2022 Honda Civic Quick Drive Review: Readier than ever

One can say that the introduction of the all-new Honda Civic last year is a triumph for the Japanese marque. The 11th-generation model managed to bag a handful of awards on a global scale including the 2022 Car of the Year in North America. It comes with updates that strengthen the nameplate’s offerings in the market.

2022 Honda Civic - A Dapper New Aesthetic (Old vs New) | Philkotse Quick Look

So when we were tapped by Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. (HCPI) to test out how the recently-arrived Honda Civic drives like, we had to see for ourselves the hype surrounding the vehicle. Did the new compact sedan live up to it? Read along to see our quick drive review of the Honda Civic 2022.

The design of the 11th-generation Honda Civic is one of the new model’s most controversial features. For many years, the exterior of the compact sedan has been based on sporty aesthetics. This is prominent in the previous 10th-gen version which appealed to a lot of car buyers, especially Civic fans.

Honda Civic in Morning Mist Blue Metallic

So when the Japanese marque decided to go for a more mature finish, opinions regarding the design have been split. Many people still think that the automaker should’ve just continued the “sports car” look of the Civic since it has established itself in the market in that styling.

But in person, the Civic looks way better. Sure, it is not as sharp as the previous version, but the model still had a lot of presence on the road. We can see the rest of the units looking sleek and riding low on the highway, especially with the help of the L-shaped LED daytime running lights (DRLs) which are standard across the trim.

Honda Civic RS

For those who still prefer a sporty finish, the closest car buyers can get is the top-of-the-line Civic RS. This is installed with RS-exclusive features such as 18-inch black alloy wheels, spoiler, dual exhaust piper finisher, and RS badge, with upgrades in the interior.

Inside, Honda introduced the ‘simplicity and something’ design language. This provides a simple and clean finish, with additions of details and elements that add character to the cabin. So when we were driving the Japanese compact sedan, we didn’t have a difficult time getting used to the cabin layout.

Driving felt safe with the Honda Sensing

Helping us concentrate on the road is the cabin’s tidy finish. It also features a honeycomb frame across the dashboard which is a unique touch even when compared to recent car releases. Behind the frame are the aircon vents that can be adjusted in a quirky yet entertaining manner.

HCPI handed us the keys to the base Civic S, meaning, it had fabric seats. Regardless, the seats were doing a good job keeping us in place. The seats were comfortable enough for us to not change our sitting positions from time to time. Since it is about 45 mm longer than the outgoing model, the interior space shouldn’t be much of an issue. Plus, the soft-touch materials on the door panels and dash are great inclusions.

'Simplicity and something' interior layout

The floating-type 7-inch touchscreen unit provided us entertainment on the go. It comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with four speakers as standard on the Civic S. Based on our experience, the infotainment system is not underwhelming even for our test unit which is the base variant.

Now on to the fun part, the driving impressions. For specifics, the new Honda Civic is powered by a standard 1.5-liter turbocharged VTEC engine good for 178 horsepower and 240 Nm of torque. It sends power exclusively to the front wheels via a continuously variable transmission (CVT) only.

The Civic effortlessly pulls on straights and corners

Sure, the acceleration doesn’t get the same instant punch as using a geared automatic transmission that shifts to a lower gear set. But once it gets rolling, the speed just goes up exponentially which was a thrilling experience. It is paired with disc brakes (the front is ventilated) that kept us feeling safe on the road.

In terms of fuel consumption, we managed to get 11.5 km/l while driving at an average speed of 40 to 60 km/h. This number covers the 166 km drive from the Bonifacio Global City (BGC) to Tagaytay then to Nasugbu twisties then finally back to Tagaytay. Expect a more comprehensive fuel economy rating once we fully reviewed the 2022 Honda Civic.

The standard turbocharged VTEC engine delivered

Thanks to the use of independent suspensions at the front and rear, body roll is minimized remarkably. This was tested when we drove on rough roads and twisties in Batangas. Steering tends to lean on the firmer side, especially at high speeds. In addition, the seat bolster kept us in place which is handy in avoiding fatigue from counteracting body rolls.

During the drive, HCPI demonstrated to us the Civic’s updated Honda Sensing. It provided advanced safety features that gave us a more convenient drive including the Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Low-Speed Follow (LSF), Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS), new Lead Car Departure Notification System (LCDN), among others.

Not only did the 2022 Honda Civic impress us with its new styling inside and out, but also with the driving experience it gives. It might not be as sporty-looking as the previous generation, but it still drives like one. For that reason, we can make a case that the compact sedan lives up to all the recognition it is receiving globally.

Plus, you get to drive in an award-winning cabin that was designed with a human-centric approach. Driving the Civic could present a learning curve due to the number of features, especially with the Honda Sensing. But once you get used to it, you’ll understand why Honda decided to make significant changes for the 11th-gen version.

With a starting price of Php 1,290,000 for the Civic S, you can get a vehicle that already comes with the best features it has to offer including the turbocharged VTEC engine and Honda Sensing. You can have more with the Civic V at Php 1,489,000 including 17-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, eight speakers, among others. Lastly, the Civic RS is made available at Php 1,690,000.

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