For years, the Civic was the default car. Commercially successful, culturally ubiquitous, and reasonably priced, it was the kind of vehicle that was meant to be taken for granted. That is until Honda did so.
Now, in a growing landscape that no longer values compact cars, the Civic isn’t the force it once was. Complacency has seen Honda lose focus on what made the model so successful, prizing questionable styling over dependency and reliability. Not only that but with Hyundai coming of age at the same time Mazda’s upped their game, the alternatives have never been more attractive.
Ten generations deep, Honda’s now starting to tease what’s coming for the storied nameplate. And, thankfully, it seems to be a move away from divisive styling.
Where the current model’s all angles and flares with a bulbous backend, the 2022 prototype is more mature. That is to say, it’s a little boring. But that’s okay! When your current model features taillights that would embarrass a hyped-up ten-year-old, boring is a bold choice.
The 2022 Civic Prototype Looks Boring.
Still, That’s an Improvement Over the Current Model
The simpler headlights and cleaner grill compliment the lower, longer hood, The A-pillars have been pushed back, though designers promise a more spacious interior than in the current model. The C-pillar has more of a curve, lending it a look akin to a 3-Series.
The backend is blessedly clean, free of fake vents and dumb angles. The taillights are lightly stylized, though Honda seems to be jumping on the ‘unibrow’ taillight design that everyone else is doing these days. At least they look like they belong in the realm of geometry, and not some Escher-Lovecraftian hybrid.
Honda hasn’t revealed what powertrain options will be available, but have said that manuals will continue to be an option on their sportier models. It will be available as both a sedan and a hatchback, with Si and Type R variants on offer, There are rumours that the Type R could adopt a hybrid AWD setup that would allow for more power than the current front-drive configuration can handle.
It’s unlikely that the Civic will completely fall into obscurity anytime soon. However, its return to cultural prominence isn’t any more of a guarantee.