftiest new 2.0-liter Honda Civic is the LX sedan, rated by the EPA at 31 mpg city/40 mpg highway/35 mpg combined.

Low-drag brake calipers, together with low-friction wheel bearings and efficiency improvements in the CVT, contribute to the new Civic’s excellent fuel economy. Further improving efficiency are a new automatic stop/start system and a freer-flowing catalytic converter.

The new Honda Civic Si is powered by a higher-output version of the turbocharged 1.5-liter 4-cylinder. The peak torque of 192 lb.-ft. arrives at only 1800 rpm, for better power out of corners. The peak horsepower figure of 200 hp is maintained from 6000 rpm to the 6500-rpm redline.

The Si’s 6-speed manual, which has a stiffened linkage, now has the rev-matching feature from the previous Civic Type R. In Sport mode, it automatically “blips” the throttle for smoother downshifts and better vehicle balance during deceleration.

2.0-liter inline-4
158 horsepower @ 6,500 rpm
138 lb-ft of torque @ 4,200 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 31/40 mpg (LX sedan), 30/37 mpg (Sport sedan) 30/38 mpg (LX hatchback), 26/36 mpg (Sport hatchback manual), 29/37 mpg (Sport hatchback CVT)

1.5-liter turbocharged inline-4
180 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm
200 horsepower @6,000 rpm (Si)
177 lb-ft of torque @ 1,700-4,500 rpm
192 lb-ft of torque @ 1,800-5,000 rpm (Si)
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 33/42 mpg (EX sedan), 31/38 mpg (Touring sedan), 31/39 mpg (EX-L hatchback), 28/37 mpg (Sport hatchback manual), 30/37 mpg (Sport hatchback CVT), 27/37 mpg (Si)