It’s no surprise if you’re considering the Honda Civic as a contender for your next vehicle. The 2022 model just can’t stay out of the headlines. With the numerous recognitions and awards for the Honda Civic and its reputation for reliability, the 2022 Civic has the potential to satisfy any driver looking for an affordable and versatile commuter-friendly or family-friendly car that’s as fun to drive as it is efficient and comfortable. When looking for a Honda Civic for sale near you, you might find yourself a little overwhelmed by the number of variants that you’ll have to choose from. However, there’s no need to be.
Since its introduction for the 1973 model year, the Civic has been available in a variety of trims and variants. From hatchbacks and station wagons to coupes and sedans, there has been a Civic for everyone. More recently, the compact front-wheel drive 2022 Honda Civic is available as a five-door hatchback or four-door sedan. To satisfy your inner race car driver, it’s also available as a performance sedan.
When all three versions take home awards like the J.D. Power 2022 U.S. ALG Residual Value Award, the 2022 Kelley Blue Book Best Buy Award, the 2021 WardsAuto 10 Best User Experiences Award, and the 2022 NACTOY North American Car of the Year, it’s understandable why you’d have trouble choosing between them. To help you determine which Civic model is best for you, here’s a guide to help you explore the three variants and what each has to offer over the others.
Honda Civic Si
The 2022 Honda Civic Si is not for the weak-hearted. Although this Civic model comes with the highest base price of the three variants, it remains an affordable option compared to other performance vehicles. It offers an exhilarating driving experience with a fully loaded interior. The main details that separate the performance Si model from the standard Civic Sedan are the powertrain and a few distinctive Si characteristics.
On the exterior, you’ll notice a dual chrome exhaust and a decklid spoiler that you won’t find on the standard Civic Sedan, providing better performance and a more athletic appearance. You’ll also find a moonroof with the Civic Si that you’ll only find on the upper-level trims of the standard Sedan and Hatchback models. The Civic Si still carries five passengers comfortably like the other two variants, but rather than having four trims to choose your level of comfort, convenience, and technology, the Si is only available in two options.
Both are fully loaded for style, tech, comfort, and safety, including standard Honda Sensing driver assistance technologies to help you drive with confidence. A premium 12-speaker Bose audio system provides the ultimate music experience while out on the road. With Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, you will have all the connectivity you’ll need no matter where the road takes you. More noticeably, you’ll find red accents throughout the interior on the dash, door panels, HVAC vents, and woven in the bolstered front seats boasting the Si logo. The tires are the only detail separating the base Civic Si model from the Si HPT.
The base model is equipped with all-season tires that can handle any weather conditions. Upgrading to the Civic Si HPT for an additional $200 will get you performance summer tires for the ultimate race track experience on the road. However, even with all-season tires, the Si is designed for athletic performance. Under the hood, the Civic Si carries a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with a six-speed manual transmission, producing the most horsepower and torque out of all three Civic models for the best acceleration: 200 hp and 192 lb-ft of torque. Although it may be the quickest Civic out of the family, it is the least fuel-efficient, with an EPA estimated 31 MPG combined.
Honda Civic Hatchback
After the Civic Si, the 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback is the next best fun-to-drive performer of the Civic family. It is available with a turbo four-cylinder engine and six-speed manual transmission for athletic performance. However, it doesn’t produce as much power as the Civic Si, topping out at 180 hp and 177 lb-ft of torque. Still, it delivers a more efficient ride when the turbo engine is paired with the optional automatic transmission, with an EPA estimated 35 MPG combined. The Civic Hatchback’s base 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine gets less power and mileage with only 158 hp and 138 lb-ft of torque and an EPA estimated 29 MPG combined with the manual transmission or 33 MPG combined with the automatic.
It should be no surprise that the most distinctive feature of the Hatchback model is its five-door hatchback design. Not only does the rear hatch give this Civic a unique flare compared with the other variants, but it also provides additional benefits to the interior. While the other two models offer less than 15 cu.ft. of trunk space, with the Civic Hatchback, over 25 cu.ft. of travel essentials can be stowed away with easy access to them. Additionally, the 60/40 split rear seatback adds to the interior flexibility of the Hatchback, making it the most versatile model in the Civic family with its sporty performance, unique design, and generous interior storage.
Honda Civic Sedan
As desirable as both the Civic Si and Hatchback models are, the 2022 Honda Civic Sedan is the most notable of the three due to its affordability and practicality. Despite being the least expensive of the Civic variants, the Civic Sedan does not disappoint with its style, performance, or interior. While it might not deliver the pep of the Civic Si, nor is it available with a manual transmission like the Hatchback, it carries on the Civic’s traditional athletic appearance with an outstanding overall driving experience. The Civic Sedan can handle every corner with ease while providing an enjoyable time inside the cabin with a spacious and inviting interior and premium amenities that you can’t get with the Civic Si like leather-appointed heated seats.
Although the Civic Sedan might produce less power than the Civic Si and is only available with an automatic transmission, it shares its two engine options with the Civic Hatchback. Interestingly, the Sedan gets slightly better mileage, with an EPA estimated 35 MPG combined with the non-turbocharged four-cylinder and 36 MPG combined with the turbocharged four-cylinder.
The Civic Sedan takes the top spot for the U.S. News & World Report’s 2022 Best Compact Car for the Money and is a 2022 Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Top Safety Pick+ alongside the Hatchback. However, the Civic Sedan also took home another accolade. With its premium and spacious interior, attractive athletic exterior, and all-around great performance delivering the perfect driving experience for anyone, there’s no question why the Honda Civic Sedan was named Edmunds’ Top Rated Sedan for 2022.
Choose the Honda Civic That Moves You
The award-winning 2022 Honda Civic is better than ever before. It has remained at the top of its class throughout its time on the market, always providing a variety of models to appeal to any driver and lifestyle. Today, the renowned Civic has made its way to the top. Among many other accolades, the 2022 Honda Civic was acknowledged for its excellence with the honor of receiving the 2022 North American Car of the Year award. This is a great accomplishment for the Civic and an excellent selling point, but with three variants for drivers to choose from when looking for a Honda Civic for sale, it can be challenging to determine which model is best for you.
After reading through what the Civic Si, Civic Hatchback, and Civic Sedan models offer, you should have an idea of which will suit you better. Whether it is the race car performance of the Civic Si, the unique and flexible design of the fun-to-drive Civic Hatchback, or the affordability, efficiency, and practicality of the standard Civic Sedan, there’s sure to be a Civic that moves you. Now, you’ll just have to figure out which exterior paint color from the Civic’s diverse palette reflects your personality the best.
