Canada’s favourite sedan returns for another generation
For a car to become the nation’s best selling 23 years straight it has to be pretty darned good, and the Honda Civic has proven to be just that. The 11th generation sedan seeks to keep the streak going introducing fresh styling, a more powerful turbocharged engine and fresh tech.
“What we have accomplished with the Honda Civic, is taking it to a higher level of sophistication,” says Clement D’Souza, Honda of Canada Mfg. senior vice president. “We’ve created this clean and modern look by using new and first-time Civic technologies, which resulted in the most technologically advanced Civic ever, with a refined and innovative design.”
The vehicle bears almost an Accord-like resemblance due to details such as wide-set rectangular LED headlights, a longer hood created via moving the A-pillars rearward 50 millimetres, bulbous greenhouse and wider rear track. I wouldn’t exactly call the sedan sporty, but at least there’s still catering to enthusiasts building a manual-transmission hatchback and impending Type-R as well.
Occupants shouldn’t be left wanting for space as the cabin provides plenty. One of the most interesting elements inside is a metal honeycomb mesh element stretching right across the dashboard that conceals the air vents behind. The choice of interior materials is quite premium, and the comfortable Body Stabilizing Seat featuring enhanced lumbar and pelvic support minimizes fatigue during long journeys.
Top-of-the-line Touring grades, for example the unit Darpan tested, include for the first time a fully digital 10.2-inch LCD instrument cluster. The on-screen information can be customized to show different virtual gauges, music selection, trip computer and so on. Or, view the entertainment data on the nine-inch central touch display — the largest ever in a Honda vehicle. In addition, Bose makes its Civic debut with a 12-speaker stereo system producing some of the highest-quality audio heard so far in the 50-year-old model.
Though the car’s appearance is rather pedestrian, the underlying structure is the stiffest yet boasting an eight per cent increase in torsional rigidity compared to the outgoing version. Alongside an expanded use of lightweight aluminum and high-strength steel, 35-millimetre wheelbase, revised suspension and re-tuned electric steering, handling is nice and tight as expected from the brand.
As before, two four-cylinder mills mated to continuously-variable transmissions are offered: a naturally aspirated 2.0 litre on the lower trim levels and in the Touring, a massaged turbocharged 1.5 litre now making a healthy 180 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque (which is an extra six and 15, respectively) using the recommended 87-octane gasoline. The pickup is definitely there when accelerating, however the resulting tinny sound leaves something to be desired.
Besides the Normal driving mode users can select an Eco setting, reducing throttle and transmission sensitivity and air conditioning performance, to improve fuel economy, or Sport that effectively does the opposite yielding a more dynamic motoring experience.
Every 2022 Honda Civic Sedan sold in Canada is built exclusively at the company’s plant in Alliston, Ontario, and prices for the Touring start at $30,265.
Highlights
MSRP: $24,465 (base)
Motor: 1.5-litre turbocharged four cylinder
Horsepower: 180 @ 6,000 rpm
Torque (lb-ft): 177 @ 1,700 rpm
Gearbox: CVT
Layout: front engine, front-wheel drive
Fuel economy: 9.1 L/100 km mixed city/highway (observed)
Photos Courtesy of Honda News.