2022 Honda Civic 1.5L V Turbo SENSING

After the bland ninth release of the Civic in 2011, Honda has stepped up with the last two generations. Each iteration has been amazingly impressive, with many notable updates while maintaining the nameplate’s well-known sporty drive.

I take the mid-range variant, the 1.5L V Turbo CVT with Honda SENSING, which sits right at P1.498 million, to see how this sedan justifies its almost-SUV-level pricing.

My first observation: it is getting harder and harder to distinguish between these Honda sedans if you are only looking at their façade. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Each model looks more premium, and this latest Civic has become more Accord-like from the outside.

Size is among the Civic’s best features. Sure, it is lower in height by 1 millimeter, but the ground clearance went up by 1 millimeter, and it is longer by 29 millimeters versus the previous generation.

I do not know if age has something to do with it, but like most ‘titos,’ this Civic’s body surface has become smoother with age. It swaps out the edginess, cuts, and ripples of the old design for a more elegant body.

In terms of exterior equipment, this Civic gets full LED automatic headlamps, LED daytime running lamps, LED fog lights, LED taillights, a high-mount stop lamp (bulb type), a shark’s fin antenna, and 17-inch wheels.

The new design tries to stay sporty with a large and wide hood, fastback rear, the ducktail-type lip over the trunk, and the 17-inch wheels, but I still find the whole package more formal and reserved. For a Civic owner like me, it feels like the Civic is wearing a tux instead of the usual tracksuit, which is unusual. But it is a refreshing change, and I laud the effort of Honda to go upscale.

What benefits the most from the Civic’s growth is the cabin. Its wheelbase grows by almost 40 millimeters, which increases legroom and overall cabin space, and it was immediately palpable as soon as I opened the doors.

Even as a mid-grade variant, access is made easy with the smart key. If you have the key, reach for the handle to unlock it and touch the latch above the plate holder to pop the trunk.

Honda totally revamps the cabin of the Civic for a minimalistic look. The cabin’s width is underscored by the flat, padded dashboard and a long thin grille with hexagonal holes that ingeniously shrouds the aircon vents. Jutting out above is a seven-inch touchscreen, and below are three generously-spaced climate control knobs with an integrated narrow digital screen.

Just like the body, the layout is highly dignified. It has very minimal chrome effects to act as highlights to the black motif. The infotainment system is intuitive and has eight speakers, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth connectivity. It has a large pocket at the front end of the center console for devices and a highly elaborate multifunction steering wheel. I only wish it had more than one USB port.

Going with a small engine may seem counterintuitive for a vehicle that gains size. Such is not the case with the Civic. The 1.5-liter single-scroll turbo VTEC engine sends a healthy 178-PS and 240-Nm of torque to the front wheels using a continuously variable transmission.

The Civic doesn’t jump off the line like it used to, but it still has considerable pace. Acceleration is mild at best, even in Sport mode, but still brisk enough to keep the drive exciting. It has pull even under 2,000 RPM so going beyond it is just a total waste of fuel unless you are in such a hurry that every second counts. Its best feature is how it handles pressure. Even at 100-120 km/h, it can keep revs down to 1,000-1,200 RPM. The result is up to 9.5 km/l of fuel efficiency.

Handling is splendidly spirited. The Civic still knows how to dive into corners and stays balanced around bends and tight turns. Under all the prim and proper costume is an athlete raring to provide performance, and if you know what to do behind the wheel, it will willingly oblige.

The big wheels let some of the road harshness in, but otherwise, it is very comfortable and quiet in the cabin. There’s an audible squeak from the front right suspension when it comes down from a misshapen hump, but I attribute that to lack of break-in. This unit only has less than 5,000 kilometers.

Honda SENSING is standard which means it has Adaptive Cruise Control, Low-Speed Follow, Collision Mitigation Braking System, Lane Keep Assist, Road Departure Mitigation, Lane Departure Warning, Auto High Beam, and Lead Car Departure Notification. I liked how these systems weren’t intrusive compared to some other models in the market, so I kept them on the whole time.

I would call the Civic’s makeover a complete success. I was wary that its new look and the small engine would take away its energetic drive — fortunately, that wasn’t the case. It is one of the best examples of how to mix smooth and sporty in a four-wheeled machine. Congrats Honda!