2022 Honda Civic S Review | Philkotse Philippines

The Honda Civic is one of the cars that doesn't need any introduction. It has a strong following globally and locally, making it one of the most popular car models that Honda has ever built. 

People who adored the Civic were torn in half when Honda launched the 11th-generation model. Some individuals like that the Civic now has a more mature design while some people see it as too tamed considering the car’s history in the aftermarket or tuning scene. 

Which HONDA CIVIC Should You Buy This 2022? - Philkotse Variant Comparison Review

That said, can the all-new Honda Civic keep its charm among its longtime enthusiast? More importantly, is the entry-level Civic worth considering? Read Philkotse’s 2022 Honda Civic S full review to find out.

Before we dive in on the exterior, the S trim is the entry-level variant of the 11th-gen Honda Civic. But, one can’t tell the difference between the S trim to the mid-level V variant at a quick glance. Both trims share almost the same exterior design, which is a plus if you’re considering driving home the entry-level S. 

The 2022 Honda Civic comes with a confident-looking front end

Up front, the 2022 Honda Civic S is fitted with halogen headlights, LED daytime running lights (DRL), and black trims on the grille and bumper. Yes, some might be put off by the halogen headlights of the Civic S, but in my book, I can give that a pass. You can easily upgrade to have it on a set of LED headlamps but do consult your Honda dealership first as it might affect the vehicle’s warranty. 

Aside from that, I don’t see anything wrong with the Civic S’s front end as it sort of shares the same fascia compared to the mid-level V trim. I also like how the black trims complement the Civic’s unique exterior color dubbed Morning Mist Blue Metallic. 

While that color name reads weird and sounds weirder, I actually like it. It gives the Civic a refreshing look, veering away from its sporty car stigma. Aside from that, the said color is trippy as it gives a subtle hint of silver and/or blue depending on the lighting. Of note, the Morning Mist Blue Metallic is available on the S and V trims only. 

The Civic S’s side profile has a straightforward appeal, adding to its mature, and toned-down finish. It also has a low beltline that makes the Civic look larger than before.

The Honda Civic S comes with 16-inch alloy wheels

However, the Civic S has a set of 16-inch alloy wheels compared to the 17-inch wheelset fitted to the V. The S also doesn’t come with power-folding side mirrors. Are those features significant for you to turn a blind eye to the Civic S? Well, that depends on your preference. But if you ask me, those differences don’t pose much of a gap.

The rear completes the Civic’s more mature look as you can see no traces of the sharp and aggressive styling of the 10th-gen model. The Civic S already comes with LED taillights, similar to other variants. 

The only thing that I wished this specific variant has is the trunk release button. See, for you to open the trunk, you need to pull the lever from inside the vehicle or you can opt to use the key fobs. But, having a trunk release button is more logical and more convenient in the long run.

The Honda Civic S has a black interior theme along with piano black accents, carbon fiber-like trim on the center console, and two-tone fabric seats. It also has a urethane steering wheel that’s integrated with audio, phone, and cruise control while the aircon vents come with a honeycomb pattern.

It has a straightforward dashboard layout

The revamped interior is what I liked most in the 11th-generation Honda Civic. It has a neat and clutter-free dashboard, which gives a simple yet premium-like finish. The honeycomb aircon vents arranged on one horizontal layout make the Civic unique. The placement of the infotainment touchscreen is also seamless so as are the tactile climate control dials and buttons, resulting in good forward visibility. 

Honda also did a good job in adding piano-black accents on the Civic S’s urethane steering wheel. If it weren’t for those piano black trims, the S’s steering wheel will look dull and could compromise the whole interior design package. In case you’re wondering, the 11th-gen Honda Civic is included among the top 10 cars with the best interior, according to a study in the United States.

The Civic S doesn't come with rear aircon vents

Rear passengers are greeted with generous leg- and head-room. Up to three individuals can sit at the back but the one seating in the middle might not have the most pleasant ride. Like what we usually say, two individuals seated at the rear is the best way to go for maximum comfort. 

Of note, the Honda Civic S doesn’t come with rear aircon vents, a feature that’s present on the V and RS trims. But, that’s not much of a problem since the front aircon can cool down the cabin relatively well.

You can load an assortment of items in the Civic's trunk

Loading up items on the Civic’s trunk is also easy as it offers enough space for different things. You can easily put two to three medium-sized luggage with more room to spare. All Civic variants also come with a 60-40 split-folding rear seat, which you can utilize in case you need to put long items into the trunk. But then again, I wished that Civic S comes with a trunk release button.

This is the part where one could argue or realize that the Civic S is more than just an entry-level variant. Why? Since the S variant is equipped with almost the same tech and safety features as the higher Civic trims.  

