People say the darndest things, and right up there with whatever Malaysian politicians are spewing in the moment are comments about how the all-new 2022 Honda Civic (FE) looks 'uncle', 'tame' and 'soft'.

Like meeting your Tinder date for the first time, the difference between one's on-screen look and in-person can be...jarring to say the least.

That applies to cars as well, and in the case of the Civic FE we're happy to report – hand on heart – that all the knots in the stomach were unwarranted, because it really looks fantastic in person.

Yes, we'll admit that in certain angles it does look a little tamer than the outgoing Civic FC. Rounded edges and straighter lines tend to have that effect.

But that's not to complain.

The grand concept behind the 11th-gen Civic's design is sokai (exhilarating), its press releases are peppered with the word 'approachable', and Yosuke Sato – the Civic FE's Large Project Leader, basically the head honcho of the car – said that creating a "visually noiseless and frictionless" Civic was the main focus of the development effort.

Also read: 2022 Honda Civic FE, what's better? Hear from the Project Leader himself!

To us that sounds like designing something that doesn't split opinions as widely as the FC did. Whether or not it's managed to do that is obviously debatable, but the FE looks mellow enough to garner second looks from those with subtler dispositions, especially in gentler colours like the new Meteroid Grey Metallic.

However, 'special presence' is also an oft-bandied term in the Civic FE's press materials, and that's something that can't be discounted too. Just that a look at this new Ignite Red shade.

Also read: All-new 2022 Honda Civic e:HEV hybrid, Type R models to debut in 2022

With it being a touch longer, wider, but a little lower than the FC, the new Civic wears an upmarket look, and it's not uncommon to hear it being described as 'very European'.

In this RS guise – which we understand to be the model's top variant here – it benefits from unique LED headlights, gloss black garnishes, a sharp bootlid spoiler and sweet matte black 18-inch wheels – the latter two items shared with North America's spicy Civic Si.

Also read: Is the all-new 2022 Honda Civic Si a reborn Type R sedan? – 200 PS, 260 Nm, 6-MT, rev-matching

And for added bragging rights, our Civic FE (at least for the RS) is the ASEAN region's most powerful too, with 182 PS and 240 Nm from its updated 1.5-litre turbocharged VTEC engine.

Paired to that is a CVT automatic which has been remapped for better response and driveability, and new to the Civic is a drive mode selector that comes with Econ, Normal, and Sport modes.

Though we can't quite share its cabin and features just yet, we can tell you that it boasts fantastic seating and driving position in front, with much improved visibility over the Civic FC. Getting in and out is miles easier here than in the low-slung position of its predecessor.

Also read: The Proton X50's seat designers could learn from the 2022 Honda Civic FE's

It's much the same round the back. Tweaks to the rear seat design and more supportive bolstering makes ingress and egress easier, at no expense to overall comfort.

Meanwhile, basic safety features of the 11th-gen Civic for Malaysia encapsulates the following:

• 6-airbags
• Vehicle Stability features
• ABS
• EBD
• Auto Brake Hold
• Hill-Start Assist
• Emergency Stop Signal (ESS)
• Front and rear proximity sensors

Honda Sensing, which now adds on Lead Car Departure Notification (LCDN), is also updated with a new camera that affords wider field-of-view versus what's in the outgoing Civic.

Also read: Honda Sensing: all-new 2022 Civic FE is better than Civic FC because of this

Bookings for the model have been opened, and between now and Q1 2022 (when deliveries are slated to begin) we think Honda Malaysia will rack up a long list of customers if our first impressions are any indication.

Also read: All-new 2022 Honda Civic FE says Hello Malaysia, bookings opened

Of course, there'll be contrasting opinions to the all-new Civic and that's perfectly normal; it's what drives competition.

And speaking of competition, those going up against the 2022 Honda Civic FE really have got their work cut out for them: we've driven it, and boy is it every bit the one to wait for.

Also read: Review: 2022 Honda Civic FE – Forget baby Accord, it’s on par with the 3 Series

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