2022 Honda Civic vs. 2021 Honda Civic: Which Is Better?
The higher price point on the 2022 Honda Civic is worth it once you consider the new features that come with the redesign.
Written by Thidas Senanayaka
Reviewed by Bellina Gaskey
The 2022 Honda Civic, although not much more expensive than the 2021 model, happens to be one of the best-ranked small sedans on the market, with the added bonus of being the first iteration of the 11th Generation Civic.
With a 50-year history of affordability, efficiency, and durability, the Honda Civic has a proud tradition as a leader in the sedan segment. The 2022 model is an all-new redesign of the Civic, marking the first 11th Generation Honda Civic
Here’s a guide to the 2022 vs. 2021 Honda Civic to help you figure out which model year is better for you.
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2022 Honda Civic vs. 2021 Honda Civic: what’s the difference?
The Civic is a small sedan, competing with such industry players like the Hyundai Elantra, Mazda3, and Kia Forte. In 2022, the Civic underwent a redesign, introducing a new, 11th generation line of Honda Civics.
Pricing
On average, the prices for 2022 Honda Civic trims cost about $1,350 more than their 2021 counterparts. This is to be expected, as the 2022 model is a redesign.
The
EX-L
from 2021 is not continued in 2022 and instead has been replaced by the Honda Civic Si
trim. Here’s a more detailed breakdown of the price per trim level. Model | 2022 MSRP | 2021 MSRP |
|---|---|---|
Honda Civic LX | $23,645 | $22,045 |
Honda Civic Sport (most popular) | $25,045 | $23,845 |
Honda Civic EX | $26,645 | $25,195 |
Honda Civic EX-L | N/A | $26,395 |
Honda Civic Si | $28,595 | N/A |
Honda Civic Touring | $30,245 | $29,095 |
MORE: Are Hondas expensive to maintain?
General specs
With a simple first look, it doesn’t seem like that price increase is fetching much of a difference. Both the 2022 Civic’s base and upgraded engines are basically a carryover from the 2021 Civic, although the upgraded engine in the newer model does have a slight edge in horsepower.
In fact, some testers have noted a decrease in time to get from 0 to 60 mph, with comparable 2021 models clocking in at 6.8 seconds compared to a 7.4-second time on the 2022 Civic. As a practical matter, you won’t feel the difference while driving, but with such a price difference, one might expect increased output to translate into increased performance.
The bottom line is that the price increase does not reflect any improvements per se on the 2022 Civic’s engine. Any upgrades on the 2021 Civic are reflected in other areas of the vehicle.
Here’s a more detailed breakdown of the Civic’s general specifications:
2022 Honda Civic | 2021 Honda Civic | |
|---|---|---|
Base engine (LX and Sport) | 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (158 horsepower) | 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (158 horsepower) |
Upgrade engine (EX and above) | 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine (180 horsepower) | 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine (174 horsepower) |
Transmission | CVT (standard) or 6-speed Manual (available on hatchbacks) | CVT (sole offering) but six-speed Manual available on hatchback |
Drivetrain | Front Wheel Drive (FWD) | Front Wheel Drive (FWD) |
Fuel economy
There is some marginal improvement in the fuel economy department in the 2022 Civic over its 2021 counterpart. Most of the base components are carryovers with minor improvements.
Remember, fuel efficiency will change based on how you drive and the conditions your vehicle is exposed to, but in general, here are the EPA estimates:
2021 Honda Civic | 2022 Honda Civic | |
|---|---|---|
City MPG | 30 mpg | 31 mpg |
Highway MPG | 38 mpg | 40 mpg |
Combined MPG | 33 mpg | 35 mpg |
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There is a noticeable improvement in fuel economy, though it’s debatable exactly how much you will feel it during various driving conditions. For both model years, this level of fuel economy is excellent. The Civic bests its direct competitors by a few mpg both years and sometimes even matches EPA numbers during real-world testing.
Safety ratings
Both the 2022 and 2021 Honda Civic get five-star ratings for safety from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Both vehicles passed the NHTSA’s crash test with flying colors, clocking in at five stars again.
Both Honda Civics come outfitted with the Honda Sensing safety suite, which includes adaptive cruise control, a collision-mitigation system with automatic emergency braking, and road-departure mitigation.
Both vehicles also have lane-keeping assist feature, though the 2022 Civic has an improved camera with a wider field of view that’s quicker to identify other elements on the road.
The 2022 Honda Civic also sports 10 standard airbags, which is four more than the six the 2021 model came with. The two front airbags in the 2022 Civic provide more head protection as well in the event of a crash.
Styling and interior changes
“Understated but handsome” is how Kelley Blue Book describes the 2022 Honda Civic’s interior, emphasizing that for the 11th Generation redesign, Honda has simplified the interior. You can expect to find:
- Instrument panel with a digital tachometer and analog speedometer
- An all-digital 10.2-inch customizable LCD screen for the instrument panel
- Standard 7-inch navigation system, with a 9-inch version for the Touring trim
- Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity
- All-new seats on a new-generation frame providing a noticeably improved comfort level
- Four-speaker audio system (can be eight-speaker for the Sport and above and 12-speaker Bose sound system for the Touring and above)
- Sunroof (EX and above)
- Leather upholstery with power-adjustable front seats (Touring and above)
- Auto-dimming rearview mirror
- Proximity keyless entry (Sport and above only)
If you want the most that money can get you, the 2022 Civic Si trim is the way to go. With an upgraded version of the turbocharged 1.5L engine, it can fetch up to 200 horsepower and has the option to include a six-speed manual transmission.
The Sport is the most popular trim (even for the 2021 model), and it’s easy to see why—with an additional suite of features with a relatively affordable price jump, it seems to provide the most bang for your buck.
Special edition
Neither the 2021 or 2022 Civic model has a special edition version, though the 2022 model does have the Si trim which last made an appearance in 2020. The Si basically takes the features of the Sport trim and adds the best add-ons of the EX and Touring trims.
It only comes in a sedan-style body, but it has an upgraded engine that can give you the fastest speeds of the 2022 lineup.
2022 Honda Civic vs. 2021 Honda Civic: which should you buy?
You’ll find that the 2021 Honda Civic is cheaper, and you can potentially find discounted prices depending on where you look. That being said, most reviewers agree that the 2022 Honda Civic is definitely worth it.
Don’t get us wrong—put the 2021 Civic against most small sedans and it will trounce them all, but Honda has somehow improved on the 2021 model even further in 2022. If you can afford it, consider taking advantage of the new redesign in the 2022 Civic.
How to save on Honda insurance
When you’re buying a new car, don’t forget about how much it will cost to insure. Newer cars with higher replacement costs will cost more to insure than smaller or cheaper models. Regardless, there are some easy ways to make sure you aren’t overpaying for your car insurance policy.
Make sure you compare quotes from at least three reputable insurance providers. Each insurance company uses a slightly different formula to calculate your rates, so it’s worth it to shop around. You can also use a comparison shopping tool to do all the work for you.
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