All 2022 Civic variants come with Honda Sensing safety and driver-assistive technologies, which includes the following: Collision Mitigation Braking System, Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS), Road Departure Mitigation System with Lane Departure Warning (RDM with LDW), Auto High-Beam (AHB), Adaptive Cruise Control with Low-Speed Follow (ACC with LSF), and Lead Car Departure Notification System (LCDN). 

Reversing into a parking space is made easier, safer

Other than Honda Sensing, all Civic variants get a multi-view rear camera, dual front airbags, side airbags, anti-lock braking system (ABS), electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD), vehicle stability assist, hill start assist, Isofix, alarm, immobilizer, and speed sensing door locks.

Placed right at the center of the dashboard is a 7-inch infotainment touchscreen that comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It transforms into a live feed from the rear camera once you put the gear in reverse. The rear camera’s resolution could be better, but good thing that it already comes with guidelines. 

Look at that honeycomb pattern on the dashboard

The Civic S’s infotainment touchscreen also comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a feature that’s becoming essential nowadays. And oh, it also has an electronic parking brake with auto brake hold, an engine push start button, and a seven-inch digital cluster with an analog speedometer. Not bad for an entry-level model, right? Not bad at all.  

Another thing that could pique your attention in getting the entry-level 2022 Honda Civic S is its engine. Like the other Civic variants, the S trim is powered by the same 1.5-liter turbocharged VTEC gasoline engine that delivers 176 hp and 240 Nm of torque. It is connected to a continuously variable transmission (CVT) with power sent to the front wheels. 

All 2022 Honda Civic variants come with a 1.5-liter turbo engine

This means that all Civic trims have relatively similar driving characteristics since the three variants are equipped with the same VTEC engine. That said, the Civic S has notable power delivery, and good acceleration despite having a CVT. Some might argue that the Civic is better with a non-CVT gearbox to provide a more athletic driving characteristic. Yes, that would be ideal but not too logical, especially during these days when fuel prices are on the rise. 

What you’ll appreciate with the Civic’s CVT is the pleasant and refined drive. The transmission “shifts” smoothly even at low speeds. Overtaking slower vehicles is also not a problem as the gear ratio adjusts quickly, allowing you to complete the maneuver with confidence. In case you want more control over the gears, the Civic S comes with a manual mode that can work in unison with the sport mode, albeit, without paddle shifters available in the RS.

The Morning Mist Blue Metallic exterior paint makes the Civic unique

Another thing that I noticed is that the Civic is stable when driven at highway speeds. It is well planted on the road, allowing you to cruise through the expressway worry-free. The steering wheel also gets firm as you increase your speed, giving you better control of the vehicle.   

The Civic can also absorb road impacts without sweat, giving you a pleasant drive. I also like how the Lead Car Departure Notification System (LCDN) works consistently when driving around the urban jungle. The LCDN flashes a notification into the instrument cluster and gives a subtle beeping sound to alert you that the vehicle in front has already moved. 

It has crisp character lines on the sides

Not that I am driving distractedly, I just appreciated its consistency during the duration of my test drive. The LCDN can help the driver to have his/her focus on the road. It can also potentially prevent the scenario wherein the driver gets startled in case the car behind is driven by an impatient and horn-happy individual.

The Civic posted a fuel economy of around 9 km/l when driven around Metro Manila at an average speed of 20 km/h. On the open highway, I was able to get 18 km/l while cruising at 90 km/h. The said numbers are already good considering that the 2022 Honda Civic comes with a turbocharged gasoline engine. 

Interestingly, I was able to get almost the same highway fuel economy numbers as the Honda City RS Sedan, which returned 20.6 km/l.

The Civic is indeed all grown up. It has evolved from being an athletic-looking to a prim and proper compact sedan. Although, there will still be some individuals who prefer the 11th-gen Civic to have a bit more swag, and that’s fine too. Having two different design preferences is not a bad thing. It is actually good since this will allow Honda to gauge the market better. 

2022 Honda Civic S

You can also look at it from a different perspective. The 11th-gen Civic could be Honda’s way of giving its longtime enthusiasts a blank canvas wherein they can freely explore how to style it. Through this approach, Honda is targeting two birds at one stone: maintain the Civic’s following while getting a new breed of clients along the way.   

Now that we got that question out of the way, is the entry-level 2022 Honda Civic S worth considering? Yes, I think it is. It might not come with LED headlights, rear aircon vents, and additional RS body kits, but the Civic S still offers a lot considering that it is a base model. 

Priced at Php 1,290,000, you already get Honda Sensing and a 1.5-liter VTEC turbo engine, which are significant features that are also present in the other Civic variants. With that, the 2022 Honda Civic S is changing the perception of base model cars.