2022 Honda Civic Prototype: All the Important Details So Far

06.07.2021

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The 2022 Honda Civic Prototype Is A Preview Of What We Can Expect From The Next Generation Civic .
Significant changes were made to the look and design of the top of the Civic Prototype.
The 11th generation Civic will introduce several new active and passive safety systems .

For an unprecedented time, the Honda Civic has been the default choice for a rugged, reliable, and sporty compact car (although it has always seemed to play second fiddle to the timeless Toyota Corolla). In my opinion, the sixth generation model from 1995 to 2000 remains the best Civic. It's hard to forget those high-revving, heavy-duty B16A2 and D15 VTEC engines that, with some modest performance upgrades, are powerful enough to overtake sports cars. and muscle cars.

In that era, Honda spades were forever in automotive history, and the Civic led the way. But since the seventh generation, the Civic has been slowly shedding its sporting roots, moving from a perfect sleeper (VTEC turned on, yo!) to a smarter mode of transportation (not counting the Type R, of course).

2022 Honda Civic Prototype Styling

Compared to the fading tenth-generation Civic with moderately polarized design cues, the all-new eleventh-generation Civic is a return to form. It sits low and wide like its predecessors and retains the low hip-point and waistline of the Civics of yesteryear that are Civic hallmarks and are responsible for the car's low stance.

However, Honda has made significant changes to the upper body of the Civic Prototype. The A-pillars have been moved back to improve visibility, but give the impression of having a longer bonnet. Meanwhile, the side mirrors have found a new location in the front doors to give the driver a better view of the front side windows.

However, the biggest triumph is the design from scratch. There is nothing ridiculous about the design elements of the new Civic. It has a standard set of headlights and taillights, while the front clip is neat and free of beveled shapes and cut lines. It has a rear end similar to the Lexus IS, and from the side it is very reminiscent of the new Acura TLX, given the sloping roofline and rear-facing conservatory.

"2022 2022 Honda Civic Prototype in Solar Flare Pearl. Photo: Honda North America.

Honda Civic Prototype Interior

As with the exterior redesign, the interior of the new Honda Civic is clean as a whistle. For the first time, the Civic is getting a fully digital instrument cluster. The 2022 Honda Civic Prototype also features a nine-inch Full HD infotainment touchscreen for audio and navigation controls.

The dashboard lacks distracting clutter and cut lines. Honda has gone so far as to hide the vents behind a honeycomb mesh accent for a cleaner look. Again, the interior is reminiscent of a sixth-generation Civic, with minimal distractions and a low-lying dashboard.

“Civic has always exceeded expectations, and the all-new Civic will continue this legacy of setting the standard for compact cars with human-centered design, outstanding performance, style, safety and driver enjoyment,” said Dave Gardner, Executive Vice President. national operations, American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

Advanced security features

Like a modern car, the 2022 Honda Civic is filled with cutting-edge safety technology. The bodywork is built around an optimized version of the Honda Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) chassis to provide better crash protection for both occupants and pedestrians.

According to Honda, the new Civic will feature an updated suite of Honda Sensing driver assistance technologies and new airbag designs.

"External Exterior view of the 2022 Honda Civic Prototype. Photo: Honda North America.

2022 Honda Civic: when will it go on sale?

It should be noted that Honda is still considering the Civic as a prototype at the moment, but we expect many of the features (especially the design language) to be carried over to the production model. The 2022 Honda Civic sedan will go on sale in late spring 2021, followed shortly by the Civic Hatchback and the sportier Civic Si. It'll take a while, but if Honda plays their cards right, it's all worth it.

Production is underway at Honda's plant in Greensburg, Indiana, which will also produce the Civic Hatchback for the first time.

And yes, there's a new Civic Type R on the line, but it probably won't arrive until 2021 or early 2022. Honda has yet to reveal powertrain options for its all-new 11th-generation Civic, but I'm clearly longing for the manual Civic Si and sportier CVT programming for the Civic sedan. I wish Honda would drop the CVT in their turbocharged Civics, but that's just me. A CVT is acceptable for a naturally aspirated base engine, but a proper six-speed or seven-speed automatic should bode well for Honda's powerful 1.5-liter turbo.

Otherwise, good job, Honda. Let's show these crossover owners what they've been missing out on.

Alvin Reyes, BlogAvto columnist, expert on sports cars and performance cars. In his younger years he studied civil aviation, aeronautics and accounting and is still very attached to his former Lancer GSR and Galant SS. He also loves fried chicken, music, and herbal medicine.