2022 Honda Civic specifications revealed
We already knew that the new Honda Civic would be more striking than its predecessor, but details of its hybrid efficiency and plethora of safety kit have now been announced...
On sale: Autumn 2022 | Price from: £24,500 (est)
If you’re down with the kids, you’ll know that the ‘glow-up’ TikTok trend involves people contrasting childhood photos against much more flattering ones from the present. And now the Honda Civic has been through a ‘glow-up’ of its own, with a striking new look, an expansive suite of standard safety kit, and hybrid power that promises fuel economy of up to 56.5mpg.
That fuel efficiency comes courtesy of a 2.0-litre petrol engine working in tandem with two electric motors. This is a regular hybrid set-up, so there’s no need to plug the Civic in and charge up – but it also means you will be able to cover only relatively short distances on electric power alone. The system produces a hearty 181bhp in total – on a par with the punchy 2.0-litre hybrid available in the rival Toyota Corolla.
Only one gearbox will be available in the Civic: a CVT automatic similar to those featured in the Honda HR-V and the Honda Jazz. Those cars are reasonably hushed around town, but the second you demand full power, their gearboxes send the engine revs soaring in a noisy manner. However, this gearbox does have one major benefit: driving normally, it holds the engine in its most efficient rev range, significantly boosting efficiency.
Although the new Civic is placing an emphasis on eco-friendly driving, there will still be a replacement for the Type R hot hatchback down the line. That car is expected to use an evolved version of the current Type R’s turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol engine, with power upped beyond the most recent version's 316bhp.
Despite its green credentials, the Civic’s styling hasn’t softened, with a smaller grille than the outgoing car and a more rakish roofline. Changes have also been made to aid visibility: for example, the side mirrors now sit on the door panels rather than in front of them in a bid to reduce blindspots.
And because the new Civic is larger than the outgoing car – with a wider body and a 35mm longer gap between the front and rear wheels – interior space should also be slightly enhanced. That’s an especially positive change, because the outgoing Civic pales in comparison with the Seat Leon and Skoda Octavia for rear passenger space. Nonetheless, the outgoing model's big boot – which is larger than those in the Mazda 3 and Volkswagen Golf – is likely to be carried forward to the new one.
Inside, the most notable change is the inclusion of a new infotainment touchscreen that measures 7.0in in entry-level models and 9.0in in range-topping cars. Both screens support Apple CarPlay and Android Auto phone mirroring, which you’ll most likely want to make use of, because the systems in the HR-V and Jazz are neither very responsive nor intuitive.
High-end models also get a 10.2in digital instrument panel and a 12-speaker Bose sound system.
There’s lots of safety equipment on offer as standard in the new Civic, including automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assistance and blindspot monitoring, among others.
Prices have not yet been revealed, but it’s likely that the new Civic will start at around £24,500 – some £2000 more than the outgoing model. This is due to the cost of its hybrid system, and while it seems like a big rise, the Civic still undercuts the Toyota Corolla by nearly £1000.
The new Civic should also fall into a low benefit-in-kind company car tax bracket. Honda says it's targeting CO2 emissions below 110g/km, which should make it cheaper than the Ford Focus Ecoboost 155, the 2.0-litre Corolla and the Volkswagen Golf 1.5 TSI.
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