Is the 2022 Honda Civic a Good Car? 6 Pros and 2 Cons

The 2022 Honda Civic proves an economy car can still be relevant and even surprising. Most people are ditching sedans for SUVs and that’s a shame because, after spending time with the 2022 Civic sedan, we got a welcome refresher course in smart sedan engineering and fun driving manners.

Related: 2022 Honda Civic First Drive Review: Honda’s Boy Racer Grows Up

True, the 2022 Civic doesn’t sit high off the road like a typical SUV. In fact, in our extensive First Drive review, which you can read via the related link above, we commented on its low driving position. To its credit, however, the latest Civic sedan offers great outward visibility and more headroom than the outgoing model. A clean and minimalist dashboard — with some cool retro twists — also helps along these lines.

Keep reading below for all the highlights, plus a couple minor speed bumps we encountered during our test drive of the new 2022 Honda Civic sedan.

Things We Like

1. Mini-Accord Exterior Design

Take a quick glance at the exterior of the 2022 Civic sedan and you’ll think you’re looking at the larger mid-size Accord. Gone are the many (and mostly fake) air intakes and sharp angles that covered the sheet metal of the previous Civic. It’s a clean and fresh design, and more exciting than before. Will the mini-Accord exterior have wider appeal? Or has Honda played it too safe with the 2022 Civic’s styling? We’re leaning toward the positive column here.

2. Modern Interior With Retro Charm

There’s no debating that Honda has hit a home run with the Civic’s interior; it’s airy and comfortable. In our First Drive, we noted how the cabin finally feels like it was crafted by one entity — not various departments with a communication problem. This means the door trim nicely matches the dash and the materials used throughout have a consistent, premium feel. We’re especially big fans of the long strip of mesh trim that runs along the dashboard. This retro-looking touch is a nod to classic Honda cabins and elegantly hides the front air vents.

3. Room, With a View

People love buying SUVs because they offer a commanding view of the road ahead. While we did mention the 2022 Civic sedan sits low to the ground, the view of the outside world is superb. The windshield is upright, there’s plenty of headroom and there are no massive pillars to obstruct your view. Too many SUVs provide a fine window to the world straight ahead but terrible visibility to the sides and rear. We also appreciated how every major control in the new Civic is within easy view of the driver.

4. Engine Refinement

The Civic’s base engine is a 2.0-liter four-cylinder that provides 158 horsepower and 138 pounds-feet of torque. We tested the range-topping Touring trim fitted with the optional turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder that offers 180 hp and 177 pounds-feet of torque. This engine delivers punchy performance and works in harmony with the Civic’s continuously variable automatic transmission. In fact, this powertrain wouldn’t feel out of place in a luxury-branded sedan costing thousands of dollars more.

5. More Safety Tech

It’s always good to see more safety features. For 2022, Honda has equipped the new Civic with available rear-seat side airbags and an updated camera for active safety features like forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking.

6. Still Relevant 

The 2022 Civic proves sedans are here to stay, at least a little while longer. Smooth to drive, agile and loaded with handy tech and safety features, the new Civic is hard to fault. The only things it doesn’t have are the higher suspension and  increased cargo space of many small SUVs. Even here, however, the Civic doesn’t disappoint. The trunk is roomy and the liftover is low. 

Things We Don’t

1. Timid Styling?

See what we did here? While we think many car shoppers will like the design of the 2022 Civic sedan, it did leave us with questions. How will Honda incorporate this conservative new look into racier models, such as the upcoming Si and Type R? We’ll have to wait a little longer and see.

2. Touring Is Pricey 

Our loaded Civic in Touring trim was priced around $30,000. That’s a lot of money for a vehicle billed as an economy car. To be fair, you don’t need to order tons of options and the highest trim to enjoy the basic goodness of the 2022 Civic. In fact, the new Civic is so nice, it makes us wonder if it outshines its big brother, the Accord sedan.

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