New Civic is best small car you can buy, and no one is surprised
Every great automaker has at least one vehicle that embodies what it does best, and that it does better than nearly anybody else. They’re the machines that embody the corporate soul. For Honda, the Civic is that corporate totem. Honda nearly never gets a Civic wrong. When it did a few years ago, alarm bells sounded from the shop floor to the C-suite.
Honda’s phenomenal success from the 1970s to present was attributable largely to the fact that the vehicle it did best, the Civic, was perfectly in sync with the temper of the times: fuel efficient, reliable, affordable and fun.
This is a nerve-wracking time for automakers. Even the best don’t know if they can translate what they do best to a transformed industry that relies on electricity, renewables, and automated safety and driving assistance systems. The customer shift from the sedans that dominated the auto industry’s first 130 years to SUVS compounds the challenge.
Despite all that turmoil, the new 2022 Civic compact sedan just arrived as the best vehicle in its class on almost every count.
The 2022 Civic is new
from the ground up. The exterior design is more mature than the occasionally fussy look of the previous Civic, the 10th generation of the little car. The hood grew longer, while the A-pillars are more upright. The shoulder lines and rear deck are lower. The changes contribute to a long, lean profile. Big windows contribute to good visibility. Passenger space increased slightly.
Available features include the Honda brand’s first Bose audio, a good 12-speaker system.
Unlike the rather complicated shifter some Hondas use, the Civic has a refreshingly simple shifter, with a conventional PRND pattern.
All Civics get an LCD instrument cluster, with Touring models offering a crystal clear 10.2inch high-def display.
The Touring package also includes a 9-inch touch screen and wireless Apple Carplay and Android Auto. Lower trims have a 7-inch touch screen and require USB connection for those features.
The most immediately noticeable interior change is a metal honeycomb across the middle of the dashboard. In a nice touch, it incorporates climate control vents.
The front-seat frames are new, a change that’s easy to overlook visually, but pays off in comfort behind the wheel.
The stiffer chassis and sharp steering contribute to a smooth ride and confident handling. The Civic feels lithe and maneuverable. The brakes are firm and capable.
The interior is roomy and comfortable. The dash, doors and armrests are covered in padded materials that look and feel good. The front seat has plenty of leg and head room, with an accommodating bin in the center console.
The climate controls feature big dials and buttons. They’re easy to use while driving.
The rear seat provides good leg and shoulder room.