2022 Honda Civic: How to Reinvent the Wheel

Being named Canada’s favourite car for 23 straight years is something to be proud of. And the Honda Civic has achieved this triumph with great success. However, this bestseller has needed to reinvent itself from time to time, which is not as easy as it seems.

On the one hand, creating a product that is totally unexpected could jeopardize your existing customer base, while being even slightly too prudent and conservative could cause you to lose your lead, as nobody can afford a stale product. Combine this with the fact that competition comes from all sides these days in the automotive industry. You are not only competing with other automakers, but also from within your own brand due to crossovers.

Photo: Honda

The 11th generation Civic receives a new design, a few more horses, and some new technologies. Honda hopes these enhancements are potent enough to keep its top spot.

In order to scrutinize every angle of the new Civic’s purpose and future, we had a fruitful chat with Hayato Mori, the AVP of Product Planning and Business Development at Honda Canada.

Photo: Honda

New Design and Added Power

Any vigilant eye will notice that the Civic has matured. However, the latest model of the beloved compact car also gives a nod to past generations with a more classic look than the outgoing generation, which could have been seen as more edgy.

"Yes, the 2022 Honda Civic does borrow traits from previous generations. It reminds me of the Civics from the early 90s. While the outgoing generation was looked at as more extreme by some, this new Civic is more premium-looking and sophisticated," confirmed Hayato Mori.

"We always try to make the Civic fun for the driver, which includes maximum visibility, but the ideal shape of that isn't necessarily all about style. We gave [the vehicle] refined assets like a longer hood to balance space and visibility with sportiness."

Photo: Honda

Underneath its exterior, the new Civic also received modifications to its chassis and overall body rigidity, making it stiffer and more capable of withstanding crashes, especially the notoriously brutal and surprisingly common oblique impact.

This added stiffness also benefits driving dynamics, making the Civic more capable in terms of handling. Two birds, one stone!

The Civic’s top 1.5-litre four-cylinder, turbocharged engine got a bump in horsepower and torque, ranking in at 180 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque, which is up 6 hp and 15 lb.-ft. of torque from last year’s model.

Mori also stipulated that the continuously variable transmission had to be recalibrated to provide better accelerations on the standard 2.0-litre engine, for which the fuel economy has also been improved.

What about the racing/enthusiast community?

The Touring model, which hosts the more powerful engine isn’t exactly what the enthusiast community raves about. In the brave new automotive world of SUV practicality and the race fuel economy, this specific group of people, who can’t necessarily afford a brand-new Type R, sometimes feel left aside.

However, Hayato Mori reiterated that the new generation Civic (namely the new Si and hatchback models) will cater to enthusiasts as it always has.

"With an available manual gearbox in the five-door Civic and as the sole option in the Si, I think performance enthusiasts will be excited about the overall performance aspects of the 2022 Civic.”

Photo: Honda

In a world full of crossovers, will the Civic remain relevant for years to come?

"We know that Canadian drivers are practical. They want a car that caters to their lifestyle. Civic does this for many different lifestyles,” said Hayato Mori, when asked about the Civic’s immense popularity in Canada.

However, crossovers are basically symbols of practicality. While the question about the purpose and future of the actual car has been asked, examined, and debated continuously within the industry in past years, bending a manufacturer’s ear is always enriching.

"I think there will never be a time where there are no more cars. Not everyone needs an SUV. For drivers that want the best package for overall drivability, you still can’t beat a car. The lower stance and centre of gravity is great for handling and the Civic’s human-centric packaging allows plenty of room for passengers and cargo,” concluded Mori.

Photo: Honda

What’s going on in the electric department?

Ending an interview with a question about the “electric future” has become a no-brainer in the last few years (except if the subject of said interview is an EV, of course).

Honda has remained closed-lipped about the electric future of the Civic or any vehicle in Honda Canada’s lineup, for that matter.

But the enthusiast in us is always a bit anxious about driving dynamics and how models known for their sporty characteristics could lose some of their “engaging character” during their pilgrimage over to the electric side.

With that said, Hayato Mori has been somewhat reassuring on the matter. "You'll have to wait just a little longer to see a fully electric vehicle powered by Honda in Canada. Any Honda-made vehicle, whether it is powered by an internal combustion, electric, or hybrid engine will always have Honda characteristics. It’s those Honda qualities and uniqueness that consumers expect from our brand.”

Share on Facebook

More on the subject

New ModelsAll-new 2022 Honda Civic Makes Official Debut
The completely redesigned 2022 Honda Civic finally made its official debut on Wednesday night during a special event on the Twitch platform, looking more than ever to attract young customers. It will arrive in Canadian dealerships this summer. Right off the bat, the company hails it as the most fun-to-drive …
Spotlight onDon’t Miss the 2022 Honda Civic Debut Wednesday Night
The all-new, eleventh-generation 2022 Honda Civic will finally make its official debut on Wednesday night at around 9 p.m. ET. The event will be part of a virtual concert on Twitch marking the 20th anniversary of the Civic Tour. As you know, Honda has already provided a couple of previews, …
New ModelsHere it is, the New 2022 Honda Civic!
Today, Honda gave us the first official image of the redesigned 2022 Honda Civic . This production model is surprisingly similar to the prototype Civic unveiled by the automaker last November. Honda says it is the most fun-to-drive and most technologically advanced Civic sedan in nearly 50 years of history.
Previews2022 Honda Civic: Five Things to Know
Canada’s best-selling car, the Honda Civic , is completely new for 2022, introducing a revised powertrain, sleeker design and new technologies. Before you start making plans to buy one, here are five things you need to know about the 2022 Honda Civic... Fresh Looks This new generation marks a radical …
NewsNew Renderings Show Hypothetical 2022 Honda Civic Wagon, Coupe
The current Honda Civic Hatchback is relatively similar to the Civic Sedan when you compare their silhouettes. Of course, the former has some unique design cues and edgier looks in the rear. Now that the brand new 2022 Honda Civic has made its debut in four-door body style, with a …
News2022 Honda Civic Production is Officially Underway
The Honda Civic is the best-selling passenger car in Canada for 23 straight years and the arrival of the 11th generation for 2022, which debuted just a few days ago, is major news. Today, the company announced that production of the new Civic Sedan has officially started at its Alliston, …
NewsAll-new Honda Civic Hatchback to be Revealed June 23
After introducing the next-generation 2022 Civic Sedan in late April, Honda is about to show us the hatchback variant. The global premiere will take place on June 23—less than two weeks from now—via the YouTube channel Honda Stage . The automaker has just posted this shadowy teaser that reveals the …
Test Drives2022 Honda Civic: Back on Top
Honda was forced to alter its plans considerably in the past 18 months, much like every other automaker. The difference is that its two best-selling products, the CR-V and Civic , are built right here in Canada, with the latter introducing a brand new generation for 2022. The outgoing model …