2022 Honda Civic Touring Review: How Does It Compare to the Old Civic?

All new for 2022, Honda offers an evolutionary take rather than a revolutionary one for its ever-popular Civic model.

Honda has employed a consistent and generally very effective strategy for the past two decades when it comes to designing a new Civic. Even numbered generations, like the 6th, 8th and most recent 10th gen models are revolutionary takes on what the Civic can and should be. These models introduced all-new engines, trim levels and conceptual ideas that steered the trajectory for future Civic models. Then, their successors, like the 7th and 9th gen models, offered evolutionary takes, often fine-tuning the ideas implemented by their predecessors, and making for more rounded vehicles with broader appeal.

2022 Honda Civic 1.5T Touring Morning Mist Metallic sedan review Drivebreakfixrepeat.com Jake Stumph Racing

Now in its 11th generation, the all-new 2022 Honda Civic takes much of what made the 2016-2021 Civic so successful and attempts to fine tune the formula, but as the third best-selling car in the United States (trailing behind big brother Accord in the number one spot), Honda can’t afford to rest on their laurels, so let’s see how the new Civic stacks up against both its immediate competition, as well as its immediate predecessor.

The powertrains look familiar, with a 158 horsepower 2.0-liter inline-four serving as the standard engine in the LX and Sport trims, while higher-contented trim levels, like EX, and this top-spec Touring, receive a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder good for 180 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque. The latter engine representing a 6 horsepower and 15 lb-ft bump over the outgoing Civic, which is quite noticeable from behind the wheel.

ALSO SEE: 2021 Honda Accord 2.0T Sport Review: The Enthusiast’s Choice?

Divergent from the past, however, is the news that Honda no longer sells a Civic sedan with a manual transmission, instead relying solely on a continuously-variable automatic unit, instead. Though, for the diehard enthusiasts that DBFR represents, Honda continues to #SavetheManuals by offering a 6-speed stick in the sportier Civic hatchback. The brand claims that the hatch is the more enthusiast-geared body style, thus it still gets Honda’s slick shifting DIY transmission, which makes sense.

The efficacy of the turbo-four and the CVT is hard to deny in the real world, however, because despite a nearly 100 pound weight penalty compared to the old Civic, this new model actually manages to eek out a few more mpgs with a 1.5T EX model cracking 42 mpg on the freeway, while this loaded 1.5T Touring model returns a still impressive 31 mpg city, 38 mpg freeway and 34 mpg combined.

More than the savings at the pump, Honda has employed some harmonic trickery to the revised 1.5T engine, touting a more rigid crankshaft and bottom end design, among other tweaks, that explain the slightly smoother engine operation.

Despite not having fancy adjustable dampers like other Touring trim-equipped Hondas, dynamically, the new Civic is still a peach to drive, offering light inputs from the driver’s seat coupled with a surprisingly agile chassis for a non-Si, or non-Type R model. Fully independent suspension — struts up front and a multilink rear setup — means that competitors like Mazda3 won’t stand a chance of keeping up on a winding road, and stalwart rival Toyota Corolla won’t have the power to match in the straightaways.

Honda is really getting into its groove again, with vehicles like Civic, Accord and Insight offering some of most satisfying drives in their respective segments. Combined with the 1.5T engine, Civic has a surprising amount of hustle, evoking the same feeling of fluidity and poise that Accord offers in droves.

The Accord tie-ins don’t stop there because one look inside will reveal a particularly large upgrade. Interior materials and quality are notably improved, with the new dashboard design utilizing real metal in its construction to look and feel more solid. The switchgear, a return to more dials, knobs and physical buttons, and an apology of sorts for the abundance of capacitive touch buttons in the old model, all feels substantial to the touch, and easy to use while driving. Though, the big upgrade is the available 9-inch infotainment display, which is similar to what’s found in the Accord. This updated interface looks and feels notably better.

At $29,690 as-tested, the Civic Touring feels substantial and worth the money, still managing to undercut rivals like Mazda3 in cost, while offering greater practicality, better tech and a solid drive. All that’s left now is to count down the days until the new Civic Si and Civic Type R arrive.

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