The brand-new eleventh-generation 2022 Civic lineup benefits from a revival of Honda's time-honored commitment to a holistic, cohesive design ethos, and the car's interior takes a significant step forward with a more vertical dash, enhanced safety tech, and improved connectivity features all in one stunning package. The 2022 model is poised to carry on Honda's history of delivering lightweight, agile, and deft driving dynamics in a simple, economical package.
Debuting exclusively in sedan form, the 2022 Civic Si once again features a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder paired to a six-speed manual transmission. It's now clad in an attractive-looking package that's slightly longer, lower, and wider than before.
A Simplified Yet Exhilarating Design
The 2022 Civic's exterior represents an obvious departure from the severe angularity of the outgoing generation, exemplified in its most extreme build by the aggressive aero inlets, wings, and splitters of the Type R. The new car's revised profile improves aerodynamic efficiency and is offered in both sedan and hatchback form. Available in nine different trim levels, the 2022 Honda Civic Si, however, will only be offered as a four-door, though the previous-gen Civic Si could have been obtained as a coupe.
Details unique to the model include black mirrors and window trim to go along with a Si-exclusive Blazing Orange Pearl paint tone and a hidden front chin spoiler, and a gloss black rear spoiler. Additionally, the thoroughly reshaped rear bumper and the redesigned rear tail lights indicate a noteworthy change from the outgoing model. The dual exhaust tips suggest Si's slight performance enhancements, and the new exhaust system flows more freely than the standard Civic's. An Active Sound Control system supplements the organic exhaust, and the tone is tweaked for enhanced sound quality across a broader engine rev range than preceding model years.
An Athletic Engine And Hearty Performance
Despite being under pressure to switch to all-wheel drive, Honda resolutely retains the Civic's front-drive layout. Still, that fact doesn't bar out a range of driver-focused features for this economy car's two most athletic trim levels. The base Civic employs a 2.0-liter inline-four engine producing 158 horsepower, but the Si takes the mid-level turbocharged 1.5-liter engine and bumps output up to a sturdy 200 horsepower and 192 pound-feet of torque. The 200 ponies are five fewer than the 2020 model's 205 horsepower, though Honda promises improved response at the top of the rev range between the 6,000 rpm horsepower peak and 6,500 rpm redline. Additionally, peak torque comes 300 earlier than before, now at 1800 rpm.
The lower-spec Civic sedans employ a continuously variable transmission, and the Si comes equipped exclusively with a six-speed manual transaxle. Several performance-focused details are borrowed from Type R by the 2022 Si, including shorter throws for the shifter, a more rigid shift lever mounting bracket, and even a rev-matching system that can cut the throttle in as few as 430 milliseconds. A significant weight reduction helps enhance the throttle response as the transmission routes power to the front wheels through a helical limited-slip differential.
Honda worked over the Si's suspension to improve the new generation's driving dynamics, in addition to a stiffer torsional rigidity of the body structure. The rear track and wheelbase have been stretched by 1.4 inches and 0.5 inches, respectively, while thicker sway bars, revised springs, and stiffer bushings sharpen reflexes and decrease body roll. The spring rates are stiffer in front and rear compared to Civic Sedan, and the dampers are tuned to suit. Bigger brakes improve driver confidence, and the Si also gets tighter steering due to a beefed-up steering torsion bar connecting the steering shaft to the rack and pinion.
A new Individual mode joins normal and sport comprising three drive modes. Individual mode allows the driver to customize the engine response, idle-stop system, rev-matching, steering weight, and even the instrument panel's accent colors individually to fit their individual preference. Despite all the revisions, the 2022 Civic Si is tipping the scales at 2,952 pounds, adding only about 50 pounds to its predecessor's curb weight.
The Modern Interior And Advanced Safety Tech
The 2022 model's interior design looks much more modern, featuring fewer buttons, a more vertical dash, and the expanded use of refined materials. The Si receives sport pedals, trim-specific cloth seats with red accents, contrast stitching, and a leather-wrapped aluminum shift knob to differentiate it from lower-spec models.
Although the quintessential Civic simplicity has returned, the 2022 model year adds outstanding tech and safety features across the entire lineup. The Si receives a nine-inch high-definition color touchscreen equipped with wired Android Auto and wireless Apple CarPlay connectivity. At the same time, a 12-speaker Bose sound system allows Honda to boast about hosting the best factory audio system in Civic Si history. The Civic Si is still a four-door sedan adept at injecting a little fun into the family commute, so safety still factors into the core design. Safety augmentations include a new single-camera Honda Sensing suite of driver's aids to identify road lines, signage, cyclists, pedestrians, and other vehicles. Additionally, 10 airbags surround the cabin, utilizing a new donut-shaped structure for the front seats that protect the head in the event of a collision. Standard rear airbags are available as well.
The new Civic generation uses Honda's Advanced Compatibility Engineering or ACE body designed with stiffer construction at nearly every angle and built to route crash energy around the cabin rather than through it. The strengthened ACE tub doesn't sacrifice visibility, though. With its manual transmission, fresh, understated styling, and fun-to-fling demeanor, the 2022 Honda Civic Si could have a little trouble carving its niche in the sport compact segment, especially if the base price remains under $27,000. Honda has not revealed the pricing, delivery estimates, or fuel economy ratings for the 2022 Civic Si.
After a long hiatus, Honda has revived the Si model for the 2022 Civic's comprehensive redesign. The new model exhibits performance enhancements and a sophisticated shape. The net result of these changes is a significantly richer, more enjoyable, and engaging driving experience, which is made more worthwhile with the improved improvements.