• 2022 Honda Civic ($21,700- $28,300)
• Pro: The 2022 Honda Civic is completely redesigned with a fresh new look and excellent driving dynamics.
• Con: There’s no coupe body style, only a sedan and hatchback.

The Honda Civic has been one of the top-selling cars in the U.S. since 1973. Given its reputation for reliability, affordability, and efficiency, it’s easy to see why. Now in its 11th generation, the Honda Civic continues to rely on this tried-and-true formula for success but adds in a dose of fun and entertainment.

In addition to a new look inside and out, the 2022 Honda Civic remains a formidable competitor in its segment by offering a new sound system and a revised fun-to-drive nature. The new bounce in the Civic’s step should put longtime rivals like the Toyota Corolla and Mazda3 on notice.

The 2022 Honda Civic has an upscale new look

Take a quick look at the 2022 Honda Civic and no one will blame you for thinking that it’s an Accord. Aside from its more sophisticated overall look, the new Civic is 1.4 inches longer and 0.5 inches wider than the outgoing model, so it is bigger than ever before. But the sheet metal that covers its structure is much more redefined. For starters, Honda pushed the Civic’s windshield and A-pillars back by almost 2 inches, effectively elongating the hood for a more upscale and lower profile.

The front grille area is painted and flanked by two full-LED headlights. On the side of the car, there’s a bold character line that runs up the side and complements the lowered beltline, which gives it a sportier look. Overall, this new look sets the Civic apart from the rest of the cars in the category with a sleek, grown-up look.

The Civic’s interior is comfortable and classy

Sit in the driver’s seat of the 2022 Civic and you’ll notice just how spacious the car feels. The front seat occupants have plenty of leg and headroom as do the passengers in the rear seat. Even the middle seat is comfortable enough for longer drives. As it turns out, that extra wheelbase helps a lot with the interior comfort, since it added a little more room.

A cloth interior is standard on the lower trims, however, my top-trim Civic Touring test car came with leather seats. But no matter which iteration of the Civic you choose, you’ll get the retro-styled grille that bisects the dashboard. While it might look a little off at first, I think that mesh grille adds a unique touch that you won’t find in nearly any other car. Also, the vent knobs are a nice addition.

Which 2022 Civic trim level is the right one for you?

For 2022, the Honda Civic is available in four different trim levels – LX, Sport, EX, and Touring – and also comes in eight different exterior colors. My test car was the Touring trim level and was dressed in the brand’s “Morning Mist Metallic,” which is Honda’s speak for “baby blue.”

You can still find everything you need in a Honda Civic

Honda has always value-packed the Civic by trim levels in order to make it easier for buyers to pick the right trim. Fortunately, the Civic comes loaded with everything you need and is available with everything you could want. As such, the base Civic LX comes standard with 16-inch wheels with covers, a digital instrument display, a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, LED head and taillights, Apple Carplay connectivity, and auto-climate control.

Stepping up to the Sport trim level will equip with the Civic with 18-inch wheels, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, shifter paddles, and a leather-wrapped shift knob. But if you want a little more convenience, then you can opt for the EX trim, which adds a moonroof, a blind-spot indicator, and heated front seats into the mix.

But if you want the most out of the 2022 Civic, then I suggest getting the Touring trim, which most notably comes with power front seats, leather seating surfaces, a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system, 18-inch wheels, and a 12-speaker Bose premium audio system. That audio system alone is worth the upgrade, as is the leather interior.

The Honda Civic handles better than you would expect

The one thing that I noticed the most when getting in and out of the 2022 Civic is how low the car is. Even with the larger wheels that the Touring is equipped with, the car sits lower than you would expect. However, that shortened ride height leads to some athletic handling on curvy roads. I took the Civic Touring out to my usual test loop that’s comprised of highway driving, city driving, and twisty canyon roads.

The Civic is comfortable at freeway speeds but I could detect a good amount of road noise when driving on uneven pavement. When it came to city driving, the Civic felt perfectly comfortable and quiet around town. And when I put it through its paces in the canyons, it handled far better than I would have ever expected.

No, it’s no Civic Type R, but I was able to keep up with a motorcycle that was driving rather spiritedly. And while most car buyers won’t even think about carving through corners in their new Honda Civic, it’s nice to know that what it’s capable of.

The Civic’s engines have equal parts power and fuel-efficiency

Not too much has changed under the hood of the Honda Civic for the 2022 model year as it uses the same engines as before with only a small change in power. The base and Sport trims are fitted with a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine while the EX and Touring get a turbocharged 1.5-liter engine. The 2.0-liter engine puts out 158 hp and 138 lb-ft of torque while the turbocharged unit produces 180 hp and 177 lb-ft of torque.

Both engines are mated to a CVT transmission and send power to the front wheels. When driving the Civic Touring around for a week, I felt like its engine was responsive and provided plenty of power to get on the freeway and pass slower trucks and cars. Also, the CVT was smooth and responded quickly when coming out of sharp turns in the canyons.

In terms of fuel efficiency, the EPA estimates that the base Civics can achieve 31 mpg in the city and 41 mpg on the highway, while the Civic EX and Touring can achieve up to 33 city/42 highway mpg and 31 city/38 mpg highway mpg, respectively. In my week of mixed driving, I achieved an average of 35 mpg in the Civic Touring.

Is the 2022 Honda Civic safe?

Honda has always been at the forefront when it comes to safety and the 2022 Civic benefits from that. Every Honda Civic is equipped with 10 airbags including knee airbags and rear side impact airbags. Additionally, the car’s Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body structure that routes the energy from a crash around the cabin to protect the occupants.

What’s even better is that the Honda Sensing suite of driver-assist features is standard as well. That package includes technologies like a collision mitigation braking system, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, and traffic-jam assist. For 2022, every Civic also comes with traffic sign recognition as well.

The 2022 Civic is easy to maintain

The Honda Civic has also been known for being nearly maintenance-free. The keyword is “nearly,” as Edmund’s estimates that it can cost an average of $3,646 to maintain the Civic during the first five years of ownership. Fortunately, Honda Civic buyers won’t need to worry too much about repairs for the first five years as every Civic is backed by the brand’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty.

The 2022 Honda Civic continues to be a solid choice for a compact sedan

It’s no surprise that the Honda Civic is still a formidable competitor in its category. Its new design, comfortable interior, and convenient features up the ante in the segment and allow it to outshine competitors like the Toyota Corolla and Nissan Versa in certain areas. Ultimately, the 2022 Honda Civic remains a solid choice for anyone that’s in the market for a compact sedan.

The 2022 Honda Civic an expert rating of 7.8 out of 10

The 2022 Honda Civic an overall rating of 7.8 out of 10. The Honda Civic remains one of the top contenders in its segment with its sophisticated new look inside and out in addition to a bevy of safety and convenience features. There’s no doubt that this new iteration of the Civic will sell well for years to come.