Honda Civic

The Honda Civic has a reputation built on 50 years of affordability, efficiency and durability, and the 2022 redesign looks to keep that tradition going strong. This 11th-generation Civic gets a thorough makeover inside and out. Some may say the new Civic's more conventional design is boring compared to the previous model's flamboyance, but we contend it's cleaner and more refined.

There's little new under the hood, where you'll still find a base four-cylinder engine or a turbocharged four-cylinder that provides quicker acceleration. As for technology features, Honda is often slower than other automakers to incorporate exotic features into its more budget-friendly cars. However, this Civic does have a few new additions. On the top-level Touring and Si trims, for instance, there's a wireless charging pad, a digital instrument panel, and a 9-inch touchscreen with additional wireless functionality for CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration.

We're impressed with the 2022 Honda Civic sedan. While you might want to take a look at the refined Mazda 3, feature-packed Kia Forte or stylish new Hyundai Elantra, the Civic earns its rank as our No. 1 small sedan thanks to its fun-to-drive nature, roominess and high fuel efficiency. Check out our Expert Rating to get our full evaluation of the Civic's performance, roominess and more.

Which Civic does MatoCar recommend?

The 2022 Honda Civic is available as a small sedan or four-door hatchback. There are five trim levels for the sedan: LX, Sport, EX, Touring and Si. The hatchback comes in similar LX, Sport, EX-L and Sport Touring trims. Each body style trim progressively adds more standard features. The EX/EX-L and Touring/Sport Touring also have a more powerful engine than the standard model, while the Si increases horsepower further still. Feature highlights include:

LX This base trim starts you off with:

• 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (158 horsepower, 138 lb-ft)
• Continuously variable automatic transmission
• 16-inch steel wheels with plastic covers
• LED headlights
• Automatic climate control
• Push-button ignition
• 7-inch infotainment touchscreen
• Partial digital instrument panel
• Four-speaker audio system
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration

Every Civic also comes with these advanced driver aids:

• Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)
• Lane keeping assist (steers the Civic back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker)
• Adaptive cruise control (adjusts speed to maintain a constant distance between the Civic and the vehicle in front)
• Traffic sign reader
• Automatic high beams
• Driver attention monitor (issues an alert if sensors determine you are becoming fatigued)

Sport Adds some exterior styling flourishes as well as:

• Available six-speed manual transmission for the hatchback
• 18-inch alloy wheels
• Remote ignition via the key fob
• Proximity keyless entry
• Sport drive mode
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter
• Eight-speaker audio system

EX/EX-L Has more power and several added convenience features that include:

• 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine (180 hp, 177 lb-ft)
• 17-inch alloy wheels
• Heated mirrors
• Sunroof
• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• Heated front seats
• Power-adjustable driver's seat (EX-L only)
• Leather upholstery (EX-L only)
• Rear center armrest with cupholders
• Additional USB charge port
• Blind-spot monitor (alerts you if a vehicle in the next lane over is in your blind spot)

Touring/Sport Touring Comes fully loaded with:

• Available six-speed manual transmission for the hatchback
• 18-inch alloy wheels
• Automatic wipers
• Foglights
• Auto-dimming rearview mirror
• Leather upholstery
• Power-adjustable front seats
• 9-inch infotainment touchscreen
• Integrated navigation system
• Wireless device charging pad
• 12-speaker Bose premium audio system
• Front and rear parking sensors (alert you to obstacles that may not be visible in front of or behind the vehicle when parking)
• Rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle behind you is about to cross your path while you're in reverse)
• Low-speed automatic braking (automatically applies the brakes to avoid a collision when traveling between 1 and 6 mph)

Si Standard features for the Si are similar to those of the Touring. Features specific to the Si include::

• Sedan body style only
• 200-hp version of the turbocharged 1.5-liter engine
• Six-speed manual transmission with rev-matching downshifts
• Limited-slip front differential (helps maximize available traction during hard acceleration)
• Sport suspension
• Bigger brakes
• High-performance all-season tires (summer tires are optional)
• Sport front seats with additional bolstering