[MUSIC PLAYING]
MARK TAKAHASHI: This is the all-new 2022 Civic,
a car built on a reputation of 50 years of affordability,
efficiency, and durability.
On top of that, its predecessor received praise
for its sporty handling, spacious interior,
and comfortable ride.
Those are some big shoes to fill.
And it begs the question, is this as
good as the previous generation Civic.
Yes.
Yes, it is.
It's also better than the Kia Forte, Hyundai Elantra,
Mazda 3, and Toyota Corolla.
But before I get into why, do me a favor and hit Like
and Subscribe below and head over to edmunds.com/sellmycar
to get a cash offer on your vehicle.
The 2022 Civic is on sale right now, like right now.
This video is going live the same day the new Civic show up
in dealerships.
There are four trim levels to choose from,
starting with the base LX for around $22,000.
It gets 158 horsepower, 2-liter, 4-cylinder engine.
And that's right in line with other entry level
sedans in this class.
It's paired with a continuously variable transmission
that drives a lot like your typical automatic.
It's the same engine as the previous generation,
but the CVT has been updated to improve response.
You get all of the typical standard
advanced safety features as part of the Honda Sensing Suite,
as well as adaptive cruise control
and a partial digital instrument panel.
Next up is the Honda Civic Sport for another $1,400.
Upgrades include 18-inch alloy wheels, black styling cues,
keyless entry, paddle shifters, and a better audio system.
We suggest stepping up to at least the EX trim, which
starts just under $26,000.
That's because you get the more powerful 1.5-liter turbo
charged engine that's good for 180 horsepower.
It's also a carryover from the previous generation,
but it gets a slight 6-horsepower bump,
it also gets slightly better fuel economy
than the base engine by about one or two
MPG depending on trim.
Besides the better engine, the EX
also get you a sunroof, blind spot monitor, dual zone climate
control, heated front seats, and split folding rear seats.
What we have here, however, is the top line Touring Model that
starts right around $29,000.
It also gets the turbo engine, additional safety features,
leather, and a Bose Premium Audio System.
You also get wireless phone integration,
which means you don't have to deal with USB cables.
These sedans will be the first Civics in the new generation.
The hatchback will return later in the year.
And we should expect an Si and high-performance Type R
to follow in the coming years.
So how does the Civic stack up against the competition?
Well, compared to the top trends of its closest rivals,
it is more expensive--
$3,500 more than a fully loaded Kia Forte
and $200 more than the top of the line Toyota Corolla.
It is worth noting, though, that you get a few more features
with the Honda than the Kia.
As far as power goes, the Civic Touring
makes a little more than the Hyundai Elantra,
but a little less than the Mazda 3 and Kia Forte.
There's been a lot of debate over the styling
of this new Civic with a lot of complaints
saying it looks boring.
And I can understand that sentiment.
But I don't think that's such a bad thing either.
The last Civic had a lot going on design-wise,
and I wasn't a fan of the busier grill and numerous fake vents.
To me, it was a little overdesigned.
This new Civic, it's not nearly as angular or sporty,
but I like its cleaner lines.
I even see a hint of the old second generation Honda Accord
from the 1980s in these headlights and grill.
Up front, the design has been simplified
for a more mature appearance.
On the profile view, it looks like the hood
has been lengthened.
That's because these roof pillars have been pulled back
a few inches.
There's also a nice sharp crease that
runs from nose to tail that helps
to break up some of the heaviness that might otherwise
result.
There's also a more pronounced deck lid back here
for that traditional sedan profile.
It also has much more conventional taillights.
Overall, this new Civic may not be as exciting,
but I like it for it's cleaner and more refined design.
Just like your mom used to say, looks aren't everything.
So let's go for a drive.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
Acceleration is somewhat anemic at first,
but power builds quickly enough where
you feel like you don't have to floor it to get up to speed.
At the Edmunds test track, this Civic with the turbo engine
took 7.9 seconds to get to 60 miles an hour.
That's almost a full second slower
than the last Civic turbo that we tested.
Now this Civic is 160 pounds heavier
and maybe that's contributing to it.
But even still, it's quicker than most other sedans
in this class.
Coming to a stop from 60 required
120 feet, which is a few feet shorter than average.
And the Civic felt composed under those panicked braking
situations.
And that translates to more confidence
when you do have to really grab onto those brakes.
The brake pedal is a little soft,
but it feels appropriate for this kind of car.
