Honda Civic's legend grows with latest generation

Mark Glover’s AutoGlo car reviews also can be seen in Cruisin’ News magazine published monthly out of Folsom, California.

Sacramento, California -- The all-new-for-2022 Honda Civic marks the 11th generation of the venerable model.  That adds up to more than 12 million Civics purchased by Americans since 1973.

And multiple reviews would have you believe that this latest generation might be the best Civic yet.

I can't say that I disagree after a week in the 2022 Honda Civic Sport sedan.

First, there's the redesign, which reviewers have described as refined.  I like that assessment, because some previous versions of the Civic stepped out of line and became quirky in appearance.  Not so now.  The look is smooth, clean and downright attractive.

My tester was equipped with a 2-liter, four-cylinder engine with 158 horsepower, and it performed with much more authority than those numbers would indicate.

Accelerations were brisk, and passing power was plentiful when I pressed the accelerator to the near limit.  Paddle shifters?  Of course. The "Sport" designation is entirely correct with this package.

Steering was instantly responsive, with a just-right firmness.  It's one of the things that has long attracted me to the Civic -- top-flight steering in an affordable compact.  For 2022, it's maybe the best-steering compact on the market, in my view.

Upon stepping into the Civic, my first thought was: Where did the air vents go?  Wait, they're hidden behind a honeycomb strip that's as clever an interior styling touch as I've seen in recent years.

Yes, you can still adjust the airflow, but no vents-as-usual can be seen.

Fuel mileage is a tidy 30 miles per gallon in the city and 37 mpg on the highway -- a Civic trait that, standing alone, has likely sold millions of models over a couple of generations.

A generous list of safety, comfort and convenience features came with the tester, but the bottom line on the sticker came in at an entirely reasonable $24,095.

The Civic is packed with so many positives that it's no wonder it has been around for 11 generations.  It has something for everybody -- of all ages and tastes.

For 2022, the Civic is at the top of its storied game.