2022 Honda Civic: Details, Specifications, Trim Levels, Powertrains

Six months after first laying eyes on the 11th-generation Honda Civic prototype and a few weeks after getting an early look at the 2022 Honda Civic, we now have complete Canada-specific details on the all-new version of Canada's most popular car.

The Civic has been Canada's best-selling car for 23 consecutive years. It is, therefore, a hugely consquential launch. Last year, with well over 100 nameplates available, the Civic accounted for over 13% of the cars sold in Canada. It's Canada's car: built by Canadians for Canadians in Canada.

Here's a quick history lesson. The Civic began its mission to conquer Canada in 1973. In 1974, the Civic's CVCC engine began set the stage for Canada's understanding of revolutionary Honda engineering. In 1988, Honda began assembling Civics in Canada. In 1998, the Civic began its tenure as Canada's most popular car, a streak that continues today. By 2006, Honda was into its eighth-generation of the Civic. 2016 brought about the 10th-generation, and the summer of 2021 will unleash the 11th-generation 2022 Civic in the Canadian market. 

As we've come to expect with each new iteration of the Civic, the new vehicle is more space efficient, more fuel efficient, more powerful, safer, more technologically advanced, and an even better value. Yes, when Honda releases a new Civic, the Civic always becomes a better value. Did you know that the 2000 Honda Civic SE, adjusted for inflation, would cost $25,770 in 2021 dollars? That's more than a 2021 Civic LX or Civic EX, cars that are more spacious, more efficient, more powerful, safer, and far more technologically advanced. 

TRIM LEVELS

For the 2022 Honda Civic sedan, there will be four trim levels: LX, EX, Sport, and Touring. What are the key differentiatiors?

Standard equipment in the 2022 Civic LX include Honda Sensing, blind spot monitoring, and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto on a 7-inch touchscreen. Honda also includes automatic climate control (in the entry-level Civic!) plus heated rear seats, proximity key with pushbutton start, a multi-angle rearview camera, LED low and high beams, and remote start. There's a familiar engine: the 158-horsepower 2.0-liter. That engine, however, is now more fuel efficient at 7.7 L/100km in city driving and 6.0 L/100km on the highway.

The 2022 Honda Civic EX includes the same powertrain but adds 16-inch alloy wheels and a heated steering wheel. Other extras include dual-zone automatic climate control, a trio of USB connectors, a sunroof, and mirror-integrated LED turn signals. The 2022 Honda Civic Sport maintains the 2.0-liter engine but adds a meaningful Sport mode and 18-inch Berlina alloy wheels. The Sport also includes paddle shifters, aluminum-trimmed sport pedals, and a unique leatherette/fabric combo seat upholstery.

The top-spec 2022 Honda Civic Touring will be equipped with a more powerful version of the 1.5 turbo we all know and love. It now cranks out 180 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque in the Touring, yet fuel efficiency is improved: 7.6 L/100km in the city and 6.1 L/100km on the highway. 

The list of extra equipment in the Touring is a long one, but it includes leather seating, a 9-inch touchscreen with navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, a 10.2-inch digital instrument display, rear cross traffic alert, Honda Sensing with low-speed braking control, and for the first time ever in a Civic, Bose audio. There's also a USB quartet, an 8-way power driver's seat, wireless phone charging, rain-sensing wipers, and an assisted opening trunk.

BOSE AUDIO

The Bose system in the new Civic is a staggering setup. It's a 12-speaker unit with Bose Centerpoint 2 and SurroundStage digital signal processing. This isn't just a Bose system ploppd into the Civic – it's tuned specifically for the Civic. There's one 3.25-inch Bose Twiddler in the centre of the instrument panel, four 1-inch neodynium tweeters in the A-pillar and rear doors, two 6.5-inch speakers in the front doors, two 5.25-inch speakers in the rear doors, two 3.25-inch Bose Twiddlers behind the rear seats, and one 8-inch woofer ahead of the rear windshield.

Prepare your test drive tunes. 

SIZE

Honda knew customers didn't want the Civic to get any bigger, but the company also knew Civic owners would ever turn down more space. It was hardly necessary – the Civic was already the class-leader in terms of occupant comfort. But by stretching the Civic's wheelbase by 35 millimetres and maintaining similar overall length, the Civic benefits from easier rear entry and a better rear seatback angle. There's a 419-litre trunk and 2,803 litres of overall passenger volume. 

ON THE ROAD

The 2022 Honda Civic is so much more than an on-paper enhancement. This is going to be a better car to drive. With a stiffer chassis, a wider rear track, and a longer wheelbase, the Civic will offer even better ride quality and superior handling – the stiffness gives Honda's engineers more latitude to play with in the suspension department. You won't just notice this around corners. Honda says "the reduced suspension friction and improved bushings help reduce harsh road shock, such as when going over railroad crossings, by 20 percent."

The Sport mode in the Civic Sport and Civic Touring alters drive ratios and engine mapping so there's a genuinely altered driving experience when you want it. There's an Eco mode, as well, which throttles back air conditioning output and reduces throttle sensitivity so you can maximize fuel savings. 

Expectations for a new Civic are high. Honda knew meeting those expectations was going to be important. But rather than merely meet Civic expectations, why not exceed them?

The 2022 Honda Civic is due to arrive in June 2021.