The all-new 2022 Honda Civic sedan went on sale in the US last week and media embargoes for its review were lifted at the same time. With multiple publications sharing their impressions on the 2022 Honda Civic, we thought we’d summarize them for your consumption.

How does the 2022 Honda Civic FE drive?

In short, it’s a familiar experience for those who are accustomed to the outgoing FC-generation Honda Civic, except that it’s improved in just about every aspect.

Roadshow by CNET said that the 2022 Honda Civic feels tighter and more composed than before from the upgraded steering and suspension components, not forgetting the increased chassis rigidity as well. Turn-in is as sharp as ever, with good amount of weight in the steering wheel while body roll remains controlled.

Motor1 also echoed the steering feel, stating that the steering provided great feedback as they drove through the canyons. They also praised the chassis tuning, which felt tidy and well-balanced in terms of stiffness.

Both Roadshow and Motor1 shared positive sentiments on the 1.5-litre turbocharged engine, with brisk acceleration that is more than enough (180 PS / 240 Nm) for daily driving. The CVT is unintrusive and cruises along without exhibiting any unwanted behaviours.

More enthusiastic drivers will find that the CVT isn’t particularly exciting to drive when pushed. James from Throttle House on YouTube said, “It just makes sad noises, and it’s not very exciting.” However, the smoothness of the CVT was praised.

Also read: Watch: Can the 2022 Honda Civic FE beat the Corolla and Mazda 3 in a drag race?

How comfortable is the 2022 Honda Civic FE?

Roadshow mentioned that ride quality of the 2022 Honda Civic is generally smooth, with the suspension doing well to absorb small impacts, though larger ones can still be felt. In terms of noise suppression, the cabin stays hushed for the most part except tyre noise at high speeds.

Jakub from The Straight Pipes highlighted that suspension pliancy is “at least 20 percent better than before” when going over train tracks. He went on to describe the 2022 Honda Civic as a baby Honda Accord.

On a side note, we gave high praises to the Accord’s suspension tuning and if that’s anything to go by, the 2022 Honda Civic certainly looks promising.

Also read: Review: 2020 Honda Accord price is under RM 200k

Motor1 says that the 2022 Honda Civic feels like an improved road trip car, with its fancier cabin and improved audio system. The Honda Sensing suite of ADAS is smarter than before thanks to improved processing power and wide-angle front camera. The improved lane-centering tech reduces lateral movements with the adaptive cruise control engaged.

What about the tech and features?

Which brings us onto the features of the 2022 Honda Civic. While lower rung variants of the Honda Civic comes with a 7-inch infotainment display, the range-topper comes with a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment display that supports wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity.

The infotainment was commended for its ease of use and the inclusion of physical controls, as seen in the facelifted Honda Civic FC. The only gripe is the longer boot up period, which was pointed out by Roadshow.

In the US, all trim levels are equipped with Honda Sensing suite of ADAS. Now with added functionality like Traffic Jam Assist and as mentioned earlier, the system has been improved and is more effective across a wider range of situations.

What about the interior and its space?

When it comes to the 2022 Honda Civic’s interior, both Motor1 and Roadshow gave their nod of approval. While the outgoing generation Civic attempts to be more flamboyant with the angular design and layers, the all-new Civic keeps it simple.

Also read: All-new 2022 Honda Civic vs Civic FC - Can the 'uncle design' car be just as cool?

There’s a large horizontal stretch of metal with honeycomb design element that adds a nice visual touch and hides the air vents. Materials and build quality are taken up a notch from before, though Roadshow mentions that it still trails behind the Mazda 3 in terms of interior execution.

Also read: Price of 2022 Honda Civic FE to increase in US, more expensive than Mazda 3

Interior space is said to be more or less the same as the previous generation Civic, which is no bad thing. Motor1 mentioned that headroom has been slightly improved by half an inch (13 mm), while legroom remains the same as before.

Should I start saving up for it now?

So far, the majority of available reviews have formed a strong and convincing – yes. Many highlighted that the Honda Civic now feels more akin to an Accord.

While this may not bode well for those looking for excitement, it is perfect for those who are looking for an easy-going, spacious, and refined package.

For those looking for something spicier, there will be a Type R version. That should be quite a weapon, given that some of the media have already touched upon the capability of the chassis.

The biggest question, when is it launching in Malaysia?

Honda Singapore has opened registration of interest and customers can take delivery of their car as early as October 2021. Over in Thailand, the 2022 Honda Civic has been spotted testing several times and when it is launched, we will have a better indication on its arrival in Malaysia.

Meanwhile, Honda Malaysia has hinted that the all-new Civic could be making its local debut as early as this year, if things go according to plan. Although it is more likely a preview rather than a market launch, as new locally-assembled models typically require at least 6 months to re-tool the local production plant.

That being said, with the current Covid-19 situation and the ongoing MCO in Malaysia, plans will have likely been delayed. As always, do stay tuned to Wapcar.my as we bring you the latest updates.

Also read:
Surprise! All-new 2022 Honda Civic FE could debut in Malaysia in 2021

Start saving up: Your guide to the all-new 2022 Honda Civic before its Malaysian launch!

11th-gen, all-new 2022 Honda Civic (FE-series) debuts - looks like a downgrade?