If you haven't noticed, the Honda Civic tends to follow a pattern whereby a radical model is superseded by a rather conservative one. Case in point: the jump from the much-lauded FD-series to the lukewarm FB-generation.

Many have been saying the same things about the latest model too, especially with its 'uncle-ish' design. Either way, this 11th-generation, FE-series Civic will take over the current-gen's mantle - so let's see how they stack up.

Dimensions - New car has a longer wheelbase

Even as its prototype was unveiled last December, there were questions about its size. Fun fact: it's the largest Civic in the nameplate's 49-year history:

Despite looking a lot larger, the measuring tape tells a different story. Curiously, legroom stays the same, but the longer wheelbase will improve its highway cruising character.

Exterior - It needs a new nickname

It may only be a touch bigger than before, but the all-new Civic's upper-class aspirations are clear.

With a long hood, elongated headlights and slim grille, the new car wears a softer face - likely to be more appealing to those who found the Civic FC too sporty.

Moving along the sides, the upright roofline gives the car a more matured profile compared to its slinkier predecessor. Oh and the C-pillar kink? That's a cue from the Accord.

If the 10th-gen Civic was known as the Civic Ketam thanks to its C-shaped tail lights, then this one needs a new nickname - no more crab-claw lights here. A simpler pair of tail lights and a gently-sloping bootlid spoiler makes for a fuss-free rear end.

Interior - Minimalist, sedate

Where the preceding Civic features a sporty interior, the new one takes a different approach. 

The new philosophy - Honda calls it 'Simplicity and Something' - is characterised by simple lines and clutter-free ambience. Note the air-cond vents in the honeycomb piece (like the equally-new Honda HR-V), and the floating instrument cluster that cleans up the centre stack.

It's supposed to go hand-in-hand with the brand's famed 'Man Maximum, Machine Minimum' philosophy too, and the results are a neat and clean interior. Keep an eye out for this design in your future City or CR-V - the company say this approach will trickle down to future models.

Also read: Interior of all-new 2022 Honda Civic FE teased - futuristic yet simple

Design touches aside, the new Civic offers exactly the same legroom and headroom as the Civic FC.

Powertrain - VTEC turbo power stays

Across the US-range (the car debuted there, Asian models are yet to be detailed), the Civic comes with either a turbocharged 1.5-litre or naturally-aspirated 2.0-litre mill:

The bigger engine is just carried over, while the 1.5-litre mill sees a marginal 4 PS and 20 Nm increase from the outgoing model. Asian-spec cars are yet to be detailed, but it's safe to expect updates along these lines too.

And since we're on performance, note too that the Civic Type R has been confirmed, but details are yet to be released. All we know is that this will be the last Type R before Honda goes full-EV.

Also read: Rendered: 2022 Honda Civic Type R - The king of front-wheel drive?

Safety - Improved Honda Sensing

The Honda Sensing suite of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) has been suitably updated, adding on Traffic Jam Assist and Low Speed Braking Control. Its old radar-and-camera setup gives way to a single camera too.

Other than that the new Civic benefits from a host of passive safety updates as well, including an improved version of Honda's Advanced Compability Engineering (ACE) body structure and redesigned front airbags that should further reduce risk of head and neck injuries.

Conclusion - Coming to Malaysia, but will you get it?

So what do you think, too 'uncle' or just right? On paper, it looks like this 11th-gen Civic ticks all the boxes as a great successor to the Civic FC. Sorry kids, looking like an uncle is the new in-thing.

Barring any surprises, Malaysians might still have to wait a while before the new car comes along. For now though, the currently-on-sale Civic FC is still a good buy for those wanting a value-for-money C-segment sedan.

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