Take A Sneak Peek At The 2022 Honda Civic (Before You’re Supposed To See It)

• 2022 Honda Civic borrows plenty of design elements from the Accord.
• Minimalistic interior styling, with a floating touchscreen infotainment system.
• Likely to be powered by turbo-petrol and hybrid powertrains.
• Global debut expected shortly.
• Honda recently pulled the plug on the Civic in India.

In November 2020, Honda had previewed the 2022 Civic prototype, which featured all the design changes and updates. Fast forward to today, and images of the production-spec model have leaked ahead of the sedan’s official debut. The model you see in these pictures is the China-spec one, which gets a few design tweaks. 

The Civic’s design, resembling that of a scaled-down Accord, induces positive first impressions. Honda has completely done away with the chrome, including the one on the grille. Its stance is nice and low, lending it a sporty appearance, while the strong shoulder lines give it its character. The blacked-out alloy wheels and ORVMs also add to the stealth. Of course, all these changes would depend on the trim and the market, and we expect to get more clarity once the car has been revealed. 

The production-spec model’s interior is yet to be seen, but the prototype’s dashboard wore a neat, tidy look. It now comes with a 9-inch floating touchscreen infotainment system, while the knobs (that look similar to those in the City) have been retained for climate control. Visibility also shouldn't be an issue, considering the dashboard seems to be positioned nice and low. 

Honda is yet to reveal the engines, but this test mule is powered by a turbocharged petrol motor (as hinted by the ‘Turbo’ badge). The sportier and high-performance Type R and Si will be retained. The 2022 Civic could also be provided with Honda’s e:HEV hybrid powertrain with dual electric cars.

In all probability, Honda will globally debut the new Civic shortly. However, there’s no word on whether it would be brought to India, especially at a time when the carmaker recently discontinued the Civic here. If it does make it to our shores, it will rekindle its rivalry with the Hyundai Elantra and the upcoming fourth-gen Skoda Octavia.