Like the last generation Civic, this new one
earns points for its sporty handling.
Sure, the tires may howl loudly as you knife through turns,
but it still takes turns sharper than most other
sedans in this class, except for maybe the Mazda 3.
That sporty handling does make the ride a little bit stiffer,
though.
I can feel every rut and bump in the road,
but at least the initial impacts are smoothed over well.
It's on the busy side.
And like a talkative passenger, it's fine for a while.
But after several hours, it starts to wear you down.
Oh, yeah, so I just recently got into cross-fit.
It's a life changer.
You would love it.
Hyatt Regency-- have you ever stayed there?
Oh, cruise ships.
Construction on our left--
slow down.
Another less significant source of fatigue
is the amount of road noise.
Even on city streets, it's noticeable.
And on highways, it can be downright intrusive,
especially when you're on coarser surfaces.
As far as outward visibility goes,
this Civic deserve some praise.
This roof pillar here has been moved back a few inches
and thinned out, giving you a much better view
through left turns.
The rear view is a little bit narrow,
but the rear view camera takes any guesswork when
you're backing into a spot.
In previous Edmunds evaluations, we've
deducted points for Honda's overly sensitive driver
assistance.
And the same can be said about this Civic,
but not to the same degree.
False alarms still occur, but they're just not
nearly as frequent.
The lane-keep assist can get confused
when the lane markings get faded and it'll
start drifting out of lanes forcing you to fight with wheel
just a little bit.
The adaptive cruise control does a really good job
of maintaining the gap between you and the car in front.
It's also really good at maintaining the speed
on steep downhills.
The problem I saw with that, though,
is using the brakes rather than selecting a lower gear
ratio in the transmission.
That leaves you up to possibly overheating the brakes
on really long and steep grades.
But I just kept this paddle shifter down a few times
and solved that problem.
Overall, I'm really pleased with the way the Civic drives.
Except for acceleration, it's as good or better
than its predecessor.
There's more to go over with the interior though,
so let's head back and get into the details.
Like the exterior, the interior takes a cleaner and simpler
approach to design.
I like the wide, horizontal dash, the honeycomb grill,
and the easy-to-use climate controls.
The infotainment screen is right in the driver's sight line
to reduce distraction.
And in this top trim, you get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
that are wireless.
It's great because it gives you that familiar interface you're
so used to on your phone.
I did notice some rather slow responses to commands, though,
when you're running it wirelessly.
But when you're corded, it's totally fine.
Front seats are well-shaped and cushioned
for long distance comfort.
And even one of our editors, who's six foot four,
said he had plenty of space.
The lack of lumbar support might be an issue for some.
After about an hour on the road, I
could have used a little more support in the lower back area.
But as far as storage goes, it's pretty good.
You have a well-sized bin right here, large cup holders,
and a rubberized wireless charging pad
to keep your phone from sliding around.
Materials quality on the interior
is really good for the class.
One thing in particular I want to point out
is this section here.
If you're a viewer of this channel,
you know how much we hate piano black,
but Honda came up with a pretty smart solution.
They gave it a micro-herringbone pattern
that cuts down a lot on the glaring reflection,
but it also doesn't show smudges that much.
Well, that's it for the front.
Let's check out the back.
If you need adult-sized rear seats,
the new Civic has you covered.
I'm five foot 10, and I'm sitting behind the driver's
seat, which is set for me.
My head is kind of brushing the headliner,
but I have plenty of space in front of my knees,
as well as under the seat for my feet.
You also have two USB ports to stay charged
and this handy center armrest bin with two cup holders.
Behind the seats are 14.8 cubic feet of cargo space,
which is pretty generous for the class.
And these seats fold down, but not flat,
to give you even more room.
So what's the bottom line on this all-new 2022 Honda Civic?
Well, it's marginally better than its predecessor, which
means it'll hold on to the top spot among compact sedans,
at least for now.
Sure, it's a little more expensive than the Kia Forte
and Hyundai Elantra, but it justifies
that added cost with praiseworthy driving dynamics,
an interior that's both attractive and easy to use,
as well as all the features and tech we've come to expect.
As they say in boxing--
[BOXING RINGSIDE BELL]
And still, best compact sedan in the world, the Honda Civic.
[CHEERING]
Thanks for watching.
Don't forget to hit Subscribe, and head over
to edmunds.com for all the latest details, news, and specs
on the Civic and its competition.
[MUSIC PLAYING]